The 39 members of the NHS Wind Ensemble traveled to Asheboro on Friday, March 16 to participate in the Central District Bandmasters' Association State Festival. Almost 50 area bands compete in this annual event. Bands perform 3 selections from a list of works graded on a scale of difficulty from 1 to 6. Afterwards there is a sight reading test, where bands have 5 minutes to prepare and then perform a work they have never seen before.
Northwood's program this year included the following grade 4 and 5 works:
Ringling Brothers Grand Entry by Al Sweet, arranged by Andrew Glover;
the English Folks Song Suite by Ralph Vaughn Williams;
and On an American Spiritual by David Holsinger.
This year's performance received a score of Excellent from the 4 judges. Director Eugene Cottrell remarked on his pride for the level of proficiency this group has achieved working for six weeks on selections with such a high degree of difficulty. Judges particularly noted the skill and attention to detail the group exhibited during the challenging sight-reading portion of the competition.
Preparations now begin for the annual Memorial Day Concert. This year the program will be held on Thursday, May 24 at Northwood's Benjamin J. Lee Auditorium.
On Saturday, the 17-member NHS Jazz Ensemble traveled to Virginia for the Chantilly Invitational Jazz Band Festival. At this festival the Jazz Ensemble received straight superior ratings and an overall score of 89. There were over 30 jazz entries in this festival, most of which have jazz band every day as a class. Northwood's ensemble meets twice a week for 45 minutes each rehearsal. Northwood's overall rating of superior and score of 89 placed them in the top eight of all the participating groups. They performed 3 works,the Wicked Boogie Woogie by Peter Blair, Prelude to a Kiss by Duke Ellington, and Calling Dr Chops by Rob Vuono jr.
"I am so proud of the jazz ensemble's performance today. The points and ratings are great but the students real reward is the enjoyment and satisfaction they get from playing such good music for an audience. So many different people made comments about how our musicians really seemed to enjoy what they were doing on that stage. That's the excitement you can't put on paper. Also, for us to be categorized with so many fantastic groups that get so much professional attention is a thrill to me."
Senior percussionist Michael Harriss spoke about the event. "Being in a jazz band has been a personally fulfilling experience for me, as it has given me a way to express myself and my ideas freely. I don't have the ability to do that anywhere else. The jazz festival was wonderful.? I am glad that I had the chance to watch other young jazz bands play many old standards, as well as contemporary arrangements and fusion.? Every performance was spectacular, and I am proud that there are many high school and college students today who carry on the jazz tradition." Harriss will be attending UNC-G this fall to continue his music studies.
Northwood's program this year included the following grade 4 and 5 works:
Ringling Brothers Grand Entry by Al Sweet, arranged by Andrew Glover;
the English Folks Song Suite by Ralph Vaughn Williams;
and On an American Spiritual by David Holsinger.
This year's performance received a score of Excellent from the 4 judges. Director Eugene Cottrell remarked on his pride for the level of proficiency this group has achieved working for six weeks on selections with such a high degree of difficulty. Judges particularly noted the skill and attention to detail the group exhibited during the challenging sight-reading portion of the competition.
Preparations now begin for the annual Memorial Day Concert. This year the program will be held on Thursday, May 24 at Northwood's Benjamin J. Lee Auditorium.
On Saturday, the 17-member NHS Jazz Ensemble traveled to Virginia for the Chantilly Invitational Jazz Band Festival. At this festival the Jazz Ensemble received straight superior ratings and an overall score of 89. There were over 30 jazz entries in this festival, most of which have jazz band every day as a class. Northwood's ensemble meets twice a week for 45 minutes each rehearsal. Northwood's overall rating of superior and score of 89 placed them in the top eight of all the participating groups. They performed 3 works,the Wicked Boogie Woogie by Peter Blair, Prelude to a Kiss by Duke Ellington, and Calling Dr Chops by Rob Vuono jr.
"I am so proud of the jazz ensemble's performance today. The points and ratings are great but the students real reward is the enjoyment and satisfaction they get from playing such good music for an audience. So many different people made comments about how our musicians really seemed to enjoy what they were doing on that stage. That's the excitement you can't put on paper. Also, for us to be categorized with so many fantastic groups that get so much professional attention is a thrill to me."
Senior percussionist Michael Harriss spoke about the event. "Being in a jazz band has been a personally fulfilling experience for me, as it has given me a way to express myself and my ideas freely. I don't have the ability to do that anywhere else. The jazz festival was wonderful.? I am glad that I had the chance to watch other young jazz bands play many old standards, as well as contemporary arrangements and fusion.? Every performance was spectacular, and I am proud that there are many high school and college students today who carry on the jazz tradition." Harriss will be attending UNC-G this fall to continue his music studies.
