The band competed in the middle school and junior high category at the festival, which drew 12 1A and 2A schools.<\/p>\n
Andrew Saletta, the band director, joined the staff in January 2013<\/p>\n
There were 27 students in grades 6 through 9 who went on the trip. About 16 of those kids had never touched an instrument before the fall semester, Saletta said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that it\u2019s been phenomenal year of growth for most of those students,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
About half the band is composed of sixth-graders, and they competed in the junior high category against groups of students mostly composed of seventh- through ninth-graders.<\/p>\n
The competition was hosted by Music in Parks, which offers a platform for bands from smaller schools, Saletta said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was amazing because we got to watch other bands play,\u201d said MacKenzie Benitez, a flute and alto saxophone player.<\/p>\n
For some students, it was also their first opportunity to see professional orchestra play.<\/p>\n
In the fall, Saletta is looking forward to growing the program and watching his students grow musically.<\/p>\n