Recently local students were able to participate in several musically enriching activities, reports Eliza Hardee, Quincy Junior-Senior High School band teacher.
On March 17 and 18 around 320 band students attended All County Band Day in Greenville, where Indian Valley Academy hosted the event this year. Plumas Unified School District has almost a century-long tradition of excellence in school music programs, said Hardee. For at least 70 years, this tradition has included an annual school music festival, complete with special showcase performances presented by each school for expert clinicians and adjudicators.
In the aftermath of COVID, said Hardee, the district pivoted to a less competitive, more nurturing musical event for students to serve as a culmination of their musical studies for that year. Thus, the Plumas County School Music Festival was born.
Since its inception in spring 2021, this dynamic event has grown to include three leveled honor band experiences, showcase performances by each school, instrument-specific clinics, professional guest conductors, team-building activities, collaborative meals and performances for the community.
“In short, this annual event has become a foundational experience for Plumas County music students and is viewed as a state-of-the-art summative music education event by experts in the field,” said Hardee. “More importantly, this memorable experience builds confidence and motivation in our young musicians and creates lasting memories.”
On March 21, Quincy Journeyman Band students played two jazz sets for a packed house during Jazz Night at Sierra Bella Lanes in Quincy. “Both students and audience enjoyed the experience,” said Hardee. The band played pieces such as “Feeling Good,” “Oblivion Fracus,” “Take on Me,” selections from the movie “Cars” and “The Best of Henry Mancini.”
On March 24, all the students at the Pioneer campus of Quincy Elementary School gathered to perform as a mass choir. Hardee said this concert ended a unit of learning, rehearsing and exploring songs about kindness.
Information provided by Quincy Junior-Senior High School