As many students begin to prepare for their academic SOLs this school year, music students are beginning to prepare for another kind of test: the performance at District Festivals.
The Band Festival was held at T.C. Williams HS on March 5. Both of the competing bands, symphonic and concert, were rated superior. While at the concert, students were evaluated on musical phrasing, sound quality and intonation before several judges.
The gold Concert band participated at a grade level 4. Symphonic band participated at a grade level 6. These ratings combined with those of the Marching Atoms designate AHS as a Virginia honor band for the 14th year.
“These students have worked diligently and we’ve gotten better each week,” Band Director Andrew Loft said.
“We didn’t just play notes on a page, we played music. I could see it in Mr. Loft’s face that we were playing well,” senior Edgard Santos said.
The chorus department is preparing for their District Festival on March 19 and their Pyramid Concert that will be preformed tonight. The concert will be performed with students from surrounding middle schools. Many chorus students feel the chorus department has blended as a choir.
District Festivals are special for orchestra as well since they will be held at AHS. Junior Danielle Turner feels prepared for the upcoming concert, held March 10, 11, and 12. “The conductor and one person from each section of the FSO (Fairfax Symphony Orchestra) came and took over rehearsal. They also did a workshop with us.”
Orchestra Director Stephanie Lewis volunteered AHS as the location for districts this year. “I’m excited. We’re hosting 52 orchestras from surrounding schools and counties,” Lewis said.
The music department at AHS has traditionally done well over the past years in terms of receiving superior or excellent ratings. Students in orchestra and chorus hope to be as successful band at districts.
In other music news, four musicians will represent AHS and participate in the All Virginia Band and Orchestra that at Charlottesville HS. These students are Kari Berg (french horn), Michael Sgrecci (french horn), Molly Sgrecci (violin) and Benjamin Walter (clarinet).
