Taking place April 18 and 19, the Region 10 Band Festival is unlike any other middle school or high school band event.

 

“This is a concert adjudication whereas all of the various musical aspects of performance are adjudicated,” said Michael Ford, event director.

 

Again this year, Bridgeport High School will serve as a host site: BHS Band will start the audition process April 18 and Bridgeport Middle School will lead off April 19. In total, 19 high schools and 26 middle schools – 2,573 students - will participate.

 

Each band will audition before a trio of seasoned professional adjudicators, performing two musical selections from the West Virginia Band Masters Graded Music List and receive a rating – superior, excellent, good, fair or poor. Along with the rating comes a critique from judges, providing suggestions on ways to achieve improvement.

 

Although many band directors – out of sheer desire to improve their band programs – would attend such an event by choice, the Region 10 Band Festival is mandated by the WVSSAC, Ford said. Participation is mandatory for all high school and middle school bands in the five-county area which comprises Region 10. In addition to Harrison, the region includes Monongalia, Marion, Preston and Taylor counties.

 

Public viewing is encouraged, but band members cannot be distracted in any way. Despite times listed for auditions, it’s likely that auditions will run slightly ahead of schedule. Those planning to attend should arrive early. Doors will be closed once a band starts the audition process and remain closed until that band’s audition is complete.

 

The BHS Symphonic Band will audition at 8:30 a.m. on April 18, followed by Grafton, Morgantown High School Concert Band, West Preston Middle School, Morgantown High Symphonic Band and University High Concert Band. South Harrison Middle School, East Fairmont, Fairmont Senior and North Marion high schools will audition during the afternoon session. Serving as adjudicators are Tom Castle, Tom Chaffin and Dan Thomas.

 

On April 19, two Bridgeport Middle School ensembles will lead off auditions in the 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. time slots. Following, in order, will be Taylor County Middle, Bruceton Middle, East Preston Middle, Suncrest Middle, Westwood Middle and Fairview Middle with Preston High School, West Fairmont Middle, Saint Francis Middle, Monongah Middle and Trinity Christian auditioning in the afternoon. Adjudicators are Steve Swank, Lloyd Bone and John Schooley. BHS Band Director Chris Hayslette will serve as event chair at the Bridgeport sites.

 

Bands will also audition at Robert C. Byrd on April 18 and Liberty High School on April 19. (See a full schedule below.)

 

The festival was created decades ago by the West Virginia Principals Association in conjunction with the West Virginia Secondary Schools Association. 

 

“The thought was that by having such a festival and by the rating that would be given to each band indicating their performance level, the principal of each school would better be able to evaluate the school’s band program,” Ford said.

 

Originally, only high school bands were required to attend, but the festival evolved to also include middle school bands.

 

A lifelong musician, Ford has served as director of Region 10 Band Festival for 33 years. He served as band/orchestra director for the Harrison County Board of Education for 35 years, after which he took a position with Bandland of Clarksburg as music education representative. He also currently serves as substitute teacher for Harrison County Schools.

 

He enjoys all opportunities to work with band students in all stages of their education, as well as interact with school band directors.

 

“In short, music and music education is at the top of my daily priority list, falling just behind my great God and my beautiful family,” he said.

 

Results for Bridgeport's bands will be reported on Connect-Bridgeport. In recent years, both BHS and BMS have received straight superior ratings.