Purdue News

February 20, 1998

Purdue Bands to present honors high school concerts

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: There is a location change. The Honors High School Orchestra Concert at 2:30 p.m. originally was scheduled to be at the Long Center. Please check your calendars!

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Two outstanding high school ensembles will visit the Purdue campus on Sunday, March 1, as Purdue University Bands present its annual Honors High School concerts.

At 2:30 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church, 102 N. Chauncey Ave, West Lafayette, Purdue's Symphony Orchestra will play host to the Floyd Central High School Orchestra from Floyds Knob, Ind. At 7 p.m., the Purdue Symphonic Band will perform with the North Central High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble in a concert at the Long Center, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette. Both concerts are free and open to the public.

The Honors High School Program was established in 1996 by Jay S. Gephart, assistant professor of bands who directs Purdue's two top symphonic groups. Gephart began these outreach concerts as a way to recognize exceptional high school musical programs throughout the state. The concerts give the visiting high school students the chance to experience playing at the university level, and also serve as an important recruiting tool for the bands department.

Both the Floyd Central and North Central high school music programs are recognized as being among the finest in the state. The Floyd Central Orchestra program is now in its 30th year. The orchestra has performed five times as part of the "Clowes Hall Honors Orchestra Program"; three times at the Warren Central/Butler University String Orchestra Festival; and eight times at the Indiana State School Music Association state finals for orchestra.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble at North Central High School has received consistent superior ratings at festivals throughout the state and placed in the top 16 in the Indiana State School Music Association band competition eight times, finishing second in 1995 and fourth in 1990 and 1991. The ensemble has performed as a guest of the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Clowes Memorial Hall on the campus of Butler University, and in 1994 it was selected to perform at the Indiana Music Educators Association state convention. The ensemble is directed by Michael Akers, who received his master's degree from Purdue in 1996.

CONTACT: Jennifer Tucker, bands publicist, (765) 496-2697; e-mail, pubands@omni.cc.purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

To the Purdue News and Photos Page