Marshall Middle students perform in honor band

Five students nominated by Jay DeDon, band instructor at Marshall Middle School, took the stage Saturday, Sept. 27, with 85 other top middle-school musicians from all across Florida.

The Middle School Honors Chamber Winds Festival, hosted by the music department at Stetson University in DeLand, and sponsored by the Collegiate National Association for Music Education, accepted Marshall eighth-graders Bianca Cook, Michala Culpeper, Savanna Gill, Sierra Hawkins and Celeste Manzano to participate. Marshall was the only Hillsborough County school that had students accepted into the program.

DeDon started the program at Stetson last fall, when he was a senior at the university. As a member of a scholarship program that emphasized leadership and civic involvement, he wanted to start a trumpet program for underprivileged students. The idea grew into an opportunity for middle-school musicians who played any wind instrument, state-wide.

“Events such as this create so much excitement and passion within these students, inspiring a drive to achieve success,” DeDon said.

The festival also provides an opportunity for music education students at Stetson to learn in an active teaching setting.

This year, two Stetson sophomores led the program. DeDon had mentored both of these students for years, even while they were in high school.

DeDon occasionally helped the organizers from afar this year, but he was more than satisfied with their independent success.

“They pulled it off like bosses,” he said.

To participate in the festival, students must first be nominated by their band instructor. Because this is DeDon’s first year at Marshall, he did not have a lot of time to assess his students’ musical abilities before nominations were due.

“I made nominations based off of work ethic and discipline, and these five students all displayed these characteristics beyond any teacher’s dreams,” he said.

Band programs from across Florida can nominate students to participate in the festival, but only 90 students are accepted.

Culpeper said that when she found out DeDon had nominated her, she was “over the moon.”

“My parents were just as excited as I was when I got home,” she said.

The musicians arrived at Stetson at 7:30 a.m. The first item on the day’s agenda was a seating audition. Auditions included both prepared pieces and sight-reading.

“I was nervous,” Hawkins said. “I don’t really like to play by myself.”

Three of Marshall’s students received prestigious placement in their ensembles. Gill was selected as principal clarinet, Cook was named principal second trumpet and Manzano was named principal second saxophone.

Then, the students spent the morning in rehearsals. Each student learned one piece for a small ensemble for just their instrument and another piece for a larger sectional ensemble. The musicians had never seen their pieces before but would perform them at a concert that evening.

After lunch and active ice-breaker games, the students had another three hours of rehearsal. There was one more break with a pizza party for the musicians and their families before performing a concert at 5:15 p.m.

“Having that feeling to be on stage, and afterward having everyone clap for you, is the feeling of accomplishment,” Manzano said.

“Playing in the brass ensemble during the final concert was phenomenal,” Cook said.

All five students said the experience helped them become better musicians in some way, whether through musical skill or just confidence in their abilities.

“It really helped me learn how to listen to other people, and how to learn new music really fast,” Gill said.

When DeDon organized the first festival last year, the event was funded by grants. Now, it is self-sustaining and will continue annually. If they demonstrate the hard work that DeDon looks for in his nominees, this year’s seventh-grade band students could be chosen to participate next year.

MEET THE MUSICIANS

Bianca Cook

Instrument: Trumpet