HF-L band students show off the awards from the Virginia Beach trip. Submitted photo
BY DONNA MACKENZIE
Accolades abounded for the three different Honeoye Falls-Lima High School bands which competed in the Festivals of Music regional competition in Virginia Beach at the end of April.
HF-L’s Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble performed in the Douglas Wilder Center for the Performing Arts at Norfolk State University. Among the three esteemed adjudicators that the students worked with was a former director of “Pershing’s Own” Army Band.
The Concert Band received a rating of “Excellent” and placed second in Class A. The Wind Ensemble competed in the AA division and captured first place with a “Superior” rating. The Wind Ensemble also won the overall award for top band at the festival. The Jazz Ensemble was in its AA division as well and garnered first place with a “Superior” rating. The Jazz Ensemble won the top overall Jazz Ensemble award at the festival.
While all three bands received honors, one student was recognized in the soloist category and an entire instrument section was also singled out for honors. Kadin Deisenroth received the Outstanding Jazz Soloist Award for the festival. The trombone section captured the award for top jazz section.
“It was great for the kids to work with Colonel Thomas Palmatier, who was the director of “Pershing’s Own” Army Band,” music teacher Mark Borden said. “The bands have always gotten good ratings. This year, only one soloist and one section were recognized out of all the bands who were there so for us to receive both of those was pretty special.”
