RYE HIGH SCHOOL
Four students from the Rye High School Music Program participated in the 16th Annual Festival of Winds at CSU-Pueblo, February 15th-17th. Music directors submit names of potential candidates to CSU-Pueblo in November and hear about the selected students in January.
Selected students from 44 high schools throughout Colorado gather for a three-day event at Colorado State University-Pueblo. Around 400 students from the 44 High Schools participated in the festival.
The first day consists of auditions for placement into one of four honor bands based on skill levels. These bands include Blue Symphonic Band under the direction of Mr. Jack Yonce, retired band director from Cheyenne High School. Red Symphonic Band under the direction of Eric Colgrove, Director of Bands at Harding University in Arkansas.
Green Wind Orchestra under the direction of Mr. John M. 'Jay' Watkins, Associate Director Of bands and Associate Professor of Conducting in the school of Music at the University of Florida. The top-level Gold Wind Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Mark J. Spede, Professor of Music, Director of Bands, Director of Tiger Band, and Conductor of the Symphonic Band at Clemson University.
Cole Brooks and Michael Amaya were selected into the Blue Symphonic Band. Mathius Lorenz and Zelic Hoosier were selected for the Red Symphonic Band. Students attend master classes and rehearsals on day with faculty and staff from CSUPueblo. Students saw their concert music for the first time on this day.
Students were also treated to performances by the CSU-Pueblo Jazz Band and the United States Air Force Academy Band. With opportunities to speak with the performers about potential careers and college applications.
The day lasted from 7:30am to 9:00pm.
Students spent the second morning in masterclasses and sectionals while the 46 participating High School Band Direc- tors rehearsed for one and a half hours for a Directors Band performance for the students. Students were once again treated to performances by the CSU-Pueblo Music Faculty Brass Quintet, Woodwind Quintet and the Band Directors Band. Playing a variety of classical and contemporary pieces to K-Pop.
For the afternoon students were in their band rehearsals until 7:00 p.m. when the students moved to Hoag Hall to watch the nationally acclaimed Pikes Peak Brass Band under the direction of Debbie Baker. During this time all of the high school band directors met with three members of the Colorado Bandmasters Association Board to discuss how CBA can help and serve schools more and what the music directors can do across the state to improve music programs.
Students rehearse for the last time in the morning of the third day in their respective ensembles while the music directors met with the CSU-Pueblo music faculty, Mr. Butch Eversole, interim Director of Bands and Director of Festival of Winds, Ms. Amanda Burk, Director of March Band and Assistant Director of Festival of Winds, and Dr. Mark Hudson, Dean of the CSU-Pueblo Music Department, to discuss the festival and what can be improved next year.
After Lunch students and directors transitioned over to Pueblo Memorial Hall to do sound checks and get ready to play a performance at 4:30 p.m. Blue Symphonic Band with Rye Students, Cole Brooks and Michael Amaya, went first. They performed Flourish for Wind Band by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Yellow by Robert W. Smith. Snake Charmer by Randall Standridge and Semper Fidelis by John Phillip Sousa. Red Symphonic Band with Rye students Zelic Hoosier and Mathius Lorenz, went next. Performing Danse Bohemian by Randall Standridge, Nessum Dorma by Johnie Vinson and to Create a Voice by Carol Brittin Chambers.
They were followed by the Green Wind Orchestra who played His Honor by Henry Fillmore, Soaring with John Williams by John Williams, Prelude, Siciliano and Rando by Arnold Paynter, and Amazing Grace by Frank Ticheli.
The Last group to go was the Gold Wind Orchestra who played In Living Color by Katahj Copley, Down a Country Lane by Aaron Copland, Lost Valley by Jennifer Rose and The Adventures of Space Cat with animation from the prestigious Clemson University animation department written by Mark Spede.
Students had a phenomenal time at the three-day event and have expressed a desire to do so again next year for the 17th Annual Festival of Winds.