Students Perform in Intercollegiate Band
Linna Jones
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Seven band students performed in the Arkansas Intercollegiate
Band at the Hot Springs Convention Center Feb. 14-15.
Gary Meggs, director of bands, nominated eight members of
the band, but one was unable to attend.
The nominees included:
- Sophomore Rashaad Calaham, flute
- Junior Danielle Ayres, saxophone
- Senior John Kloap, tuba
- Senior Don Johnson, percussion
- Junior Kelli Stevens, clarinet
- Junior Kerry Blakemore, trombone
- Sophomore Cody Pierce, trombone
- Senior Justin Anders, saxophone
Stevens, a music education major, performed in the
Intercollegiate Band for the first time.
“It was a great experience to play along with musicians
who were so much more advanced than I am,” Stevens said. “It made me
want to strive to be a better player.”
Joseph Missal conducted the band. The band performed the
“Overture to Candide” by Leonard Bernstein; “Lincolnshire Posey” by
Percy Grainger, movements 2, 4, 6 and 7; and “Sparkles” and “Gallop” by
Dmitri Shostakovich.
The Intercollegiate Band gives the best college students
in Arkansas a chance to play with other talented students from around
the state. Band directors nominate members of their band and wait to
see if the judges selected the nominees.
Meggs said he submits the students and someone else picks
them.
After being selected, the students tryout for a chair.
The students play two scales and two sight-reading pieces, which is unseen music
played by the musicians without practicing it, in an open audition for
the judges. The judges listen and tabulate the scores of each
performer and place them in chairs.
The students then practice the music selected by the conductor for the rest of the day and
part of the next day. After
practicing the music, the band performs.
“I had a great time,” Meggs said. “It was a great
experience for our students.”
Have a comment? Please e-mail us.
©The Voice 2008
