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GISD BANDS SHINE AT CONCERT FESTIVALS

May 12, 2017
 
Top ensembles from Granbury ISD bands have shined during performances at concert festivals in April and May 2017.
 
GHS Wind Ensemble  
 
The Wind Ensemble from Granbury High School placed third among 35 bands at the Dallas Winds Invitational Windband Festival at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Downtown Dallas on April 28.  Sections honored for outstanding musical performance were clarinets, flutes, and French horns.  Soloists recognized were:  Brayston Avila, tuba; Lauren Boleng, flute; Melanie Boleng, clarinet; Emma McKelvain, alto saxophone; Hannah Meyers, oboe; Hannah Pallett, tenor saxophone; Dustin Tonkovich, trumpet.
 
The high school band later placed second among 18 groups at the Peak Music Festival at the University of North Texas’ Murchison Performing Arts Center in Denton on May 4.  Honored sections were flutes, French horns, and trumpets.  Soloists recognized were:  Lauren Boleng, flute; Melanie Boleng, clarinet; Ian Cone, French horn; Emma McKelvain, alto saxophone; Hannah Myers, oboe; Hannah Pallett, tenor saxophone.
 
The Wind Ensemble performed “Who’s Who in Navy Blue” by John Philip Sousa and arranged by Frank Byrne, “Symphony in Bb for Band” by Paul Hindemith, and “Paris Sketches” by Martin Ellerby and edited by Timothy Reynish.
 
GMS Honors Band  
 
For the Granbury Middle School Honors Band, the group received superior ratings during a Peak festival at the Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson on May 3.
 
The GMS program featured “Hosts of Freedom” by Karl L. King and arranged by John P. Paynter, “Our Kingsland Spring” by Samuel Hazo, and “La Madre de los Gatos” by Brian Beck.
 
AMS Honors Band  
 
The Acton Middle School Honors Band also received superior ratings at a separate Peak competition at the Murchison Center on May 5.  Sections honored were French horns and percussion for outstanding musicianship.
 
AMS students performed “Imperial” by Karl L. King and arranged by James Swearingen, “Scenes from Terezin” by Jack Stamp, and “Be Thou My Vision” by Larry Clark.
 
All three ensembles participated in the concert festivals to obtain quality recordings for the Texas Music Educators Association’s honor band competition.  Each of the groups earned Division I superior ratings for their concert performances during recent UIL competitions.
 
Directors are:  GHS – Mark Eastin and Tahlequah Kirk; AMS – John Morgan and Stephanie Bosch; GMS – Michele Kahne and James Beeson.