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The event will feature over 180 young musicians from Ashland, Coshocton, Delaware, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Morrow and Richland Counties. To be eligible for the honors band, students must be nominated by their director. High school students must also submit an audition piece featuring scales and an etude excerpt. Those chosen also take part in a rehearsal a week prior to the performance.

The day will feature a morning full of instruction for both bands, and will culminate with a final concert at 3 p.m. in the R.R. Hodges Chapel/Auditorium on the MVNU campus. The concert is free and open to the public. This event will feature guest conductors for both the middle school and high school bands.

Nancy Ditmer will be the guest conductor for the high school band. She serves at The College of Wooster as a professor of music, directing the Scot Marching Band, as well as the Symphonic Bands. Ditmer serves as president of the North Central Division of MENC: The National Association for Music Education, in addition to being past OMEA president from 1996-98.

Conducting for the middle school band will be Kathleen McGrady, instrumental music teacher and the director of bands with Springfield Local Schools. She previously served as the band director with Northwood Local Schools. McGrady was also one of ten directors from the United States to be part of the staff for the All-American Marching Band which performed for the opening of Euro Disney Park in Paris. She is past president of the OMEA District I and is currently the Northwest Region secretary/treasurer for the OMEA.

For more information, visit www.mvnu.edu/news or call (740) 392-6868, ext. 4341.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students and working adults. U.S. News & World Report ranks MVNU as a Best in the Midwest (Bachelor’s) institution for the third year in a row. With a 401-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and nine satellite Adult and Graduate Studies campuses throughout the state, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education to more than 2,600 students from 23 states and five countries/U.S. territories.