By Justin Moore
High school kids don’t usually fill the stage of Comstock Hall at the School of Music.
But as they played “Entry March,” a hush fell over the crowd. These high school kids filled every inch of Comstock with beautiful music.
The 11th annual Invitational Honor Bands is a very clever recruiting tool for the School of Music. The high school students are nominated by their band directors and teachers and brought to U of L from as close as Kentucky and Indiana, to as far away as Illinois, Tennessee and West Virginia.
These exceptional young musicians come onto campus on a late Friday afternoon and put together an entire concert in a little over 24 hours.
“I had a good time, it was a wonderful experience. I’ve never done anything like this before,” said Kayla Freeman, a high school senior from Inez, KY.
“I’m proud of myself and everybody else,” said high school junior Daniel Moore, also from Inez.
Dr. Gregory Byrne, the director of the marching band and the Invitational Honor Symphonic Band said, “it’s all related.”
“It’s making music and the beauty of it all is it’s all students.”
The music school usually enrolls 80 students and over this weekend alone, 20 of the students playing in the honor band gave formal auditions.
The IHB is the brainchild of Dr. Frederick Speck.
The IHB has been around for 11 years. Speck said that he and the other directors have enjoyed watching the concert grow from a one band to a three band show.
“I had so much fun playing for [the high school students], they’re a great audience,” said Phillips, a junior music major and the Concert Chair of the University Wind Symphony. “They’re so excited to hear us play.”
“It’s an honor that [the students] have been invited, and they have been honorable,” said Speck. “There is a great camaraderie and creativity among them.”
“This concert is a teaching and service opportunity. I want them to look up here and say, ‘I can do that’,” Speck said.
For upcoming School of Music events visit www.music.louisville.edu.
