FCPS Music Festivals Are Fast Approaching

music festivals

The 2024 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 these festivals to show support for these extremely talented students and to support music education,” said Kimberly Hirschmann, FCPS curriculum specialist for secondary visual and performing arts.

The High School Festival takes place at 4 p.m. Saturday, January 27, in the Gov. Thomas Johnson High School (GTJHS) auditoriumPurchase tickets here. It will showcase an all-county student choir, band and orchestra, selected via a rigorous individual student audition process. All told, approximately 155 students will perform. The snow date is 7 p.m. Monday, January 29, at GTJHS.

Heidi Ackerman, the director of The Frederick Chorale and the Patterson Park Community Chorus, will lead the chorus. James Woomert, the Director of Orchestras at Marriotts Ridge High School in Howard County, will conduct the orchestra. Dr. Mark McCoy, composer, conductor, and a leader in higher education, will conduct the band.

The Middle School Festival will also showcase an all-county student choir, band and orchestra and is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, February 3, at GTJHS and will feature approximately 199 students. Purchase tickets here. The snow date is 7 p.m. Monday, February 5.

Paul Heinemann, Choral Director at Loiederman Middle School in Montgomery County Public Schools, will lead the chorus.  Wesley Thompson, the orchestra director at Clarksville Elementary School in Howard County, will conduct the orchestra. Carolyn Robblee, Director of Bands at Belmont Ridge Middle School in Loudon County, will conduct the band.

Proceeds from admission support these events and the Secondary Visual and Performing Arts Programs. 

General seating tickets may be purchased in advance at GOFAN.co and are $6 for adults and $2 for students, plus additional fees.  Senior citizens 60+ (ID required) and children under school age are free. FCPS employees are admitted free when presenting their FCPS badge.