Dexter High School Symphonic Band Wows at Michigan Music Conference

Submitted by Amy Laidlaw

The Dexter High School Symphonic Band performed Jan. 18 at the eighth annual Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids.

The 72-member band was one of four groups selected to perform, via an audition process held in the spring.

The band is directed by Kenneth Moore, who was also one of three finalists for state Band Teacher of the Year. The music conference is a three-day event for music teachers in Michigan.

The DHS Symphonic Band entertained the crowd with a 45-minute program Friday afternoon at DeVos Performance Hall. Songs included Variations on a Korean Folk Song, American War Civil Fantasy, and Vesuvius. Rondo, from Concerto for Clarinet in A Major, was performed with guest soloist Angelo Quail, a 2009 DHS graduate and current University of Michigan performing arts student.

The Michigan State Band & Orchestra Association's All-State Band and Orchestra members also performed at the conference.

Students were selected though a blind audition process in October 2012. All students were judged based on their performance of an etude, scales and sight-reading. More than 2,300 students across Michigan auditioned, and six Dexter band students were chosen to perform with the Michigan All-State Band. Students spent three days rehearsing and performed it Saturday in front an audience of more than 1,000 people.

The 2013 MSBOA Middle School All-State Band included: Mill Creek Middle School students Andrea Heinz, clarinet; Connor Johnson, trumpet; Dylan Myers, tuba; and Emily Herold, who was 1st chair for percussion. Herold is in the seventh grade band, the others are in the eighth grade band. The Mill Creek bands are taught by Andrew Damman with assistance from David Peters.

The 2013 MSBOA High School Band included DHS senior Shea Holman, percussion; and junior Zachary Kaufman, saxophone. The DHS students are taught by Kenneth Moore.