Unlike the all state choir where each high school gets to select a certain number of singers (twenty when I was in high school) to participate, the all state band has an audition process. You can’t really fit a five-hundred-member band on the stage at Symphony Hall so there really is a need to cull the number of students who want to participate. Daniel auditioned with his clarinet this year and was accepted. He was thrilled and I was proud. Some high schools had only one student make it in. Our high school had eight students make it. Our band director is fantastic and the success of the kids in the program is just one way we are seeing his effect. He has created an environment where not only do the kids excel, but they feel valued and included. The environment is supportive and inclusive. While he pushes the kids to be their best, he focuses on improvement rather an outcome so as long as the kids give it all they’ve got, they come away feeling like each event was a success. Honestly, I feel very blessed that Daniel has been part of such a fantastic program. His high school experience has been very positive and a large part of that is the support group made up of the band director and all the kids in the band.
The concert was this evening and I have to admit that having a kid play in symphony hall was kind of exciting. Daniel was excited as well. As he begins the last half of his senior year, he is definitely having some amazing experiences and great successes. I think he will come away feeling his senior year was all he could have hoped for.
No comments:
Post a Comment