Blown Away!

I get emotionally charged up when I hear great music. This time I got to be amazed by the musical talent of children.

This past Friday some of KHA's Advance Band went up to Vacaville (a 2-1/2 hr drive in the rain and traffic for some) to perform with many other Christian schools for the ACSI Honor Band Festival Concert. Students were nominated and chosen by their school's band directors to perform at this auspicious event. They skip their regular classes (it was a school day) to participate in this event.

The challenge was that the students were to learn 4-5 unfamiliar songs in one day, many who receive their music the day of the performance. They practice and rehearse from 9am-5pm and it culminates with an evening concert.

Emmanuel (trumpet), Christopher (baritone sax), Bryan (alto sax), Elena (flute) Courtney (tenor sax), Isabelle (flute), Benita (alto sax) and Emily (clarinet) with our band director the awesome Tony Bolivar

This year a total of 183 students participated from 15 Christian schools in the area.
Four different bands perform: Festival String Band, Festival Band, Honor String Band and Honor Band.

Last year Emily performed for the Festival Band. I blogged about it here: Big Band

This year she got to perform in the Honor Band.

The 2014 Honor Band. Can you find Emily?

What an honor and privilege to perform with this huge orchestra!

They played four songs:
"Fanfare and Triumph" by James Swearingen

"The Lightening Spirit" by Roland Barrett

"Nettleton" based on the Early American Hymn Tune

"Flight of the Thunderbird" by Richard L. Saucedo

She was right in front with another band director (who was supposedly replacing a missing student).

Emily next to a band director, not an old looking student

I was also impressed with the Honor String Band. Check out these HUGE Bass Cellos (or Double Bass).

What kind of case does these go in? And how do you transport them?!?

They make the regular cellos look like violins and the violins look like miniature toys.

I am always blown away by the talent these junior high students have in pursuing this beautiful art form. Yet another experience I am living vicariously through my beautiful and talented daughter!