Southwestern College will host area high school musicians on Tuesday, Jan. 24, and Wednesday, Jan. 25—its first Honor Orchestra Festival on Tuesday and the South Central Kansas Band League (SCBL) Honor Band on Wednesday.

Tuesday’s Honor Orchestra Festival will consist of 49 high school students in addition to Southwestern College students.  The all-day event will culminate with a concert at 6 p.m. in the Richardson Performing Arts Center.  There is no admission charge for the concert and the public is invited to attend.  The concert is sponsored by Betty Bradley.

Most of the orchestra will be nominated high school students from Winfield, Arkansas City, El Dorado, Derby, and Ponca City.  It will be directed by Amber Peterson and will perform the Rutter “Suite for Strings” in addition to accompanying SC percussion professor Jeremy Kirk on a movement of the Rosauro “Marimba Concerto.” The concert will also feature the 89-player Ponca City High School Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dan P. Larson.

Peterson is looking forward to the concert and hopes for a long relationship with these musicians. 

“We are very excited to host all these talented young string players on our campus,” Peterson says.  “We hope this will be the start of an educational and musical relationship with these programs, their directors, and the students for many years to come.”

Southwestern will host the South Central Kansas Band League (SCBL) Honor Band on Wednesday, Jan. 25.  The SCBL is composed of 1A, 2A, and 3A schools.  High school directors have selected between five to eight of their top high school wind and percussion students to participate in the 72-member band, which will be conducted by Kirk.  

The day will consist of full band rehearsals and sectionals, and will conclude with a concert at 2:30 p.m. in the Richardson Performing Arts Center.  Music will include Ralph Vaughn Williams’s “Flourish,” Mike Sweeney’s “Rock River Tree,” Frank Ticheli’s “Amazing Grace,” and John Mackey’s “Foundry.”  There is no admission charge to attend the concert and the public is invited to attend. 

“I am very excited to host the directors and students of the South Central Band League,” Kirk says.   “This promises to be a great educational opportunity and musical experience for all students.”