The 2020 Frederick County Public Schools' All-County High School Music Festival and All-County Middle School Music Festival are fast approaching.
“Please mark your calendars and encourage family, friends and neighbors to attend the festivals to show their support of these extremely talented students and to support music education in Frederick County public schools," says Kimberly Hirschmann, FCPS curriculum specialist for secondary visual and performing arts.
The high school festival will showcase an all-county student choir, band, and orchestra, selected utilizing a rigorous individual student audition process. One-hundred-forty-six high school students (44 chorus, 63 band, and 39 orchestra) will perform for the public Saturday, January 25, in the Governor Thomas Johnson High School (GTJHS) auditorium from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (The snow date is Monday, January 27, at 7 p.m. at GTJHS.) Three conductors have selected repertoire to showcase student talents. Dr. Rachel Carlson, the director of choral activities at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, will lead the chorus. Mr. Stephen Czarkowski, the music director and conductor of the Apollo Orchestra, will conduct the orchestra. Mr. Keith Hodgson, the director of music education at the University of The Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will conduct the band.
The middle school festival will also showcase an all-county student choir, band, and orchestra, selected utilizing a rigorous individual audition process. One-hundred-fifty-three middle school students (55 chorus, 60 band, and 38 orchestra) will perform for the public Saturday, February 8, in the GTJHS auditorium from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (The snow date is Monday, February 10, 2020, at 7 p.m. at GTJHS.) Three conductors have selected repertoire to showcase student talents. Ms. Lynn Staininger, Choral Arts Society of Frederick, Frederick Community College, and director of choral activities and Instructor of music at Hood College, will lead the chorus. Dr. Jordan Randall Smith, principal conductor of Opus Concert Theatre, and music director of Symphony Number One, will conduct the orchestra. David J. Apple, director of bands, Glenwood Middle School, and the assistant conductor of the Lyric Band of Hanover, Pennsylvania, will conduct the band.
Proceeds from admission support this and other countywide FCPS musical events. Admission, payable at the door in cash only, is $5 for adults, $3 for students, and free for senior citizens and children under school age. FCPS employees are admitted free when presenting their FCPS badge at the door.