Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) middle and high school musicians are tuning up for the All-County Honors Band concert set for Thursday, Jan. 25.
The high school band features 57 students, and the middle school group has 63 players. The high school band is being conducted by Lauren Reynolds, associate professor of music and director of concert band at the University of Delaware and Duane Petrow, music supervisor for the Archdioceses of Washington, who taught instrumental music at St. Peter’s School, will lead the middle school band.
“Everyone who applied are really good musicians,” North Point High School junior Rodney Norman said. “And they only accept the best. So, yes. These are some of the best of the best musicians in the county.”
Norman has been in band since fifth grade and plays percussion. He thought he flubbed part of the application process but was excited to have been named to All-County for the first time. He thinks the concert will be a stellar show. “[The audience] can see the value of what we have in the county — come out and see the talent in the next generation,” he said.
Being named to an all-county group is the result of years of hard work and dedication, Andrew Blumhardt, CCPS instructional specialist for fine and performing arts, said. “It is a recognition of excellence at a level that stands out among a student’s peers,” he said.
If you go
The CCPS All-County Honors Band will perform at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 25, at St. Charles High School. The school is at 5305 Piney Church Road in Waldorf.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,598 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).