Anderson County, Clinton bands perform virtual concert

May 22, 2024 by Rachel Totten Special to The Courier News

High school band students from across Anderson County came together May 7 for a virtual concert that was livestreamed from Anderson County High School.

About 90 students from Clinton and Anderson County high schools participated in the concert, which showcased the music selections learned during a special all-county band clinic.

CHS Band Director Matthew Bimstein said the main purpose was to provide band students with the opportunity to improve their techniques and grow as musicians.

“One of our goals was to give a clinic band experience to the 95% of students who don’t audition or make the regional honor bands,” Bimstein said.

Jon Larmoyeux, director of bands at ACHS, added that the event was also meant to encourage more band students to try out for these honor bands.

“Most of our students have never had this type of clinic experience, and we thought that if all of our students were able to have this experience, then more of them might take the challenge to start auditioning for our local East Tennessee honor bands,” he said.

As part of the two-day clinic, Mike Pote, director of bands at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana, traveled to Anderson County to serve as guest conductor and clinician.

Under his guidance, band students worked on five different pieces. Two of these pieces – “Bonsai Tree” by Julie Giroux and “The Maelstrom” by Robert W. Smith – were performed during the concert.

Pote said the concert, which was broadcasted live on ACTV, alleviated the stress of a traditional in-person performance, enabling students to concentrate on the music.

“For me as a clinician, it was a very nice but informal way to show what we had worked on for the two days,” he explained. “It also allowed us to concentrate on learning more about the basics of performing without the pressure of a full concert at the end of the two days. We were able to cover a lot of pedagogical ground in the time we spent together.”

Overall, Bimstein said students seemed to appreciate this intensive clinic experience.

“They really enjoyed having a different teacher in front of them [who] gave them a new perspective,” he said.

Larmoyeux said one parent told him that the clinic ultimately inspired her son to further hone his band skills.

“He enjoyed the experience so much that he wants to start taking private lessons to be able to make our East Tennessee honor bands, and now wants to major in music when he gets to college,” said Larmoyeux.

Pote also relished the experience, commending the stellar band programs in Anderson County.

“As an outsider looking in, it is very obvious that the music educators in Anderson County are providing wonderful opportunities for their students,” he said. “The level of care and instruction is incredibly high.”

For more information about Anderson County’s high school band programs, contact Matthew Bimstein (mbimstein@acs.ac) or Jon Larmoyeux (jlarmoyeux@acs.ac).

To watch the recent performance, visit youtube.com/watch?v=1N2XGFnp1Kc.