BandFest 2000 planned for young musicians
FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, February 29, 2000
Huntington, Ind. "Huntington College's Department of Music will sponsor its 21st annual band clinic, BandFest 2000, at the Merillat Centre for the Arts on Saturday and Sunday, March 25 and 26. The annual event draws high school musicians from throughout the Midwest. Students and directors interested in attending the band clinic should register by March 20. Registration costs $20 and includes a Saturday luncheon. Students needing overnight accommodations may request campus lodgings at no additional cost. For registration forms or further clinic information, contact the Music Department at (260) 359-4262.
BandFest 2000 will provide participants with personalized instruction from outstanding guest clinicians, including the Brass Quintet of the Marine Corps Band (New Orleans):
Sergeant Ben McKenzie (trumpet), a native of St. Joseph, Michigan. McKenzie joined the Marine Corps Band (New Orleans) in February 1999 after previously serving with the Marine Forces Reserve Pacific Band, Kanoehe Bay, Hawaii.
Corporal Colleen McCarten (trumpet) of Spring Hill, Florida. McCarten holds a bachelors degree in music education from the University of Central Florida.
Sergeant Jeremy Best (French horn) of Waco, Texas, and a member of the Marine Corps Band since 1997. Best was promoted to his current rank in July 1998, and was recently accepted for the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program.
Sergeant Sean Schmidlin (trombone) of Cortez, Colorado. Schmidlin joined the Marine Corps Band in 1997 after graduating from the Section Leaders' Course at the Armed Forces School of Music. He has also served with the Marine Forces Pacific Band, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Staff Sergeant Kevin Hunter (tuba) of Morgan City, Louisiana. Hunter joined the Marine Corps Band in 1997. He is currently the Brass Group Leader and has performed as a soloist with the Band.
The Brass Quintet will offer a brief concert on Saturday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the Merillat Centre for the Arts auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. The program will include works by a wide range of composers, from Gabrieli, Mozart and Bach to Jelly Roll Morton. The Brass Quintet was formed in 1990 and recently returned from a nationwide tour in support of Marine Corps recruiting.
Band clinic instruction will begin on Saturday, March 25, at 9 a.m. BandFest 2000 will conclude with a gala concert Sunday, March 26, at 2:30 p.m. in the Merillat Centre for the Arts auditorium. Participating students will demonstrate their newly refined skills. They will be joined onstage by professional soloists, including Sergeant Mary Rector (xylophone) and vocalist Maestro Jeffrey Taylor of the Chicago Lyric Opera. Free tickets for reserved seating are available by visiting the Merillat Centre box office, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (260) 359-4261 for further ticket information. While ticket holders will have priority seating, those without tickets will be admitted at 2:15 p.m., as seating is available.
Music is one of many distinctive academic programs available at Huntington College. Founded in 1897, Huntington College offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in nearly 50 academic concentrations. The four-year, Christian college of the liberal arts is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in Huntington, Indiana.
