Musicians, vocalists turn out in force for All-Aroostook Music Festival

    Houlton Junior Senior High School was the site of the All-Aroostook Festival on Jan. 14-15, which included the junior high band and chorus, along with the high school band and chorus.
    “All-Aroostook is a gathering of the best musicians from Aroostook County,” said Houlton High School band director Joe Fagnant.
    The junior high chorus students were nominated by their teachers, the high school band, high school chorus and junior high band members auditioned in November to be accepted into the festival.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
SING-A-LONG — Members of the All-Aroostook High School chorus perform under the direction of Patrick Moore during the Jan. 15 music festival at Houlton High School.
    “The groups were chosen based on a score cut-off point and the manager of each group worked with the hired conductor to make sure things were prepared ahead of time and music was sent out to the students,” Fagnant explained.
    Guest conductors were Brad Chiechomski, composer, clinician and director of bands at Harrison Middle School in Yarmouth, who worked with the junior high band and Rebecca Wright, a Presque Isle native, who has been teaching visual and performing arts and show choir at Ellsworth, directed the junior high chorus.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
ALL SMILES — High school band students await their turn to perform at the All-Aroostook Music Festival held Jan. 15 at Houlton High School. From left are, Isaac Brown (Houlton High School), Hannah Hebert (Caribou) and Ryan Tribou (Houlton).
    The high school band was directed by David Walker, music department chairperson and director of bands in SAD 11 (Gardiner), while Patrick Moore, former Houlton High School choral director, who is now the vocal director at Winnacunnet High School in New Hampshire, led the high school chorus.
    “Individual school music educators worked with the students to prepare the music for the festival,” said Fagnant. “The visiting conductor got a chance to work with the students on Friday and Saturday before the concert.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
GETTING READY — Members of the junior high school band wait their turn to perform. From left, are, Natalie Rush, Adam Casillas and Noah Holmes.
    All-Aroostook brings students from many different musical backgrounds, along with those involved in music programs of various shapes and sizes.
    “The experience is wonderful for the students,” Fagnant added. “The students who were involved get an opportunity to perform with the best musicians, in a large group, all with the same goal of performing the best they can with only two days of rehearsals.”
    All-Aroostook is the only time County students come together as a group. Now, music students are working with their own music programs (ensembles, along with bands, choruses, show choirs and jazz bands) or preparing for the next performance, which is the All-State Music Festival.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
ON KEY — Kelly McLaughlin sings with the All-Aroostook Junior High chorus.
    “There are also some students who were accepted into the All-State Music Festival, which was a separate audition process,” Fagnant added. “Students did not have to be part of All-Aroostook to make All-State.”
     The All-State Festival will be in May in southern Maine.

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
SING IT — Natalie Hill performs with the All-Aroostook chorus.