CSU Presents Annual High School Honor Band Festival

Featuring performances from CSU’s Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony

CSU’s High School Honor Band Festival kicks off on Thursday, February 26 with the Symphonic Band’s performance of Borrowed at 7 p.m. The Wind Symphony continues the festival with a continuation of their series, Elements, this time focusing on the element of Water on Friday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m. The High School Honor Band brings the festival to a close on Saturday, February 28 at 2 p.m. All concerts will be held in the Griffin Concert Hall, University Center for the Arts, located on 1400 Remington St.

CSU’s annual High School Honor Band Festival is an outstanding opportunity for some of Colorado’s most talented high school music students to get hands-on training in a college setting. In addition to rehearsals, students enjoy several concerts given by CSU faculty and student ensembles.

This year’s festival features performances from CSU’s Symphonic Band, led by Dr. Richard Frey with graduate conductor Michael Bowles, and CSU’s Wind Symphony, led by Dr. Rebecca Phillips and graduate conductor Chase Morin. Phillips will also conduct the High School Honor Band in their final concert.

“The festival gives us the opportunity to support and enrich high school music programs by allowing students of similar abilities from all over the state to learn and perform together,” said Richard Frey, CSU Associate Director of Bands. “Through this program, students also get to interact with CSU faculty in a college environment.”

Symphonic Band Concert

Borrowed
With Michael Bowles, Graduate Conductor
Thursday, February 26, 7 p.m. Griffin Concert Hall, UCA

The Symphonic Band, led by Richard Frey, kicks off the annual CSU High School Honor Band weekend with a concert titled Borrowed. Each work contains a borrowed element: the melody, style, or idea behind each piece is taken from a source in the past. The concert concludes with Alfred Reed’s showpiece for band, “Armenian Dances.”

Wind Symphony Concert

Elements: Water
With CSU Faculty Gary Moody, Bassoon & Chase Morin, Graduate Conductor
Friday, February 27, 7:30 p.m. Griffin Concert Hall, UCA

The Wind Symphony, led by Rebecca Phillips, continues their season of concerts that represent the elements of wind, earth, water, and fire. Join us as we feature faculty artist Dr. Gary Moody on bassoon for an evening combining the basic element of water with the musical element of jazz, including works by Wilson, Daugherty, and CSU award-winning composer Dr. James David.

Honor Band Concert

With CSU Faculty Rebecca Phillips, Conductor
Saturday, February 28, 2 p.m., Griffin Concert Hall, UCA

CSU’s annual High School Honor Band Festival brings together Colorado’s finest high school musicians, selected from hundreds of applicants throughout the region. Featuring guest clinicians and conductors, the three-day festival is capped off with a performance by the Honor Band, led by Rebecca Phillips, in the beautiful, state-of-the art Griffin Concert Hall.

About Richard Frey

The Associate Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Colorado State University, Dr. Richard Frey conducts the Symphonic Band, directs the Marching Band, and teaches courses in music education. With his works and experience with wind instruments and conducting, he has led the CSU Faculty Chamber Winds on a European tour and the CSU Marching Band under his direction has gained national and even international reputation. He has worked as an arranger and drill designer, percussionist and pianist.

About Rebecca Phillips

Dr. Rebecca Phillips is the newly appointed director of bands at Colorado State University where she conducts the CSU Wind Symphony and guides all aspects of the band and graduate wind conducting program. Prior to this appointment, she served as the associate director of bands, director of athletic bands, and associate professor at the University of South Carolina where she was responsible for directing the Symphonic Winds Concert Band, “The Mighty Sound of the Southeast” Carolina Marching Band, “Concocktion” Pep Bands, teaching undergraduate instrumental conducting, and directing the Carolina Summer Drum Major Clinic.

The University Center for the Arts at Colorado State University provides an enriched venue in which the study and practice of Art, Dance, Music, and Theatre are nurtured and sustained by building the skills and knowledge needed by future generations of arts professionals to become contributors to the essential vitality of our culture and society.

For more information, visit UCA.Colostate.edu.