The all-district band night and concert at 7 p.m. Thursday will feature a combined performance in the Montezuma-Cortez High School gym.
Doors open for the free event at 6:15 p.m.
According to MCHS band boosters treasurer Chris Snyder, the concert is unique because every band from every school in the district will perform at the contest.
The band is preparing to finish the year strong,” Snyder said. “It also provides a rare opportunity for collaboration between bands in the form of a combined piece performed by everyone together. It really fills the room with sound and is a great way to celebrate the strong band program, the hard work of the students and the tremendous support of our community.”
The high school band boosters also will host their annual auction to support the school’s music programs.
“We are overwhelmed every year by the response from the community to support these hardworking students. Local businesses are generous in donating goods and services that are auctioned off during the concert,” Snyder said.
The event will include a silent and live auction, with multiple donated items from local businesses and members of the community.
“There is always great excitement to see the generosity of local businesses and community members come together to support such a great program,” Snyder said.
The high school band has been participating in various music festivals while preparing for the all-district concert.
In early April, the high school band traveled to Bloomfield for the NM Festival. They will travel to Grand Junction for the Colorado West Festival and then travel to the Southwest CHSAA Music Festival in Bayfield.
“These festivals provide opportunity for the band to showcase music they have prepared as well as their own musicianship,” Snyder said. “They are presented with music they have never seen before and asked to perform it in front of a panel of judges.”
Each school is ranked based on their overall performance, as well as on their prepared and sight-read pieces.
“The judges provide feedback to help the students fine-tune their skills and see the value of their hard work,” Snyder said.
At the beginning of May, the high school jazz band will participate in the Music in the Parks in Denver’s Elitch Gardens theme park. According to Snyder, the accomplishments of the bands will be celebrated with other jazz bands and choirs.
“As the year comes to a close, the band will not only wrap up their final performances, but they will also begin preparing for the next marching season,” Snyder said. “Before the school year ends, the students that are planning on joining the marching band next year will receive music to practice over the summer.”
In July, the current high school band and the new recruits will begin rehearsing, playing and marching together.
“It really is a year-round commitment the students make and we are so proud of how hard they work, the greatness it helps them achieve, and the tremendous support of the community in making it all possible,” Snyder said.
