A busy day of practice, pizza and performances took place Thursday for 120 local high school students and Baker University’s Symphonic Winds Orchestra.
Students from 15 area high schools attended the 14th Annual Concert Honor Band Festival at the Owens Musical Arts Building.<br/>
“It works as a service to area high schools, for their students can come participate in a good band,” Director of Bands Ray James said. “They can play with people who are the top people in their band so they can play at a high level.”
Students were set to audition for chairs in the morning and spend the rest of the day practicing with this year’s conductor and clinician, Dr. Anthony Purcell, director of bands at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.
James said the event also acts as a recruiting tool. High school students were set to spend the day in Baker’s music department, eat lunch in Harter Union and practice and have a pizza party with members of Baker’s Symphonic Winds.
“The students get to hear our students play and see what they can be in a couple of years,” James said.
The high school and university students were scheduled to perform a concert together at 7 p.m. Thursday in Rice Auditorium.
“It’s a great time for them to have a little camaraderie,” James said.