Solo & Ensemble

Last year nearly 400 band and orchestra students performed for our three judges. This year we plan to have all students perform on one day, and merely contract more adjudicators. The most frequent conflict we heard about was the fact that the event was held in May. We hope that this year’s date of April 17 will make the event much easier to attend for many more students. The Festival is held in conjunction with the North Carolina State Solo and Ensemble Festival. Last year we were very excited to have some mixed string/wind ensembles perform.

We really hope to increase the number of those performances this year. Any band director that would like to include string students from your school, as a mixed group, or separately, is more than welcome to do so. We feel this will open up a plethora of additional opportunities for the young musicians of North Carolina to perform good music, receive excellent feedback from some of our best music educators and, maybe most importantly, receive appropriate recognition for doing so. Music and Fun.

The NW District Bandmasters Solo and Ensemble festival is also held in con- junction with the City of the Arts Jazz Festival. All day, various high school and college jazz ensembles perform on two stages. The students participating in the Solo and Ensemble festival have the opportunity to watch performances be- fore and after their own performance. This was very much enjoyed last year. A welcome break from warming up and a real nerve settler before and after a stu- dent Solo or Ensemble performance. Since these events attract a fairly large crowd, there is also a really good concession area which features home cooked Hot Dogs and Hamburgers, Home Made Desserts, Soft Drinks, etc.

The headliner for the event this year is: The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra.

For more information contact: Danny Green at Ronald Reagan High School.

Call the Music Office at: 336-703-6783 Or email: dgreen@wsfcs.k12.nc.us.