Bands perform two nights of concerts

Kalispell will host the AA Band Festival Monday and Tuesday at Flathead High School.

Students will perform free public concerts on both days at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Throughout the festival, combined bands from four schools will work with guest clinicians to prepare music and perform concerts.  

Monday’s concert will feature individual performances from Helena Capital, Bozeman, Glacier and Flathead high school bands.

Duane Zehr is the director of the Helena Capital band that will perform “Sure on this Shining Night” by Barber and “Zampa Overature” by Van der Beek.

The Flathead band, led by director Allen Slater, will play “Havendance” by David Holsnger and parts of Alfred Reed’s “First Suite.”  

The Bozeman High School band, under the direction of Kelly Berdahl, is performing “Dance Cubanas” by Sheldon and “Transcendent Journey” by Galante.

Closing Monday night’s individual band concert will be the Glacier High School band under the direction of David Barr. Among its concert pieces is “Glaciers” by Scott Director and Gustav Holst’s “First Suite in Eb.”

At Tuesday’s concert, bands will combine musical efforts on stage.

Bozeman will combine with Glacier under guest clinician Scott Hagen, the director of bands at the University of Utah School of Music. They will perform “Esprit de Corps” by Jager, “The Jog is Up” by Kallman and “Kingfishers Catch Fire” by John Mackey.

Benjamin Chamberlain, associate director of bands at University of Arkansas, will lead the combined Helena Capital and Flathead bands. They will perform “Irish Tune from County Derry “ arranged by Grainger, “Symphonic Prelude” by Mark Camphouse and “Symphony No. 1” by Butte composer Danile Buckvitch.  

In addition to the combined bands, there will be a percussion ensemble led by David Wakley, former director of bands at Spokane Falls Community College.