A learning experience, a long day and a night showcasing musical talents is what many high school students found at the Annual Honor Band Concert that was on Feb. 14.

This program in the music department was developed 15 years ago in hopes to provide a higher level of education to surrounding high schools. The first year of the concert, there were about 70 students who participated and it has since developed to more than 100 students with 14 high schools playing in the program.

“I thought this would be a good way to get students (high school) on campus and a good way to cater to the smaller schools around the area to bring the music education up state wide,” Director of Bands Ray James said. “I reached out to schools in our area and they thought this would be a good idea, so I guaranteed we would get someone from their school in and from there, 15 years ago, the program began.”

The day includes music, music and more music with a pizza party in between. The students are given music to practice prior to the occasion and come fully prepared for auditions and critiquing by a clinician through various rehearsals. The day then ends with a band concert full of performances from the students and then some from the Baker University Symphonic Winds Band.

For senior Morgan James, this concert to him is somewhat of a recruiting tool for the band, but also, a chance to get started with a new semester and new pieces for all the performances they have.

“We play before the honor band and they really get to hear what we sound like,” Morgan said. “It is a mini concert for us to get ready for a new semester, but overall, a recruiting tool for the students to see what we have to offer them if they come here.”

The students are hand-picked by their band directors from the high school they attend and are some of the best students from their groups. There are around six to seven students who are picked from each high school group. The top musicians could be anyone from freshmen to seniors.

“This program has had nothing but positive feedback,” Ray James said. “The students are tired by the end of the day, but love it and I have students who come here their junior year and return their senior year for another opportunity.”

For junior Andy Kelley, he sees this program as a really neat opportunity for not only the Baker band, but the students who get picked to participate in the Honor Band Concert.

“It’s cool to be able to perform with all of the area’s best high school musicians,” Kelley said. “It is a great opportunity for the students, also. They get to come down, practice, and we (the Baker band) get to see what they can do with a whole day’s worth of work.”

Ray James hopes that the funds for this type of program will always be around to provide this outstanding opportunity for these students to gain a higher level of musicianship and offer a program that the students can grow from and return each year if they are picked.