Asbury University will be hosting its 45th Annual All-Star Band Clinic in which high school musicians join with Asbury’s concert band for a time of learning and performance. The event takes place Feb. 22-24 and will feature a variety of musical performances.
High school band members must be recommended by their band director in order to apply. This year 41 students have been accepted, representing a total of 16 different high schools from Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.
The participating students will arrive on campus on Thursday, Feb. 22, to rehearse and do chair auditions. There will be continued rehearsal on Friday, with their concert performance being Saturday the 24. Students will have the opportunity to attend masterclasses with Asbury’s instrumental faculty to sharpen their skills on their individual instruments. They may get to perform more advanced pieces than they ordinarily would. They will also get to work with nationally known guest conductor Dr. Michael Golemo, director of Bands and professor of Music at Iowa State University.
The event will also offer recitals from Asbury’s own musical talents. On Friday at 7:30pm, there will be performances by the Women’s Choir, Men’s Glee Club, Chorale, Concert Band and the Jazz Ensemble. On Saturday afternoon at 3pm, the high school band will join Asbury’s band for a final concert. They will also be joined by Asbury’s Handbell Choir. Both concerts will take place in Hughes Auditorium.
When asked in what ways Asbury students are involved in the event, Dr. Glen Flanigan, professor of Music Education at Asbury, explained, “They will host high school students in the residence halls, and we also have a number of work crews that help with set up and registration. We rely very heavily on our students, we couldn’t do it without them.”
In addition to gaining musical experience, visiting students will also be able to experience life on a college campus. They will be hosted by Asbury students in the residence halls, eat meals in the cafeteria and attend Friday chapel. “One of my goals for this event,” Dr. Flanigan says, “is certainly an exposure to Asbury, but also just an exposure to the Christian environment at Asbury. Some of these students are very familiar with a Christian setting, some are not familiar with that at all, and that’s a new experience for them, and I think that’s a great opportunity for outreach.”