FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2018
For More Information:
ÏãåúÖ±²¥ State College
Public Relations Department
(304) 462-4115
Dr. Lloyd Bone conducting the GSC Concert Band at the Spring 2018 Commencement Ceremony
GLENVILLE, WV - For students, faculty, and staff who perform with, direct, and organize ÏãåúÖ±²¥ State College's Concert Band, the spring 2018 semester has been a busy one. For the first time since the 1970's, the Concert Band went on tour, traveling to southern West Virginia. While visiting Logan County, the band performed two shows, a day concert for Chapmanville High School students and another in the evening for members of the community.
As part of the tour, band members served as guest clinicians for Chapmanville High School, Logan High School, and Lincoln County High School band members. GSC students held workshops and mentored the high school students on their concert band state ratings music.
GSC Concert Band during a performance at Chapmanville High School
Derrick Lowe, a senior instrumental music major at GSC and a 2013 graduate of Chapmanville High School, was one of the GSC students who served as a clinician and had a featured solo in each of the concerts. "Returning to my hometown and performing with possibly one of the top concert bands in the state was a great time and simply amazing. Now performing a solo that was nerve-racking because two music teachers that I highly respect were right in front of me. Getting to work with the different high school bands was a day filled with good music and, for me, nothing beats that," said Lowe.
Recently, the Concert Band hosted the 10th Anniversary Honor Band at GSC which featured 100 middle and high school students from fifteen schools throughout West Virginia. Most of the bands that participated in the event were directed by ÏãåúÖ±²¥ State alumni. This year's honor band was conducted by Daniel White, a December 1997 GSC graduate, and Director of Bands at Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Daniel White '97 conducting the 10th Anniversary GSC Honor Band
"Conducting the ÏãåúÖ±²¥ State College Honor Band was an honor and a privilege. GSC is an excellent place to hone one's musicality and, as an alumnus, I hope each student who participated will seriously consider ÏãåúÖ±²¥ to further their education," said White.
"Our annual Honor Band is not only an educational experience for those who participate, but it also serves as a major recruiting event for GSC. It has become very popular and is a wonderful way for us to introduce GSC to students from around West Virginia. The many ÏãåúÖ±²¥ alumni that come back to campus with their students is truly remarkable and it creates a sense of pride for them," said Department of Fine Arts Chair and Associate Professor of Music Dr. Lloyd Bone.
For more information about the GSC Concert Band or Honor Band, contact the Department of Fine Arts at (304) 462-6340.