Thirty-three concert bands representing the college, high school, junior high and middle school levels are scheduled to perform at the 2018 Arkansas Tech University Southern Regional Concert Band Festival, an affiliate of Music for All National Festival presented by Yamaha.
The festival begins on Wednesday, March 28, at 8:30 a.m. and continues through the final performance at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 29. All performances will take place at The Center for the Arts on the campus of Russellville High School at 2209 S. Knoxville Ave. Admission will be free and open to the public.
The ATU Symphonic Wind Ensemble will perform at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday and 3:15 p.m. Thursday. Dr. Daniel A. Belongia, associate professor of music and director of bands at Arkansas Tech, conducts the ensemble. Dr. Christopher Harris and Dr. Sean Reed of the ATU music faculty will appear as guest artists.
Students in attendance will work with and learn from a panel of five nationally-renowned clinicians: Hal Cooper, professor emeritus of music, Arkansas Tech University; Beth Fabrizio, director of bands, Hilton Central School District (N.Y.); Ray Lichtenwalter, director of bands emeritus, University of Texas at Arlington; Stan Schoonover, retired music educator, Fairfax County Public Schools (Va.); and Alfred Watkins, retired band director, Lassiter High School (Marietta, Ga.).
Among the K-12 schools that will be represented at the festival by one or more bands are Bentonville High School, Berryville Middle School, Bethel Middle School (Bryant), Bryant High School, Cabot Freshman Academy, Cabot High School, Dardanelle High School, Dover High School, Fayetteville High School, Flippin High School, Greenwood High School, Greenwood Junior High School, Harrison High School, Lake Hamilton High School, Magazine High School, Malvern High School, Maumelle Charter High School, Pottsville High School, Pottsville Junior High School, Piggott High School, Pinnacle View Middle School (Little Rock), Randall G. Lynch Middle School (Farmington), Scott Charter School, Springdale High School and Valley Springs High School.
Visit www.atu.edu/music and www.atu.edu/bands to learn more about the Arkansas Tech Department of Music and its instrumental music program.
