Canfield band members participate in honors band

Photo

Neighbors | Submitted.Pictured for the 2014 OMEA District 5 High School Honors Band is, from left, Michael Kelly (Canfield HS Band Director), Tara Rogers, Victoria Bosze, Jacob Rizer, Peter Crescimanno and Galen Karriker (guest conductor from the University of Akron).

The Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) District 5 had its annual Fall Conference on Nov. 8.

The Henry H. Stambaugh Auditorium was the location for the events and the musical performances of the afternoon. Many committee members planned informative workshops for the weekend under the leadership of current OMEA District 5 President, Michael Kelly, Band Director at Canfield High School.

Highlighting the conference were the performances of the OMEA District 5 middle school and high school honors bands. Band directors from across Ashtabula, Mahoning and Trumbull counties submitted hundreds of nominations of talented musicians to be considered. The Canfield band department was honored with the selection of four middle school band members and four high school band members to perform with these prestigious ensembles.

Timothy Loest, an ASCAP award-winning composer, worked with and directed the middle school D5 honors band. Using humor and descriptive stories, he united these musicians in a way that you would have thought they have played together for many years. Loest hails from Illinois and is the band director at FE Peacock Middle School. Musicians selected from Canfield Village Middle School were eighth-graders Alexis Bernat (flute), Hannah Keffler (clarinet), Hannah Crowe (french horn) and Christian Pruitt (trombone).

The high school D5 honors band was under the tutelage and baton of Galen Karriker. He is currently Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at The University of Akron. Canfield High School band members who participated were Victoria Bosze (senior, flute), Peter Crescimanno (junior, clarinet), Jacob Rizer (junior, percussion) and Tara Rogers (senior, flute).

Special recognition goes to junior Peter Crescimanno, who earned Principle Clarinet and Concert Master.