By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV
Last weekend, The West Virginia Music Educators Conference was held in Charleston. Three students from Greenbrier East were selected to the All-State Band–Clara Long (flute), Lawson Hamilton (trumpet), & Cedric Allder, (euphonium).
Band members earn All-State status by passing a demanding audition process in which they demonstrate skills in scales, advanced technique studies, solo performance, and sight reading. The auditions take place in December and selected students convene at the state conference in March to put together a concert after two days of intense rehearsal.
Two All-State members, Lawson Hamilton and Cedric Allder, also earned All-National recognition in 2022. Lawson performed with the National Association for Music Education All National Band in October, and Cedric was a member of the John Philip Sousa All National Band in July.
In addition, three Greenbrier East students performed over the weekend as soloists on the state Honor Recital–Molly Bibb (snare drum), Lawson Hamilton (trumpet), & Cedric Allder (euphonium). They were joined on the Honor Recital by two Eastern Greenbrier Middle School students–Harrison Leatherman (piano) & Lydia Jackson (violin).
Students are selected for the State Honor Recital by first performing in the Regional Solo & Ensemble festival in January. Students who earn a Superior rating at the regional level are invited to submit a video of their performance to a state panel of adjudicators who select the very best performances from around the state to perform on the Honor Recital.
“Having five students from EGMS/GEHS on the Honor Recital is a phenomenal achievement for the kids,” says Jim Allder, who serves as Director of the Greenbrier East Band.
