Wednesday, February 25, 2009

The All County Honors Band Festival concert will be held Saturday at Kenwood High School.  The middle school band will perform at 2 p.m., followed by the high school band. The event is free and open to the public.

“Our All County Honors Band is significant for two reasons.  First, it challenges all students who audition to prepare for an event where they will be individually evaluated on their music proficiency and personal work ethic.  Secondly, students who are selected to the honor band get the unique opportunity to work with their peers from local schools as they come together to present their talent and commitment to instrumental music,” said Richview Middle School band director Bart Dixon.

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM
Cantredanse Larry Clark
Joy Frank Ticheli
Kachina: Chant and Spirit Dance Anne McGinty
March Zuma John O’Reilly
There Will Come Soft Rain Robert Sheldon

DANNY HUMPHREYS, Conductor
Danny Humphreys, a Tennessee native, attended the University of Mississippi receiving both Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees. In his 34 years of public school teaching, Mr. Humphreys has focused on teaching middle/junior high school bands in Mississippi, Georgia, Texas and Kentucky. He was awarded the KMEA District II Middle School Teacher of the Year in 1999 and again in 2001. The Owensboro Middle School Band was selected to perform at the Kentucky Music Educator’s Conference in 2003 and 2005.

Mr. Humphreys has remained active as a performing musician throughout his teaching career, playing trumpet in numerous community bands, brass bands and small ensembles. He and his wife, Paula, have three children: Jennifer, the assistant principal cellist with the Charlotte Symphony, N.C.; Sarah, a first year Masters student in school psychology at Western Kentucky University; and John, a junior in finance at the University of Louisville.

MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND MEMBERS

MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTORS
Kenwood – Kevin Luck
Mahaffey – Rusty Carter
Montgomery Central –Darrin Hoffman
New Providence – Pam Hofe
Northeast – Tom Tapscott
Richview – Bart Dixon
Rossview – Mike Ansberry
Wassom – Kathy Bearden
West Creek – Jim Treier

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
A Winter’s Dawn John Fannin
Fanfare Nueve John Fannin
Fanfare and Folk Dances
Flashing Winds Jan Van Der Roost
Folk Dances Dmitri Shotakovich/H. Robert Reynolds
Sure on This Shining Night Samuel Barber/Richard L. Saucedo
They Hung Their Harps in the Willows W. Francis McBeth

JOHN FANNIN, Conductor
John Fannin has served as Assistant Director of Bands at Murray State University since 1995. His responsibilities at Murray State include the direction of the Symphonic Band, Marching Band, and Instrumental Music Education classes. The MSU Racer Marching Band was featured at the 2006 Bands of America Grand National Championship. Prior to his appointment at MSU, Mr. Fannin was the band director at Onate High School (NM), Del Norte High School (NM), White Sand Missile Range Middle School (NM), Thoreau High School (NM), and Ganado High School (AZ).

Mr. Fannin earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Music in Instrumental Wind Conducting at New Mexico State University. He was the recipient of the District KMEA “University Teacher of the Year” award in 1996, 1999, 2001, and 2002. He was also awarded the KMEA “Citation of Merit” in 2003, the 2006 Music Teacher of the Year at Murray State University, the 2007 Phi Beta Mu “Outstanding Contributor to Bands in KY”, and the 2008-2009 Outstanding University Teacher of the Year in Kentucky.

In addition to his career in education, Mr. Fannin is an active band clinician and guest conductor, with clinics and performances in New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, and Kentucky. He was the conductor of the 2007 NM Small School All State Concert Band. John also serves as a music and visual writer for many high school and college marching bands. He also has published many concert band works with several publishers.

"Being selected for an honor band means that you have been chosen, out of all those who play your instrument, to play with the others who are considered the best for the entire area," said Cole Dadswell, a junior baritone player from Fort Campbell High School.

HIGH SCHOOL BAND MEMBERS

HIGH SCHOOL DIRECTORS
Clarksville – Robbin Johnston
Fort Campbell – Don Hofe
Kenwood – Mary Suiter
Montgomery Central – Nicki Richmond
Northeast – Phillip Church
Northwest – Bryan Kelly
Rossview – Brock Cobb