Nine Randolph Students Selected for All-State & District I Honor Bands
Nine Randolph students in the Middle and Upper Schools, an unprecedented number, have been selected for the All-State Honor Band, District I Honor Band, or both. Congratulations to the following students!
“Participating in the honor band is special because it gives students an opportunity for high-quality, challenging music experiences and they really excelled,” shares Dr. Erin Charles, Randolph’s Director of Visual and Performing Arts.
To earn a place in the honor bands, students had to complete a blind audition with two judges seated behind a screen. For the wind instruments, the audition included a performance of 15 major scales that were memorized, a technical and lyrical etude, and sight reading. For percussionists, their audition required a performance of 15 major scales, plus a snare, timpani, 2-mallet, and 4-mallet etude, and sight reading.
Dr. Charles attributes this accomplishment to the successful efforts of many individuals who work with the students directly on their artistic development, including Middle School Band Director Norrell Ausman and private lesson instructors Marcus Pope (percussion), Charles Page (flute), Susan Mendel (clarinet), Tsuya Beckman (flute), Andy Kruspe (percussion), Cherry Neely (saxophone), and Dan Ferri (clarinet).
“It’s a great example of a community effort in alignment with our strategic initiative of “One Randolph” and pouring into our students for their benefit,” explains Charles. “It takes a village of teachers, faculty, staff, parents, and private lesson instructors investing in our students that results in musical excellence.”
The District I Honor Band Festival is taking place at Grissom High School on February 17th – 19th. Participating students are given music that they prepare over a short period of time. Following the rehearsals, there is a group performance that’s free and open to the public on Saturday afternoon. The All State Band Festival is April 27th – 29th at the Von Braun Center and also includes a special Saturday afternoon performance.
“We encourage Randolph families to attend and support our student artists who have worked so hard for this opportunity and recognition,” shares Norrell Ausman.