On November 19, 2009, in the Northland Community & Technical College Theatre at the Thief River Falls campus, ninety-two (92) area high school instrumental students will come together as part of the High School Honor Band and Jazz Band. This year is the festival’s 38th annual performance hosted by the Northland College Music Department and the first year of the jazz portion of the festival.

Students are nominated by their high school band directors to take part in the event. The twelve schools attending this year’s high school festival and their directors are: Badger– Lisa Erickson; Fisher – Brittany Pyle; Goodridge – Kathryn Nordine; Greenbush – Dan Carpenter; Grygla/Gatzke – Gene Lunsetter (past Northland student); Lafayette – Lacie Hovland (past Northland graduate); Lincoln HS – Katie Hahn; Marshall County Central – Deland Elseth; Stephen/Argyle Central – Nathan Dalager; Tri-county HS – Brad Thompson; Win-E-Mac – Amanda Wegscheid; Warren/Alvarado/Oslo HS – Bill Sedgeman.

The High School Honor Band will rehearse as a group at Northland College on Thursday, November 12, from 3:00 – 5:30 p.m., with the Northland Music Director, Linda Samuelson, and will rehearse again on the day of the concert, November 19, from 1:00 – 5:00 PM. Following the rehearsals a pizza party will be held for the students before the performance begins. The day will conclude with the Autumn Musicale concert at 6:00 in the Northland College Theatre.

Linda Samuelson shared, “2009 is a special year for the event because we have instituted an Honor Jazz Band. The jazz band members will rehearse over the two days as well, prior to the Concert Band rehearsals. Not all of the schools in our area are able to offer jazz as a part of their curricular offerings so Northland is more than happy to extend this opportunity to expose the students to this great American art form.”

According to Samuelson, the participating high school musicians have been chosen by their directors as leaders of their sections to represent their high school. The students are then assigned parts and music is mailed to them for practice before the event. With the help of recordings, dedicated practice and assistance from their instructors the students come prepared to work on the music at the first of two rehearsals. The second rehearsal is to complete the work they began only one month early in preparation for the evening concert.

The culmination of the day’s work will be presented to the public at the Autumn Musicale Concert, which will take place in the Northland College Theatre on Thursday, November 19th, at 6:00 p.m. Admission to the event is $4.00. Samuelson encourages the public to attend the performance to show support of these maturing musicians. For more information contact Linda Samuelson at the Northland Music Department, 218-683-8717.