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YHS concert set; musicians, singers honored

(Updated: Friday, May 23, 2008, 1:09 PM)

Yosemite High School instrumental groups will wrap up a big season with an end-of-the-year concert Thursday at the campus theater.

Director Randy Hyatt will give the downbeat at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $3 for students and senior citizens and $5 general admission.

A variety of music will be presented by all the Jazz Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and the Percussion Ensembles. The bands will play several familiar selections, including music from "The Patriot," "Phantom of The Opera" and "The Pirates of The Caribbean: At World's End."

For more information, telephone (559) 683-4667, Ext. 243.

YHS music students worked hard to get to the Heritage Festivals in Anaheim earlier this spring and came home with several awards. The festival, established in 1980, includes learning sessions as well as adjudicated performances and chances to interact with other student performers and music professionals.

The Badger Wind Ensemble and Concert Band received a bronze rating. The Advanced Percussion group received a silver rating and second place.

Overall, the instrumental and choral students received the "Spirit of Anaheim Award" for great participation and team spirit.

The festival includes some play time, too, and the groups had time at Disneyland.

For the critiques, judges provide taped and written notes during groups' performances, offering comments designed to help each group. They also lead ensembles in customized on-stage mini-clinics, lending their expertise to help students grow as musicians. Heritage Festivals' adjudication philosophy has become the standard for many of today's music festivals:

Here are some of the standards the festival promises:

Three judges for instrumental groups and three judges for choral groups -- students will always be evaluated by a professional in the field

At on-stage mini-clinics after performances, groups get immediate feedback and direction while the performance is still fresh in the students' minds