Annual Honor Band program slated this weekend at DePauw

The public is invited to attend the closing performance by the DePauw Honor Band on Sunday, Jan. 24 in the Kresge Auditorium. The concert, conducted by DePauw Director of Bands Craig Paré, has an early 2 p.m. start time to allow for return travel by visiting high school musicians and their families. (Courtesy photo)

DePauw University School of Music will host its fourth annual Honor Band program this weekend, Jan. 23--24, at the Judson and Joyce Green Center for the Performing Arts.

The select ensemble, led by DePauw Director of Bands Craig Paré, was drawn from 14 high schools across Indiana. The talented musicians will travel to campus for two days of intensive training prior to their public concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24 in Kresge Auditorium.

The Indiana schools represented in this year's DePauw Honor Band include Greencastle, along with Avon, Bishop Guerin, Cathedral, Kelly, Monrovia, Plainfield, Scecina Memorial, Southmont, South Vermillion, Terre Haute North, Warren Central, West Vigo and Whiting high schools.

To participate in the annual program, area music directors nominate outstanding students who have excelled in their respective high school bands.

As part of their experience, students take part in master classes and workshops presented by university's music faculty. The DePauw faculty also selects university music students to serve as mentors and co-performers in side-by-side rehearsals and in the final performance with the visiting high school musicians.

Among the works the students will prepare is one of John Philip Sousa's most famous marches, "The Thunderer," arranged by the legendary conductor Frederick Fennell, especially known for his pyrotechnics and Sousa recordings. Alfred Reed's "Alleluia! Laudamus Te" and Michael Kamen's "An American Symphony," from the film "Mr. Holland's Opus," are other highlights of Sunday's concert, which concludes with Richard Saucedo's "Windsprints" and features the percussion section.

"We are so excited about this year's Honor Band, both for the number of high schools represented in this year's ensemble and for the level of performance represented in these talented high school musicians," Paré said.

"Each student was nominated by their band director, indicating a high level of musical leadership and achievement in their respective ensembles" he added. "We have some challenging music for these students, but I am certain they are going to enjoy each of these terrific pieces, as well as the experience of making music side-by-side with their colleagues from other band programs."

General admission to the DePauw Honor Band concert is $5. Tickets for seniors, children and all students are free.

Tickets for Sunday's concert may be purchased online at http://music.depauw.edu or at the Green Center box office, beginning one hour prior to the performance.

For additional information about the program, persons may contact Paré at cpare@depauw.edu.