CYPRESS — Two of CFISD’s talented instrument ensembles will be heading north in December, as the Cy-Fair High School Symphonic Band and the CFISD Honor Clarinet Choir were chosen to perform at the 2018 Midwest Clinic International Band, Orchestra and Music Conference in Chicago.
The conference is the world’s largest music convention, bringing together musicians, directors, conductors and music educators and administrators for four days of learning, networking and performances. The 72nd annual conference will be held Dec. 19-22 in Chicago, bringing together more than 17,000 attendees from all 50 states in addition to approximately 30 countries worldwide.
An invitation to perform at the Midwest Clinic is regarded as one of the highest honors that a high school music ensemble can receive. It’s earned through the submission of performance recordings and videos as well as letters of recommendation and an application which includes the ensemble’s accomplishments.
The is the fifth time CFISD has had ensembles chosen to perform.
“It is a great honor for these two groups to be chosen out of hundreds of entries to perform at the Midwest Clinic,” said Mary Running, CFISD director of fine arts. “In CFISD, we value the hard work and perseverance of our teachers and students to achieve such a high honor. Thanks to all the parents and teachers for making this trip a reality for these students. The memories and valuable lessons they will gain from this experience will last them a lifetime.”
The 62-member symphonic band is under the direction of Cy-Fair Director of Bands Mark Veenstra, Associate Director John Nelson, and assistant directors Alma Cantu and Michael McConnell. It’s among five high school ensembles selected nationwide to perform.
“It is the biggest event that has happened to our band in the past 35 years, and really brings a national spotlight to Cy-Fair High School,” Veenstra said.
Added sophomore Audrey Haine: “I am feeling really good about the music we are playing. It is really exciting and interesting to listen to and perform, and I can’t wait to see our hard work pay off.”
The clarinet choir is comprised of 19 musicians representing nine CFISD high schools and is led by Mark Edenfield, Cypress Falls High School director of bands, and Shirley Holstien, a recent retiree who last served as assistant director at Cypress Creek High School. The ensemble is one of the two high school chamber groups invited to perform at the clinic.
Both ensembles will hold two free concerts prior to departing for Chicago:
Cy-Fair High School Symphonic Band
- 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2 at the Berry Center arena
- 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at the Cy-Fair High School auditorium
CFISD Honor Clarinet Choir
- 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2 at the Berry Center theatre (with guest artist Sasha Potiomkin from the Houston Symphony)
- 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16 at the Berry Center theatre (clear bag policy in effect)
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