By: Nora Warner
Last week, students in Wallenpaupack’s High School Concert Band attended a band festival sponsored by KHS America Instruments and Robert M. Sides Family Music Center. The event brought together the members of Monticello High School’s band and Wallenpaupack Area High School Band to work together under the direction of each respective group’s directors and a guest clinician. Our school was selected for this event because of our school’s support of Robert M. Sides and our achievements as an ensemble. This event was free for our students thanks to the event sponsor’s continued efforts to support music education experiences for students.
The event took place at Monticello High School on April 15. Students spent the morning and early afternoon putting together four pieces of music for a concert at the end of the event. While both groups only spent a short time together, the students have been rehearsing this music since December.
Students had the opportunity to work with Mr. Verdino (Monticello HS) and Mr. Warner (Wallenpaupack HS), who each conducted a piece, and Dr. Peter Boonshaft, as a guest clinician, conducted two pieces. Dr. Boonshaft, with whom some students had the opportunity to work at PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educator’s Association) Region IV Band, is a highly respected conductor in the wind band community. He brought immense experience and a clear passion for music to his rehearsals.
The program included:
Infinite Possibilities by Randall Standridge
Daredevil by Mark Lortz
Blue Ridge Reel by Brian Balmages
Prophesy by Sean O’Loughlin
This event brought together students who might not have otherwise met to share their love of music and work with a renowned educator. This was a great opportunity for all our students to experience music in a new way. The Wallenpaupack Concert Band will be performing a few of these pieces on their spring concert, May 19 at 7 p.m.
