MENC: The National Association for Music Education Announces First-Ever Hershey's All-USA High School Band
96 high school students named to the first ever Hershey's All - USA High School Band program. The honor is coordinated by Hershey's Fund Raising and MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world's largest arts education organization with nearly 120,000 current and future educators representing all levels of instruction. Students were nominated by their teachers and singled out for their musical achievement, academic prowess and community involvement. The band includes 18 principal chairs, each chosen to lead their respective instrument sections within the group. Finalists were selected by members of the 257th Army Band and the U. S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own."
RESTON, VA (PRWEB) October 20, 2004
Being chosen for the first-ever All-USA High School Band is a high note in any young musician's career. At an early age, twins Jacqueline and Jennifer Cristen fell in love with music. Several years and countless flute and oboe lessons later, the Hamburg, N. Y. sisters are among 96 high school students named to the first ever Hershey's All - USA High School Band program.
The honor is coordinated by Hershey's Fund Raising and MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world's largest arts education organization with nearly 120,000 current and future educators representing all levels of instruction. Students were nominated by their teachers and singled out for their musical achievement, academic prowess and community involvement. The band includes 18 principal chairs, each chosen to lead their respective instrument sections within the group. Finalists were selected by members of the 257th Army Band and the U. S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own."
"High school musicians are asked to balance commitments to family, academics, community, and their personal life, all while maintaining high musical skill levels," said John J. Mahlmann, MENC executive director. "We felt it was time to recognize these outstanding students for their dedication and hard work."
The listing represents high school students in 28 states and 89 schools. Seven schools were honored with two band representatives. Among the honorees is South Lakes High School percussionist Kyle Brightwell from Reston, VA. Brightwell is the list's only triple threat, mastering battery and mallet percussion and timpani.
"For these exceptional students, the All-USA Band offers an opportunity to excel and to earn national recognition," remarked Darren Johnson, band director at North Thurston High School in Lacey, WA. "It is exciting to have an opportunity like this to challenge our most capable students." Johnson nominated two of his students, finalists David McLemore, principle tuba, and Sean Strohm, 2nd trombone.
"In the high school setting, where sports acknowledgments often outweigh musical ones, it is nice to see a program designed to spotlight a very deserving group of individuals," said Cathy Freitag, mother of All-USA flutist Caryn Frietag, of Malta, N. Y.
For more information about Hershey's All-USA High School Band and MENC, visit www. menc. org or www. hersheysfundraising. com.
MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world's largest arts education organization, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. Nearly 120,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC's activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.
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