Boston Brass to play for Lakota band members
Visit comes on heels of school's musicians winning award.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
From the front doors all the way to the band room, a mixture music could be heard in the otherwise quiet corridors of Lakota West High School.
Members of the Symphonic Winds band were practicing in clusters wherever they could find space. Senior Anna Thordsen, 17, said her clarinet quartet practices together to play for community members. As members of ensembles, they volunteer at least once a quarter and have played at Lakotafest, various elementary schools and for a muscular dystrophy fundraiser.
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"They support us so much and give us so much," she said. It's our way of giving back."
To get to be a part of the Symphonic Winds often takes hours of practice, private lessons and an intensive try out, Anna said.
"It's an honor because this is my last year at West," she said. "I have been working for this since the 7th grade."
The band, which is a compilation of some of the school's best musicians, recently won the 2008 Boston Brass National Concert Band Competition. A recording of the music was selected from more than 70 other bands. The Boston Brass will make an appearance in the community May 8-9.
The band will have a full clinic with the Boston Brass, including a special session for parents led by Stanley F. Michalski Jr., a distinguished emeritus professor of music and conductor of bands at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
The visit culminates with a concert where the Boston Brass performs two pieces with Lakota West, under guest conductor Michalski.
From classical arrangements to vocal harmony and jazz standards, Boston Brass displays a unique musical experience, organizers said.
Symphonic Winds is directed by Greg Snyder, who said this year's seniors have experienced a parade in Hawaii, the Tournament of Roses and have performed in the Midwest Clinic, an international band and orchestra conference for premier music educators and performers.
"Now to perform with the Boston Brass is a true exclamation point to round out their high school careers," he said.
Junior Scott Resnick, 17, said he looks forward to learning from the visiting musicians.
"They are amazing," he said.
The 7:30 p.m. concert proceeds will benefit the Lakota West band program. Tickets are $10 for students, $15 for adults and $50 for patrons and may be purchased at www.lakotawestbands.org/bostonbrass.
Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5067 or lhilty@coxohio.com.
