Stanley Chen, a junior bass clarinet player at Herricks High School, has been selected from applicants across the country as a member of the National Honor Band of America.
Chen was selected from a pool of hundreds of talented applicants for membership in this prestigious national honor ensemble. Chen is a member of the Herricks High School Wind Ensemble and the Herricks High School Blue Jazz Band, under the direction of Scott Stickley and Geoffrey Taylor.
Music for All’s Honor Band of America is recognized as one of the finest scholastic ensembles in America. They will rehearse and perform in concert as part of the Music for All National Festival, presented by Yamaha, March 11-14 in Indianapolis, Ind.
Chen joins fellow Honor Band of America members from 26 states, representing 77 high schools. Colonel Timothy J. Holtan, 10th leader and commander of the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” (Retired), is the 2020 conductor. The concert will feature the famed U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and the world premiere of two pieces by composers Julie Giroux and Timothy Mahr.
The Honor Band of America will perform in concert at 8:00 p.m. on March 14 at Clowes Memorial Hall, located on the campus of Butler University.
Chen was selected into the New York State School Music Association’s All-State Symphony Orchestra in 2019. He was also selected into the Nassau Music Educators Association All-County Concert Band in 2018 and in 2019, sitting as the principal chair bass clarinetist for both years. In addition, Chen is a member of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York, in which he plays for the Nassau Principal Orchestra.
Members were selected by recorded audition, evaluated by leading music educators. “To be selected from among their peers for membership in this national ensemble is a great achievement and honor,” said James P. Stephens, Jr., director of advocacy and educational resources for Music for All. “The 2020 Honor Band of America members are ambassadors of America’s music programs, as well as their states, schools, and communities.”
The Music for All National Festival will bring over 3,000 of America’s most outstanding scholastic musicians to Indianapolis. The Festival includes the National Concert Band Festival, the Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival, the Chamber Music National Festival, the Orchestra America National Festival, and the National Choir Festival, all taking place simultaneously in seven major venues throughout Indianapolis.
In addition to the many performances and audience opportunities, students at the Music for All National Festival participate in master classes taught by world-class musicians and music educators, as well as a student leadership session and social events. In addition to the Honor Band of America, the Festival includes two other national honor ensembles, the Honor Orchestra of America and the Jazz Band of America.
The Music for All National Festival, presented by Yamaha is an annual program of Music for All and is in its 29th year. Music for All is one of the nation’s largest and most influential organizations in support of active music-making and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind. A full schedule of Festival ensemble concerts, times and locations are available at www.musicforall.org/festival, or for more information call 800-848-2263.
Submitted by Music For All
