Music to the ears. Inaugural high school honor band festival this weekend in Macon

Sixty-four talented high school musicians from across Georgia (and one from Texas) are in Macon this weekend for the first-ever “Bands at the Grand: High School Honor Band Festival.”

Hosted by Mercer University’s Townsend School of Music’s band program, the festival is filled with instrument master classes, rehearsals, times for networking and hanging out, plus two free-to-the-public performances at The Grand Opera House.

On Friday, at 7:30 p.m., there’s a collegiate concert by the Mercer University Wind Ensemble. The High School Honor Band performs at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The festival is made possible through a grant from the Josephine Phelps Fabian Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia and has a multi-year goal of providing a premier musical experience for talented high school musicians while building community throughout the Southeast.

This year, the bulk of students who applied/auditioned for the gathering are from Middle Georgia but also other parts of the state.

“We plan to invite 80 students each year from Georgia and neighboring states as we grow the festival,” said Brittan Braddock, director of bands, coordinator of music education and assistant professor of music at Mercer.

Braddock has been at Mercer for three semesters now and is the originator and driving force behind the festival.

“There are so many benefits from this kind of collaboration,” she said. “There’s the practical musical and instrumental side that kids get but there’s also a more relational side where they can network and be inspired by Mercer students, professors and the visitors we bring in to conduct and teach. And they will definitely be inspired by one another.”

Braddock said most of the high school students coming to the festival are the best players in their respective schools and it does them good to realize there are other students around who are as dedicated to their instruments as they are. That’s why even a pizza lunch or other “down times” can be important.

Of course, band directors who accompany students to the festival are benefited by meeting one another and exchanging ideas.

Then there’s the plus of showing both adults and students around Mercer and Macon, knowing some will be attracted to the school and Macon and want to come back.

“Conductors and directors who come will get to see light bulbs going off in their students’ heads as they take in all that’s offered,” Braddock said. “They’ll see what’s possible in a career in music and enjoy the growing appreciation for creating this type of musical community. We spend a lot of time closed-off in practice rooms so it’s great seeing the interaction among students but also exciting seeing the opportunity the high school kids and our students have to perform in the two concerts.”

Braddock said there’s a synergy created when student performers and community members connect as the Mercer students often do in formal concerts or more informal community events, church services or other occasions singly or in small ensembles.

As for the weekend’s concerts at The Grand, Friday’s performance is free and features the Mercer University Wind Ensemble performing Philip Glass’ Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists and Orchestra. It features guest timpanist Laura Noah and the Townsend School of Music’s own Marcus Reddick.

Also in the program is “Ecstatic Fanfare” by Steven Bryant, “Journey Through Orion” by Julie Giroux, “March Ad Finem” by Mercer alumni and guest composer Denzel Washington, and “Star Wars Trilogy” by John Williams/Hunsberger.

Braddock will conduct.

On Saturday, Erin Bodnar, director of bands at the University of North Florida, will guest conduct the High School Honor Band featuring students attending the festival from 17 different high schools.

Works in the program include Jodie Blackshaw’s “Composing Pieces,” Nubia Jaime-Donjuan’s “Monarch Migration,” Jennifer Rose’s “Lost Valley,” Cathy Likhuta’s “Planet B,” and Victoriano Valencia’s “Ritmos de la Tierra, Chandé.”

“For me, when I was a 16-year-old clarinetist playing in a small Texas band program, the reason I realized I could make a career in music was getting to be part of an honor band similar to this,” Braddock said. “When I got in a room with players who were as serious as I was and could play as good as I could — and better — it made a difference. As musicians, we get comfortable being the best in our school. Getting out there with others who are every bit as good lifts everyone higher. I want these kids to have that opportunity and share what we have at Mercer.”

For more on the Townsend School of Music and its programs, go to www.music.mercer.edu.

‘If it ain’t baroque ...’

A second unique musical opportunity this weekend brings baroque music and authentic period instruments to Macon via a concert by Atlanta’s Amethyst Baroque Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Special guests will perform with the group including St. Joseph’s music director, Gregory Hamilton, who will play a theorbo which is essentially a long-necked lute.

There is a requested $20 donation for admission and $10 for discounted categories. However, organizers said no one will be turned away due to inability to donate.

“This is a great opportunity to hear 17th and 18th century Baroque period music played on period authentic instruments,” Hamilton said. “It’s not something you get to experience every day in Macon and with it being at St. Joseph, the music is sweet on the ear and the setting appropriate and beautiful to look at.”

The musical program features works by Bach, Telemann and others. The concert is titled “Concertare: An Evening of Concertos” taking its name from works produced when orchestras became more standardized and concertos – major works featuring one instrument with orchestral accompaniment – became popular.

The Amethyst Baroque Ensemble is Adrin Akins, countertenor; Jody Miller, recorder; Marcy Jean Brenner, viola da gamba; and Alexandra Dunbar, harpsichord and organ.

Guest musicians may include Ute Marks and Dana Duncan-Davis, violin; Daniel McCarthy, viola and viola d’amore; Mia Mangano, cello; Kelly Brzozowski, harp; and Hamilton.

The Macon appearance is part of a three-city performance lineup in Atlanta, Macon and Athens. For more on the ensemble, see their website at www.amethystbaroque.com.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.