Every spring, dozens of highly skilled student musicians from the Midwest and beyond gather in Moorhead for the Concordia High School Honor Band Festival, and this year, an additional new ensemble will meet, rehearse, and perform — the Honor Jazz Band.
“This will be a great experience for kids who consider jazz their specialty over regular concert band,” said Cary Armagost, manager of instrumental ensembles at Concordia College. “With the Honor Band and Honor Jazz Band combined, we have 110-plus attendees this year.”
The festival, which begins Friday, April 5, and ends Sunday, April 7, allows students to play challenging music outside of their high school ensembles, participate in masterclasses from college professors and visiting experts, and perform with skilled musicians from other schools.
In order to participate in the concert-focused Honor Band, students must submit audition recordings. For most musicians, the recordings must include two contrasting musical excerpts, one demonstrating technical playing and another of a more expressive performance. High schoolers hoping to earn a place in the Honor Jazz Band must send an audition recording of a specific excerpt from a piece selected by instructors, as well as a recording of scales and an optional improvisational sample.
Percussionists for both groups have slightly different, but equally challenging, audition requirements.
As soon as the group comes together, the music begins.
“Once the students arrive on campus on Friday, they are immediately thrust into intensive and educationally enriching rehearsals,” Armagost said. “This is the first time they are playing this music in this ensemble, so special attention is given by the conductor to ensure that the band is cohesive in their performance, as they have limited time to prepare the repertoire before the Sunday concert.”
This will be a great experience for kids who consider jazz their specialty over regular concert band.
Russell Peterson, associate professor of saxophone and bassoon at Concordia, will facilitate the Honor Jazz Band, and the guest artist-conductor will be Mike Kamuf, a Maryland-based composer and nationally sought-after clinician.
The Honor Band will be directed by Dr. Peter Haberman, Concordia director of bands and professor of instrumental music education. Its guest composer will be Kelijah Dunton.
The Honor Band and Honor Jazz Band will perform at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 7, in Memorial Auditorium on the Concordia College campus. The performance is free and open to the public.