Attention former band members and others, especially those of you who live in the DC area. The HHS band will be playing at the historic Kennedy Center, the Jefferson Memorial and visiting other areas in Washington in May. Hendersonville residents will be treated to public concerts in March and April. We have reason to be proud of the award-winning Bearcats bands of the last half century ... particularly since our days of Earl Martin, followed by Jim Stokes of the class of 53 who was recently inducted into the NC Bandmasters Hall of Fame. We now have Fran Shelton who has taken our bands -- some 100-members strong at times -- to play at Carnegie Hall and to Boston's famous Symphony Hall (home of the Boston Pops). Following are excerpts of an article in the Times-News (www.blueridgenow.com) about the DC trip.
(Feb. 24, 2008) -- Ann Harrison and Terry Skeby knew how the Hendersonville High School symphonic band would get to Kennedy Center: Practice, practice, practice.
The question was how would they, devoted fans with no direct ties to the band, get to the nation's concert hall in Washington, D.C. Answer: Bus ride. "We have the love of band deep in our bones," said Harrison. "There are at least 10 of us that go to all of the concerts."
The Hendersonville friends have been attending HHS band concerts for more than 10 years now. When they heard HHS Band Director Fran Shelton announce last year that the band had competed against top bands from across the country and won the chance to play at Kennedy Center, Harrison hatched the tour bus idea to support the student musicians. Skeby and more than a dozen others have signed up so far.
Shelton, HHS band director for 20 years, feels honored that Hendersonville fans will be attending the May 5 concert at the Kennedy Center. The HHS band is one of just five high school bands selected to play at the famous venue. The diminutive Shelton, with her mane of fiery red hair, inspires her students to perform at levels seldom achieved by high school bands. The HHS band, made up of a symphonic band, mostly juniors and seniors, and a concert band, mostly freshman and sophomores, will honor the state, as well.
"We are the first band from North Carolina so it is a really big deal" to play at the Kennedy Center," said Shelton. " To pay for the D.C. trip, which costs $860 per student plus expenses -- more than $100,000 for the whole trip -- the band has sold fruit, discount cards, performed in jazz concerts and sought community sponsors to raise money. Contributions are still needed to cover meals, student scholarships, charter buses and other miscellaneous expenses, according to the HHS Band Boosters, the parent support group.
In Washington, the band will play an outdoor concert at the Jefferson Memorial, place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington, tour the Capitol, cruise the Potomac River and more.
Two years ago, the HHS Band placed first in a national competition of top-ranked high school bands at Boston Symphony Hall. And two years before that, in 2004, the HHS Band competed at Carnegie Hall and won first place honors against nine other nationally ranked bands.
To get the booster tour organized, Harrison called a friend and set up a trip with a tour company. Up to 50 people can go. It includes three lunches and dinners, a breakfast, three days at the Arlington Hilton.
Word of the community tour to see the band impressed Hendersonville High School Principal Bobby Wilkins, who plans to attend the Kennedy Center concert along with Superintendent Stephen Page.
Meantime, on Sunday, March 2, they will perform a free concert at 4 p.m. in the HHS auditorium. Donations for the trip will be accepted. The weekend before the students leave for Washington they will perform a pre-Kennedy Center dress rehearsal at 4 p.m., Sunday, April 27, in the HHS auditorium. The public is invited.
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