AMES, Iowa – February will be a musical month at Iowa State University as the Music Department hosts the annual ISU Honor Bands Saturday, Feb. 2, at 3 p.m. in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium and the Honor Choir performance Monday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. in Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall.
Iowa high school students comprise both bands and choir, which gives participants the opportunity to explore Iowa State and perform for university faculty and students. Nearly 70 Iowa high schools are represented within the honor ensembles.
Michael Golemo, professor and chair of the Department of Music and director of bands at Iowa State, said the events help attract students to ISU.
“This is our 37th year hosting the event and it’s a great way for us to recruit students that are interested in Iowa State as music majors or non-music majors” said Golemo. “We’ve had several Honor Band students come to Iowa State to pursue their education.”
Students are selected to join the Honor Bands by their chair standings from the Iowa All-State band.
The Cardinal Band consists of 138 high school sophomores and juniors . William Malambri, professor of music and director of bands at Winthrop University, will conduct the ensemble. Lt. Col. Alan Bonner, former commander and conductor of the U.S. Air Force Band, will conduct 67 upper-class high school students in the Gold Band.
James Rodde, ISU professor of music and Honor Choir conductor, started the Honor Choir event at Iowa State 13 years ago. After 300 live auditions are evaluated during late fall, Rodde selected a group of 90 students to serve as the Honor Choir. The students will sing seven pieces that will be performed in English, German and Latin.
The Honor Choir performance is free of charge and open to the public. Tickets for the Honor Bands are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and are available at the door. For more information regarding either concert, call the Music Department at 515-294-2810.
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About Liberal Arts and Sciences The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a world-class learning and research community. Iowa State’s most academically diverse college, LAS educates students to become global citizens, providing rigorous academic programs in the sciences, humanities and social sciences within a supportive personalized learning environment. College faculty design new materials, unravel biological structures, care for the environment, and explore social and behavioral issues. From fundamental research to technology transfer and artistic expression, the college supports people in Iowa and around the world.
NEWS RELEASE College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Iowa State University
Contacts: Michael Golemo, Music, (515) 294-0400 mgolemo@iastate.edu James Rodde, Music (515) 294-0395 jrodde@iastate.edu Paige Berg, Liberal Arts & Sciences Communication, (515) 294-0461, pmberg@iastate.edu Steve Jones, Liberal Arts and Sciences Communications, (515) 294-0461, jones@iastate.edu