By Ethan Rice | Echo
The Taylor Wind Ensemble will be welcoming some new members to its upcoming concert.
On Thursday, March 15, the Ensemble will be joined by the inaugural Grant County High School Honors Band in concert in Rediger Auditorium. The collaboration marks a major event for the new band in its first year.
The Honors Band is made up of some of the top musicians from all Grant County high schools, nominated by their respective directors for outstanding progress in music and leadership, according to Eastbrook High School band director Joel Walters.
Joshua Huff, band director for Marion High School, explained the goal of the Honors Band is to give more advanced students the opportunity to learn music in a more fast-paced environment and advance in their musicianship.
On Taylor's end, Al Harrison, professor of music and director of Taylor's Wind and Jazz Ensembles, will be serving as the host and guest conductor for the event.
Harrison explained that the department is very excited to host the high school students on the Taylor University campus for a day of touring, music learning, attending a campus concert and interacting with Taylor University students.
Junior Ethan Garratt, the percussion section leader in the Wind Ensemble, shared Harrison's feelings about the event, and looks forward to getting to interact with the visiting high schoolers.
"Had I been in high school and learned I'd get to play with musicians at collegiate levels, I'd be both super excited and a little terrified," Garratt said. "But from a college student's perspective, I look forward to getting to interact with and inspire fellow musicians."
The 45 members of the Taylor Wind Ensemble will be performing "Festive Overture" by Dmitri Shostakovich and "Canticle of the Creatures" by James Curnow. Admission to the one-hour concert is free, and the public is invited to attend.
