St. Bernard Preparatory School recently started a new tradition by participating in the 26th Annual Cullman County Honor Band held January 17 at Wallace State College in Hanceville. The Honor Band was comprised of two hundred and forty six of the county’s top musicians from nine junior high and senior high school bands.
St. Bernard nascent instrumental band program began two years ago. Under the leadership of Lester Harris, a seasoned band instructor and trumpeter, the music program has been one of the most recent additions to the curriculum of the 25 year old college preparatory school. “We have some outstanding talent and offer our congratulations to Amanda Parker who plays the flute and Mark McDaniel who plays the trumpet,” said Mr. Harris. “Both students received medals for their placement in the group. Amanda was singled out for scoring in the top 25% of the high school honor band students.”
Students arrived at Wallace State on Friday evening and were judge according to the following: playing a scale, playing three scales chromatically adjacent, playing a chromatic scale, and then playing a prepared piece. Finally, the student had to “sight read” a piece that was completely new to them.
On Saturday students met at 8:30 and rehearsed all day to prepare music for the concert Saturday evening. The Junior High Honor Band under the conduction of Terry Ownby played Avenger by Bob Grice; Cool Cat Shuffle by David Shaffer; Fantasy on An Irish Air by Richard Saucedo; and Name Those Tunes! By Jerry Williams. McDaniel was seated #8 out of 23 in the trumpet section.
Garry Taylor conducted the Senior High Honor Band as they played The Star Spangled Banner; Into the Storm by Robert W. Smith; Flight of the Piasa by Robert Sheldon; Mandalin Landscapes by Philip Sparke; Our Heritage by Karl King; and The Lord of the Dance by Richard Saucedo. Parker earned the #5 spot of 17 students in the flute section.
Harris said, “It’s quite an undertaking to play all those pieces in that short amount of time. St. Bernard wishes to thank the Cullman Band Directors Association, Dr. Vicki Hawsey, President, WSC; Ricky Burks, Chairman of the Music Department, WSC; and the Music Department Staff, WSC for the opportunity to participate.”
