All-county band clinic culminates with concert on Saturday

Just two weeks after the best band students in the Charlotte region converged on Gaston County for the all-district clinic, now it is time for Gaston’s own to take the spotlight.

The Gaston County Schools all-county band clinic for high school students is Friday and Saturday (February 10-11) at Ashbrook High School.  More than 150 students will be involved in the program after being chosen through an audition process. Viewed as the most outstanding student-musicians in Gaston County, they will perform a concert for the public on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

Kameron Radford from Stuart W. Cramer High School will conduct the symphonic band, and Dr. Hunter Kopczynski from UNC-Charlotte will conduct the wind ensemble.  Ashbrook band director Josh Westbrook is overseeing the event with help from the band directors from other Gaston County high schools.

The all-county clinic follows a successful South Central All-District Band Clinic that was held on January 27-28 at Stuart W. Cramer High School.  The all-district clinic featured more than 350 students from across the greater Charlotte region.  Eighteen students represented Gaston County Schools in the highly-competitive all-district band program.  Click here to read about them.

While the focus is on high school band students this weekend, Gaston County middle school students get their turn this spring.  The all-county band clinic for middle schools is set for March 31 and April 1 at Holbrook Middle School.

■ Want to Go?
The all-county high school band concert is Saturday, February 11 at 2:00 p.m. at Ashbrook High School.  The concert is free, and the public is invited.