AHS replaces Chapel Hill as band event site

By Kathi Keys
Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune


ASHEBORO - Asheboro High School will host the 2005 N.C. Central District Bandmasters Association All-District Honor Band Clinic this weekend.

Normally held at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the event is being held this year in Asheboro due to renovations at Memorial Hall on the UNC campus.

"We are delighted to host this prestigious event," said Phil Homiller, director of Asheboro High School bands and site host.

"We have a terrific facility and this is a great opportunity to bring students from all over the district to Asheboro."

The clinic on Friday and Saturday will bring in more than 200 students from the Central District which covers the area from Randolph County to Chapel Hill and north to the Virginia line. Students from Asheboro City and Randolph County schools will be among the participants.

Band directors and guest clinicians will also be in Asheboro, along with students' parents and family members.

Activities will conclude with a concert - free and open to the community - on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the AHS Performing Arts Center, 1221 S. Park St.

Students will start arriving Friday afternoon to register before five hours of rehearsals that day - from 2:30-5:30 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. They'll resume rehearsals on Saturday, from 9 a.m.-noon and 1:30-4 p.m., before the concert.

High school students participating in the All-District Honor Band Clinic were chosen as a result of auditions held Jan. 8 at Southwest Guilford High School.

The 9-10 Wind Ensemble consists of 62 of the top ninth- and 10th-graders in the district who will work with guest clinician Dr. C. Dwayne Wilson, director of bands and instrumental studies at Campbell University in Buies Creek.

The 11-12 Wind Ensemble includes 62 of the top 11th- and 12th-graders in the district working with guest clinician Stephen Pratt, associate director of bands from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.

The third group is the 9-12 Symphonic Band which brings together 90 top musicians from the district to work with guest clinician David S. Albert who's director of bands at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh.

The three groups will rehearse in three areas on the AHS campus - the band room, auditorium and Professional Development Center.

Asheboro High School will be represented by seven students: Juniors Chris Akins, bassoon, Jesse Anderson, clarinet, Eric Araj, French horn; Tom Liles, tenor saxophone, and Allison McAlister, French horn; and seniors Justin Gerringer, trombone, and Amanda Smith, trumpet.

Southwestern Randolph High School will be represented by Steven Hall, timpani, junior. Information about Eastern Randolph and Trinity representatives was not available by Wednesday evening; Randleman does not have a representative.


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