UMass Wind Studies Director Matthew Westgate will host the 34th Annual High School Honor Band on Saturday, February 9 (Photo courtesy UMass)
AMHERST – On Saturday, February 9, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Music and Dance will present the 34th Annual High School Honor Band, featuring over 250 outstanding high school musicians from 35 schools (see complete list below).
Coordinated by UMass Wind Studies Director Matthew Westgate, this annual program provides hundreds of New England’s finest wind and percussion students the opportunity to rehearse and perform wind band literature of the highest caliber with Westgate, UMass Marching Band Director Timothy T. Anderson, University of Delaware Director of Concert Bands Lauren Reynolds, and a special guest composer of national renown.
This year’s guest composer is Benjamin Dean Taylor, who recently received his third commission from the Barlow Endowment. Taylor’s other prizes and honors include Winner in the 2013 Ticheli Composition Contest, BMI Student Composers Award (2011), Winner in the American Composers Orchestra Underwood New Music Readings (2012), and an ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award (2011). His music has received performances at festivals including the College Band Directors National Association Conference, Society of Composers National Conference, Scandinavian Saxophone Festival, and international jazz festivals in Edinburgh, Marlborough and Birmingham. His compositions have been featured on radio and television, including NPR’s “Says You.”
The schedule for the day will include an “Educator Track” for high school and middle school band conductors, which includes sessions taught by UMass faculty members, a lunch with music education students and faculty, and a private UMass Wind Ensemble performance.
The day-long event will culminate with a performance of works by Benjamin Dean Taylor and others by the Honor Band, their instructors, and the UMass Wind Ensemble. The concert will take place at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall, and is free and open to the public.
Participating High Schools and Band Directors:
Agawam High School-Bill Hueglin
Alvirne High School-Rob Scagnelli
Ayer-Shirley Regional High School-Tim Ketterer
Bartlett High School-Peter Twiraga
Belchertown High School-Brian Messier
Bellingham High School-Marie Forte
Beverly High School-Adam Costa
Burlington High School-Sean Buchsbaum
Burr and Burton Academy-Neil Freebern
Clinton High School-Kate Meifert
Derby High school -Donata Lupacchino
Falmouth High School-Kayla Peard
Gateway Regional HS-Beth Guertin
Granby Jr/Sr High School-Richard Sargent
Greenfield High School-Chris Moehringer
Hazen Union High School-Jennifer O’Neill
Holy Name High School-Mr. Dan Gabel
Ludlow High School-Kevin McAvoy
Lynn English High School/Classical/Voc-Jeremy Witherell
Minnechaug Regional HS-Margaret E. Reidy
Mount Anthony Union High School-Mason Mills
Nipmuc Regional High School-Simon Harding
Northampton High School-Paul Kinsman
Palmer High School-Christopher Beaudry
Peabody Veterans Memorial High School-Jason Jones
Portsmouth Christian Academy-Katrina Veno
Sci-Tech High School-Gary Bernice
Smith Academy-Dave Morris
South Hadley High School-Ryan Caster
Springfield Central High School-Ray Dandurand
Stevens High School-Katja Kleyensteuber
Sutton Memorial-Justin Falvo
Wahconah Regional High School-Brian Rabuse
Westford Academy-Michael Soo
Woodland Regional High School-Marissa Iezzi
