Students at Buchholz High School recently had the opportunity to fulfill the wish of most of the world’s musicians by performing at Carnegie Hall.
The school’s Wind Symphony was one of just five high school bands in the nation invited to perform at the New York Wind Band Festival. The ensemble received a Gold Award from the festival’s adjudicators, earning a score of 98 out of a possible 100.
Dr. William Johnson, artistic director for the Festival, said the Buchholz students gave “the best high school performance I have ever heard of this piece.” Adjudicator Dr. Christian Zembower praised the ensemble for “great musicianship through and through! Bravo!”
“It was one of the most memorable experiences I can recall in twenty years,” said Buchholz band director Alex Kaminsky of the Carnegie performance.
While in New York, Kaminsky also learned that his Wind Symphony will be headed to Chicago in December for the 2009 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. It’s the first time in three years that a Florida band has been invited to the event, and only five altogether have made it in the last decade. Kaminsky led one of those bands, Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, which attended in 2005.
“I feel blessed and honored that this is going to be my second time bringing a group in four years,” he said.
More than 15,000 musicians are expected to attend the event, representing all 50 states and 30 nations from around the globe. The clinic draws music educators as well as school and college bands, military, adult and professional ensembles. The music industry is also well represented, with music publishers, composers, recording companies, music associations and other industry-related groups in attendance.
More information about the trip is available on the Buchholz band website at www.buchholzband.com.