What is it?
The Alcester-Hudson Elementary Band Festival provides the opportunity for band students in grades 5 and 6 to meet together and play fun literature under the direction of fellow directors from around the area. The band festival is different from an honor band festival in that no student is turned down based on their playing ability. Our goal is to make this experience fun and educational for ALL students, regardless of their playing ability.
This year's festival will take place on Tuesday, February 18th in Alcester, SD with a concert to follow in the afternoon. The festival is open to students in grades 5 and 6 who are enrolled in their school’s instrumental music program. Parents, be sure to check out this year's concert @ 4:30pm. IT"S FREE |
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Meet this year's Conductors
Dr. Larry Petersen is assistant director of bands and music education at Augustana University. Petersen directs the Blue & Gold Band and the Athletic Bands, as well as leads the coordination of the Augustana music teacher education program. He joined AU in the fall of 2017. Petersen served as director of bands at Huron High School in Huron, South Dakota. During his tenure there, he built a large and successful program with the philosophy that music is a vehicle for preparing students for musical achievement and individual success in their lives. Petersen earned his bachelor's degree from South Dakota State University where he majored in music education. He holds a master's of music degree in conducting from the University of Manitoba, and a doctor of musical arts in conducting from the University of Iowa. He is the current president of the South Dakota Bandmasters Association and the South Dakota Chapter of Phi Beta Mu (international bandmasters fraternity). Dr. Petersen was named Huron High School’s Teacher of the Year both in 2000 and 2008. His research interests include the use of technology for assessment within music ensembles, vocal transcriptions for winds, and music for voice and winds.