Help Nathan Carrington Represent Mississippi in the 2026 Lions All-State Band

My name is Dusti Carrington, and I’m the proud mom of a young man who was never supposed to make it this far — but did. And then kept going.

My son Nathan is a 15-year-old freshman at Northwest Rankin. At just 15, he earned 12th chair trumpet in the 2026 Mississippi Lions All-State Band — the highest-ranking high school band in the state and one of the most competitive youth music programs in the entire nation.

Only a small handful of students make the cut each year.

Nathan did it his very first time auditioning.

But Nathan’s journey to this moment hasn’t been typical.

It’s been a fight. And he’s won every single round.

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Why Nathan’s Story Is Different

At age 3, Nathan was diagnosed with ASD.

Doctors told us he would struggle socially, creatively, academically — that he would always be behind. They said he would never “keep up” with other kids.

They were wrong. Every single one of them.

Nathan picked up a trumpet, and something clicked. Music gave him a voice, a place, and a future. He grew confidence. He found discipline. He found his passion.

Last year, as an 8th grader, Nathan was the only middle school student in his entire school chosen for the Natchez Honor Band Clinic. That’s when I realized he wasn’t just “talented.”

He was exceptional.

He worked harder than anyone.

He practiced relentlessly.

He pushed through challenges most people never see.

Now, he has earned a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — a spot in the world-traveling 2026 Lions Band.

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Where He’s Going

The Lions Band doesn’t just rehearse and play in Mississippi. They tour New Orleans, Hong Kong, Honolulu, and more. The trip includes:

• Full training week

• Uniforms, shirts, backpacks

• Travel to and from New Orleans

• International flights to Hong Kong

• Flights from Hong Kong to Honolulu

• Flights back to New Orleans and home

• All meals

• All housing

• Hong Kong Disney

• Performances and concerts across multiple countries

• A once-in-a-lifetime experience a kid never forgets

This is the kind of opportunity that shapes careers, builds leaders, and opens doors most families only dream of.

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Nathan’s father and I are each responsible for half of the total $5,475 cost. Covering my portion on a tight timeline is extremely challenging, which is why we’re fundraising to give him this opportunity.

Broken into payments due between:

• Dec 15, 2025

• Jan 15, 2026

• Feb 16, 2026

• Mar 16, 2026

• Apr 15, 2026

• May 15, 2026

• Jun 10, 2026

Every payment is required. If one is missed, Nathan loses his spot.

He’s worked too hard, overcome too much, and earned too big of an honor for money to be the reason he doesn’t go.

This isn’t a vacation.

This is a young man has been defying every expectation he was given at age 3 — and proving that talent, grit, and heart are stronger than any diagnosis.

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What Your Support Does

Your donation helps cover:

• Travel

• Housing

• Meals

• International flights

• Band fees and training

• Uniform items

• Equipment needs

• All Lions Band expenses

Every dollar goes directly toward helping Nathan fulfill this once-in-a-lifetime honor.

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How You Can Help

If you can give, we are grateful.

If you can share, we are equally grateful.

This is Nathan’s chance to stand on a world stage and show exactly what he’s made of.

Thank you for believing in him — the same way we always have.

— Dusti Carrington