Tristan had to be at McNeese State University early on Friday morning for the workshop and was there until almost 4 pm. Because I was so sick and could not take him, Zac Goad's mom came to my rescue. Zac also plays trumpet and made third chair in ContraBand, the highest trumpet from Sam Houston. We had originally agreed to car pool, she would take and I would pick up, but she ended up picking up too.
Tristan said that he had fun, but that the music they were playing was really boring. In one piece, he rested for the majority of the time. Their guest conductor was Dr. Derle R. Long, the Director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He is the conductor of the ULM Wind Ensemble and teaches courses at the University as well.
Their second day of rehearsal was shorter than expected. They were there in the morning on Saturday by 9:00 and were done by 11:30, a whole hour early. Because they were done so early, Zac's dad picked them up and took them to Lake Charles Music, where they got mutes that were needed for the performance.
I was feeling a little better by the time we needed to leave for the concert, so I got to go, which I was very glad about. I also got to hear the High School Buccaneer Band play. They sounded so good and played some fun songs that I really liked.
Tristan getting dressed in the parking lot.
I can not believe that this handsome young man is my child.
I sent my good camera with Allen so I just have these grainy pictures
from too far away without my good zoom.
Tristan is on the back row, left side. Fourth from the left.
They sounded so great.
They played Salvation is Created by Tschesnokoff, arranged by Houseknecht;
American Elegy by Frank Ticheli, which was a beautiful piece written after the massacre
at Columbine High School that Dr. Long decided to have them play
in honor of the Sandy Hook Elementary community;
They played Salvation is Created by Tschesnokoff, arranged by Houseknecht;
American Elegy by Frank Ticheli, which was a beautiful piece written after the massacre
at Columbine High School that Dr. Long decided to have them play
in honor of the Sandy Hook Elementary community;
a selection of music from Le Miserables;
and one more that was not on the program.
and one more that was not on the program.
In these pictures, he is third from the left on the back row.
The ContraBand had 17 kids who went to the All State festival in either the
Band, Orchestra, or Jazz Band..
After the first two pieces the director stepped to the side and had the first chair clarinet
come to the podium to lead the band in some various warms up and half scales.
I thought it was weird to stop the performace to warm up, but to each his own.
When they were done he announced that was their performance
of the Oriental piece "Tu Ning." Hilarious! Really, it was!
Leaving the stage.
Only three boys from Sam Houston made the top band, ContraBand.
Tristan and Zac, who are both Sophomores and Nathan Burt,
who is a Junior, was 6th chair, just ahead of Tristan.
It's been our tradition to take Tristan out for lunch after Honor Band, so he chose to go to his favorite Chinese buffet in Lake Charles, New King Palace. I was not so sure that eating Chinese food was the best course of action for me after two days of eating nothing much, so I played it safe with two bowls of Egg Drop Soup and a few sauteed green beans. We had a nice meal together and of course saved our fortunes.
Because of his participation in the District Honor Band, Tristan has now been chosen to participate in the Calcasieu Parish Honor band, which we think starts in March. They practice once a week at night and will perform in April at Festival. He should be 7th chair again because everyone above him in District Honor Band was from Calcasieu Parish, so unless they choose not to participate, he will remain in 7th chair.
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