Chesterton High School senior band students Fred Owens and Joel Peterson recently participated in the 2016 Indiana Music Educators Association (IMEA) Honor Concert Band. This 110-member ensemble includes some of Indiana’s finest student musicians, from many of the best music programs in the state. The Honor Band recently performed as part of the annual IMEA Professional Development Conference which took place at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne on January 14-16.
“Being able to perform such difficult music with only two days of rehearsing was awesome," said Peterson. When asked about his experience at this event Owens said, “It’s really cool being in an environment where everyone is dedicated to music." The students that are accepted into this ensemble receive their music a few weeks prior to the conference weekend so that they may have the chance to practice and work with their directors in preparation for the event. Once at the conference, the students have minimal rehearsal time with a special guest conductor in order to prepare as many as eight pieces for their concert performance that weekend. This year’s special guest conductor was Dr. Peter Boonshaft, Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Hofstra University.