The Department of Music and the Auburn University Bands hosted the 2008 All-State Band Festival for the top junior and high school students in Alabama last weekend.
The Alabama Bandmasters Association sponsored the three-day event that began Friday night with a performance from the Auburn University Symphonic Band.
The free concert was performed for the participants in the festival, as well as the public at the Opelika Performing Arts Center.
Clay Ritenbaugh, a junior in music, performed with the AU Symphonic Band Friday night and thought the crowd of excited junior and high school students was a perfect audience.
“It was likely the best performance of which I’ve been a part of,” Ritenbaugh said.
Ritenbaugh said the All-State students were an enthusiastic crowd, and he thinks they fed off the students’ energy.
“Everything came together to produce a really stirring concert,” Ritenbaugh said.
Rick Good, director of bands and associate professor of music at AU, felt the performance truly showcased the music department’s strengths.
“Each song played was very challenging, and they definitely played the best they had all year,” Good said.
Good said the symphonic band represented the department and University well.
Jimmy Johnson, a graduate student in psychology, thought Friday’s performance was the perfect climax to the band’s hard work and dedication this year.
“Without question, the band achieved a new zenith of musical excellence, as evident from the roaring ovation at the concert’s conclusion,” Johnson said.
Johnson said they had several hundred in attendance and received one of the “warmest receptions in recent memory.”
“It was by far our most impressive and energized concert of the past several years,” Johnson said.
Those students chosen to perform in the festival competed against the most talented musicians in the state for a spot.
Eight district sites in the state held auditions for junior and high school students interested in participating in the All-State Band.
The audition process narrowed down the pool of musicians, which 350 schools participated in, to 650 of the most premier students in the state.
Those chosen to attend the festival had to audition for placement in one of four bands upon arriving at Auburn on Thursday evening.
One of the three high school All-State Bands was the Red Band, conducted by Gary Garner, retired director of bands at West Texas University.
Johnny Jacobs, a former instrumental music educator in the Jefferson County School System, conducted the Blue All-State Band.
Steven Bolstad the director of bands at James Madison University conducted the White All-State Band.
Carla Galahan, an assistant professor of music education at Troy State University, conducted the only All-State Junior High Band.
The festival ended Saturday afternoon with a free showcase concert in the Auburn Student Activities Center.
Each All-State Band performed and demonstrated the instructions and methods they learned over the weekend.
Good feels hosting the annual event is ideal for boosting the department’s notoriety.
“We have been fortunate enough to host the festival for the last five or six years,” Good said. “The festival has been a great way to get Auburn’s name out there.”
Although this year was a success, they are looking to find an appropriate venue for future performances.
