(PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
ORCHESTRA … Students were selected to perform during the OMEA’s District 1 Honors Festival at the Stranahan Theater and Great Hall in Toledo. This photo shows students from the Orchestra portion of the festival, taken from the upper deck.
CHOIR … Students were selected to perform during the OMEA’s District 1 Honors Festival at the Stranahan Theater and Great Hall in Toledo. This photo shows students from the Choir portion of the festival, taken from inside the theater.
BAND … Students were selected to perform during the OMEA’s District 1 Honors Festival at the Stranahan Theater and Great Hall in Toledo. This photo shows students from the Band portion of the festival, taken from the upper deck.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Ohio Music Education Association recently held their District 1 Honors Festival at the Stranahan Theater and Great Hall in Toledo.
The festival featured both Junior High and High School Honor Bands, Choirs, and Orchestras. The ensembles were made up of students from nearly 70 schools across Northwest Ohio, including Fulton and Williams County.
According to Emily Meyerson, one of the organization’s festival chairpersons, there were around 100 students per ensemble this year.
More than 600 students applied for the festival this year, which was whittled down to the few who were on stage. Meyerson explained that this means those that were chosen were the best of the best.
This year also marked an exciting milestone for both those involved in the organization and the students who have made up the festivals both this year and in years past.
This was the 30th year for the OMEA’s Honor Festival, which has seen thousands of children pass through the program.
Many of those who have had the honor to perform at the festival were even in attendance that night. At the beginning of the show, the M.C. asked for all those who had performed previously to stand up.
Many parents, and those there to support a child, stood up. Meyerson explained that it was good to see a large number of people stand up, due to the fact that it signifies how many people this has touched and the influence they have on others.
In fact, Meyerson also explained that many of the middle school students that perform, come back many times and even continue on into the high school ensemble. This, Meyerson believes, is due to what the program shows the students.
The stage that is used for the performance has featured Broadway shows and performers, and professional orchestras/musicians.
“The fact that these students are standing on the same stage, I hope it propels them to continue on with it and move forward,” said Meyerson.
The festival was held on Sunday, January 19th. Middle school students performed first at 2:30 p.m., with both band students, choir students, and orchestral students performing.
Once the concert was over, preparations began for the high school students and their performance. A 45-minute warm up time was given to each of the three groups before the show took place at 7:00 p.m.