No. 16 Vol. 2
www.mypaperonline.com
February 2018
MHS Wind Ensemble 2018 Mid-Atlantic Band Festival Selected To Perform At Rutgers University
M
By Stefanie Sears orristown High School’s Director of Bands of 17 years Michael Russo was instrumental in bringing the school’s Wind Ensemble to the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Band Festival Concert at Rutgers University mid-February for the very first time. They were one of six schools selected for this honor. “Typically the Wind Ensemble is the top Concert Band at high schools,” explains Russo, “It is the group that would represent the school in festivals and competitions. I am always looking for additional performance opportunities for the MHS Wind Ensemble. Performing and listening to other ensembles in an integral part of their music education.” The festival takes place bi-annually and this was the ensemble’s second time applying. They have been rehearsing since early January and planned to perform Samuel R. Hazo’s Sòlas Ané “Yesterday’s Joy” (2006) and Richard L.
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Saucedo’s “Persistence” (2004) at the Nicholas Music Center on the New Brunswick campus the evening of February 16. “It is a tremendous honor for the MHS Wind Ensemble being selected to perform as one of six honor bands at the Nicholas Music Center at Rutgers University,” he said. “I think MHS has had a band since the high school opened in its present location in 1918 - 100 years!” This is not the first accomplishment for the MHS Wind Ensemble. They received two Gold Ratings in the North Jersey School Music Association Region 1 Concert Band Festivals at Morristown High School in 2016 and Bergenfield High School in 2017. Based on a recommendation by New Jersey Wind Symphony Director, Dr. Christian Wilhjelm, they were selected for a Prelude Performance with the New Jersey Wind Symphony (formally known as the Ridgewood Concert Band) in March 2017. To be considered for the
festival, they included these honors along with an audio of their “Variations On A Korean Folk Dance” performance at the Ridgewood Concert Band Concert on their application they sent to the Mason Gross School of the Arts. The criteria requested a live recording with no edits. A panel led by Professor Dennis Fisher, the associate director of Bands from North Texas University, reviewed the
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applications and submissions and chose the best six ensembles. “I have seen concerts and performed at the Nicholas Music Center and I know the students will really sound great in the beautiful performance hall!” Russo says prior to the performance. “The challenge of playing in a new space is that you do not get to rehearse continued on page 11
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