Dordt hosts 2nd Annual Honor Band Weekend

Last week, the Dordt University Music Department hosted 155 high school students as part of the 2nd Annual Dordt University Honor Band Weekend. Students had the opportunity to rehearse with the honors wind symphony and with honors symphonic band, in addition to participating in an official campus visit.

“They also got a chance to hear our Campus Band and Wind Symphony in a concert that we gave specifically for the students,” says Dr. Onsby Rose, director of instrumental activities and associate professor of music. “It gave the students the opportunity to play in a large ensemble with proper instrumentation. Many of them have never played with a full-sized wind band.”

Attendees came from 10 states including Wyoming, California, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Washington.

Rose appreciated the willingness of students to take an entire weekend to grow as musicians.

“It is a truly eye-opening event for many, since they get to meet musicians from other schools, make new friends, work with new directors, and experience music-making at a high level,” says Rose. “In many ways the weekend is not just an opportunity; it is essential.”

Participating schools included:

• Sioux Central High School (Iowa)
• Mount Vernon Christian School (Washington)
• Pella Christian High School (Iowa)
• South O’Brien High School (Iowa)
• O’Gorman High School (South Dakota)
• Genesis Reformed Protestant School (Illinois)
• Unity Christian High School (Michigan)
• Unity Christian High School (Iowa)
• Calvin Christian High School (California)
• Heritage Christian High School (Indiana)
• Mid-Prairie High School (Iowa)
• Central Minnesota Christian School (Minnesota)
• Freeman Academy (South Dakota)
• Southwest Christian Schools (Minnesota)
• Estherville-Lincoln High School (South Dakota)
• Trinity Christian School (Iowa)
• Western Christian High School (Iowa)
• Rapid City Christian School (South Dakota)
• Sioux Falls Christian High School (South Dakota)
• Illiana Christian School (Indiana)
• Parkview Christian School (Nebraska)
• Des Moines Christian School (Iowa)
• Avail Academy (Nebraska)
• Sundance High School (Wyoming)
• Graettinger-Terril High School (Iowa)

About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, The Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.