Wayne County Public Schools to showcase talents on Tuesday
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 21, 2016 1:46 PM
Wayne County Public Schools will showcase the musical talents of 120 band members Tuesday night as the district hosts the 2016 All-County Band Festival.
It will start at 7 p.m. at Dillard Middle School.
Band directors from 14 middle and high schools have been working with their students for weeks in preparation for the event, which also exposes them to the opportunity of being led by guest conductors.
The middle school conductor will be Ronzell Bell, a retired band and chorus teacher. Dr. John P. LaCognata, director of bands at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, will conduct the high school group.
Cindy Grant, the district's lead band teacher, also assisted in the process of pulling the event together, said Kim Copeland, director specialist.
"It is very rewarding for our band teachers and guest clinicians to hear our students come together as one band after months of independent work," she said. "Audience members can expect an outstanding evening of performances.
Band directors from the district represented include Jerome Powers of Brogden Middle, Michael Palmer of Charles B. Aycock High, Shannon Walker of Dillard Middle, Bobby Sherard of Eastern Wayne High, Daryl Richardson of Eastern Wayne Middle, Tyler Tharrington of Goldsboro High, Rita Granados of Grantham Middle, Jennifer L. Kirkland of Greenwood Middle, Paula Rodgers of Norwayne Middle, Melissa Riser of Rosewood Middle and high schools, Cindy Grant of Southern Wayne High, Karen Peele of Spring Creek Middle, and Daniel Kilgore of Spring Creek High.
Musical selections for the program include "Courage March," "The Pit and the Pendulum," "Windsongs," "Zeal," "Crossroads," "Accolade, Moscow 1941" and "Scholastics March."
School board member Rick Pridgen will serve as emcee for the event. It is free and open to the public.