Local students participate in Regional Honor Band

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

The Indiana Bandmasters Association will host their 36th Annual All-Region Band this coming weekend, Nov. 12-13, involving students from 17 schools from across Central Southwest Indiana.

This year Owen Valley High School in Spencer will host the IBA Central Southwest All-Region band. The All-Region band is open to seventh- through ninth-grade band members and provides an opportunity for those students to be recognized for their talents.

This year participants from Greencastle Middle School include Paige Kaiser, clarinet; Rain Minartz, clarinet; Zoe Weltz, baritone sax; Bijou Champagne, trumpet; Iris Mackenzie, trumpet; Fiona Good, french horn; Ben Huff, trombone, and Vincent Martoglio, trombone.

The process for All-Region selection begins at each local school where the musicians apply to participate. Those applications and their director’s recommendations are considered when a selection committee sets the group roster. Students who have the honor of participating in the ensemble receive a letter of congratulations and music to practice prior to the event.

On Saturday, students will arrive and begin to practice together for the first time. Directors from many of the schools involved will help with preparation on that day by rehearsing students in sectionals.

Each All-Region site has a guest conductor to rehearse the ensemble and to conduct them in a concert on Sunday afternoon. This year’s guest conductor is Dr. Jason Nam. He is a visiting assistant professor of music at IU’s Jacobs School of Music where Nam directs the concert band and teaches undergraduate courses in instrumental conducting, administration of school bands and wind band repertoire.

The weekend culminates with a concert performance by the group at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13 at Owen Valley High School. The performance is open to the public and free.

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