Pottstown Middle School Band Syncs Player Videos For Concert

POTTSTOWN, PA — Pottstown's Middle School Band performed a virtual concert this year that brought together individual videos of band members performing the same piece of music.

Under the direction of their teacher Katherine German, the band of seventh and eighth graders performed "Champions Rising," composed by Adrian Sims.

Band members submitted individual videos of themselves performing the piece "Champions Rising" and the individual videos were then compiled into one video with everyone performing simultaneously.

Students were given very specific instructions to follow when recording, the Pottstown School District explained in a news release. "If the instructions were not followed exactly, the videos would be impossible to sync," said school district communications director John Armato.

The production was sponsored by Zeswitz Music and produced by Skynine, LLC.

During an after-concert watch party, the band met virtually with the composer of the piece, Adrian Sims, for a question and answer session. Band members in the virtual party viewed the completed production, together as a band.

Pottstown Middle School Principal Brian Hostetler said, "It's one thing to learn in a virtual environment, it's another thing to play music and compile it all together into a fantastic performance."

Special guests included Hostetler, high school Band Director David Bonilla-Garcia, elementary Band Director Nancy Mest, elementary Band Director Rachel Ficca and composer Adrian B. Sims.

Sims told students, "It's really telling when you listen to yourself in a virtual performance and this was stellar. I want to congratulate you on not just playing the piece, but playing it well and making it sound wonderful."

The composer said he dedicated the composition to his grandmother, "who is one of those people who always told me to keep going, keep doing what you're doing even if everything around you is telling you otherwise."

"We've all had things get in our way. This covid situation is getting in our way right now and although it wasn't intended for covid, hopefully, it can serve some guidance through covid," Sims added.

The "Champions Rising" concert video can be viewed here.