The West Orange High School Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform at America’s most prestigious school instrumental music ensemble festival, the 2017 Music for All National Festival. Directed by Lewis Kelly, the Wind Ensemble was one of only 59 high school and middle school ensembles from across the nation selected to the event by a panel of esteemed music educators. The 26th annual edition of the Music for All National Festival will occur in Indianapolis, over three days from March 9-11.

The Wind Ensemble is run by the Visual and Performing Arts Department at WOHS, which offers myriad courses, ranging from band to theatre to music theory. Over 225 students participate in the band program, beginning in Ninth Grade Band before eventually joining more advanced programs, including the Wind Ensemble. These groups have performed for the community on innumerable occasions as part of outreach programs.

The members of the ensemble are already looking forward to the event. “It’s certainly a unique opportunity as I’ve never quite performed an event of this magnitude,” says percussionist Austin Bartola, continuing “It will be enlightening to work with professional musicians.” He adds that “it’ll be fun to see other bands from around the country.” It will be a fresh experience for many in the band who, like Bartola, have “never been to that part of the country before.”

Congratulations to Mr. Kelly and the members of the Wind Ensemble on this prestigious honor!