The Honors Ensemble is a selective group where high school musicians from different schools come together to perform advanced music pieces. Students are chosen based on skill and commitment. This program gives participants the experience of working with peers and guest conductors in a professional setting. Carissa Napier and Reagan Bradley, both members of the Kent State University All-Star Honor Band this year, shared their experiences and what it’s like to be part of the ensemble.
Napier, a junior at Wadsworth High School, was part of the Kent State Honors Band. She played flute and she applied through a recommendation from Dana Hire, the band teacher, and filled out a form for the directors of the honors band.
“Mrs. Hire mentions them to the class, then puts them on the whiteboard to encourage people to sign up,” said Napier.
This event happens over three days of practice, and Napier explains how it works.
“The whole event was three days,” said Napier. “Thursday we practiced for three hours in the afternoon. Friday we practiced for 12 hours. Saturday was our show, and we had an hour rehearsal before the concert. For each practice, everyone drove out to Kent State University, and rehearsals were held there.”
For placement by instrument, each group was split into sections and arranged in concert arcs.
“Then, we were placed by our skills and our past experiences in honor bands. The more experienced and qualified players got put in the first part,” said Napier.
This was Napier’s first time participating in an event like this.
“I didn’t feel anxious; I was more like excited,” said Napier. “I was excited to have this opportunity and learn more about music from a variety of directors.”
Bradley, a junior at Wadsworth, also participated in the Kent State Honors Band, going through the same process as Napier, however he plays the tuba.
“I was placed in a section of the same instrument in the Gold Band, the higher ranked of the two bands at the ensemble; the Blue Band was the other, and according to skill level, chair placements are determined in the section. I was the first chair,” said Bradley.
Like Napier, he experienced the same practice schedule and performed on Saturday. But, the group was the first to perform their piece publicly.
“The band I played in world-premiered a piece called Ekklesia, which means that we were the first group to ever play that piece for a public audience,” said Bradley. “The composer of that piece was at the ensemble all weekend, and I got to meet and talk to him, as well as get his autograph. His name is Michael Markowski.”
