Bands gather for AA festival at Flathead

The AA High School Band Festival is a gala event where area bands combine to perform once a year.

The festival Monday and Tuesday features bands from Flathead, Glacier, Bozeman and Helena Capital high schools.

All events will be at Flathead High School, capped by evening concerts both days.

Flathead High School band director Allen Slater described the two-day event as a time where schools that may be sports rivals join together to play in harmony.

Three music professionals will be guest clinicians, rehearsing with students all day Monday and Tuesday before performances.

Concerts will be at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in the Flathead High School Auditorium. Each night will feature new music selections.

During Monday’s, concert the four high schools will perform as individual bands. On Tuesday, the bands will combine. Flathead and Bozeman will play together and Glacier and Capital will combine musical forces.

A special percussion ensemble also will perform Tuesday night.  

“Kids get to see what’s going on in other high school music programs,” Slater said.

“It’s really great. This is just a really great showcase.”  

Guest clinicians are:

 Nathan Stark: director of the Spirit of the West Marching Band and conductor of the Wind Symphony and University Band at Montana State University.

 Torrey Lawrence: professor of Music at the University of Idaho’s Lionel Hampton School of Music.

 Thom Hasenpflug: director of Percussion Studies at Idaho State University.