The James Hart School Symphonic Band has qualified for the State Festival after earning a Division I rating at the Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA) District VI Organizational Contest.
The Homewood students will be at the April 29 IGSMA State Festival meet in Tinley Park.
This was the third time in the last four years the band has received a Division I rank, the highest rating the band could receive, said band director Matthew Johnson. Students played for a panel of three judges.
The District VI meet was one of several music programs the Hart School bands were a part of.
The Hart Jazz Band performed at the Prairie State College Jazz Band Invitational in February. Students received recognition and direction from outstanding jazz musicians.
In addition to the District VI competition, the Hart Symphonic Band gave an afternoon performance at the South Suburban Junior High School Association Conference Band Festival in Steger. The band was then critiqued by David Allie, a retired junior high band director.
The community got to hear the band at a chamber recital on March 20 at Hart School where the 65 symphonic band members performed as small ensembles of three to six students.
“The concert, which was a new event this year for the Hart band program, allowed each student to shine in a more individualized spotlight, and exposed students to works by great composers, such as Bach, Bartók, Beethoven and Telemann, among others,” Johnson said.
Hart music teachers Kim Tallungan and Sean McQuinn assist Johnson with the band program.
