River View hosts ECOL Honors Band and Choir event
Dr. Lisa Wong from The College of Wooster was the choir instructor at the ECOL Honors Band and Choir event held Nov. 20 at River View High School. Josie Sellers | Beacon
Michael DiCuirci led a clinic for band students at the ECOL Honors Band and Choir event that included students from eight different schools. Josie Sellers | Beacon
WARSAW – The East Central Ohio League isn’t just about sports.
Top band and choir students from schools that belong to the athletic conference gathered together on Nov. 20 at River View High School for the ECOL Honors Band and Choir event. The day included a clinic with college music professors and an evening concert.
“The students are nominated by their directors,” said Dawn Anglin, choir director at River View High School. “Every two years a new school gets to host and it rotates alphabetically through the ECOL schools. Next year they will be back here again.”
The choir students worked in River View’s auditorium with Dr. Lisa Wong from The College of Wooster.
“This gives them the opportunity to get a feel for the next level and to learn from someone new,” Anglin said.
The event also is a learning experience for many of the schools’ choir and band directors.
“We get to sit here and watch and learn new skills, techniques and strategies,” Anglin said.
Mike Blowers, choir director at Coshocton High School, agreed with her.
“I learn something every time we come here from the way they warm up to just how the guest director works with the kids,” he said. “It’s a growing experience for all of us.”
Blowers was chatting with Liz Thacker, Marietta High School’s choir director, while their students were practicing on stage.
“I like the fact that they get to work with a different director,” she said. “I think it reinforces (with the kids) what we tell them because they know it’s coming from a college professor. I also like that they get to interact with kids from different schools. My son is a college freshman now and he made friends from this that he still keeps in touch with and calls up to have lunch with.”
Barry Hardesty, the band director at Coshocton, said the event gives his students the opportunity to play with a bigger band than they are used to.
“We are a small school….but here they get to play with people from other schools that are the best of the best from the ECOL,” he said.
Hardesty added that the band directors also chat and share ideas with each other while their students practice.
The band students had the opportunity to learn from Michael DiCuirci, who retired from Cedarville University, where River View’s band director Keith Watson graduated from.
“He was my college band director and trumpet instructor,” Watson said “It’s fun to watch him work with the kids and I hope this helps them build confidence in their playing.”
Eight schools were represented at the ECOL Band and Choir event, which included 83 choir students and 67 band students.
Category: Education
