The Tabor College Band & Orchestra Pre-Festival Clinic drew 329 high school students from eight Kansas high schools and a total of nine instrumental groups March 20-21.
Shawn Knopp, director of bands and associate professor of music at Tabor, scheduled an hour-long clinic in Richert Auditorium based on each school’s festival repertoire. Each clinic was
open to the public. Clinicians for the event were Dr. Teresa Purcell, director of band at Oklahoma Baptist University, Avian Bear, retired director of bands at Blue Valley High School, and Knopp.
“The festival was a wonderful time of learning and musical growth for everyone involved,” Knopp said. “I wish to personally thank the faculty for your flexibility in allowing our Tabor
College Symphonic Band members to miss classes the past two days to assist with the festival.
Without the help of our students and your flexibility, hosting this type of recruiting event and educational service would not have been possible.”
High school concert bands from Moundridge, Minneapolis, Rossville and Larned participated Wednesday.
The next day, Knopp coordinated clinics with the concert band, orchestra and wind ensemble from Junction City High School. In the afternoon, concert bands from Peabody High School and Hillsboro High School completed the two-day schedule.
“At the conclusion of this week’s festival, we will have had a total of 1,153 students on campus for our various band-recruiting events this academic year,” Knopp said. “That’s pretty incredible exposure for our college.”