Radnor Senior Heading to Texas For National Band Concert

One of Radnor Township School District's musicians has earned national honors and will showcase his talents in Texas in November. Senior clarinetist Jonathan Lee was named to the National Association for Music Education's (NAfME) 2016 All-National Honor Concert Band, meaning he and over 670 other high school band performers from 49 states and territories will head to Grapevine, Texas for a gala performance on Nov. 13 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center.

Lee plays in the school’s marching and concert bands, studies privately, and has participated in the Pennsylvania Music Education Association (PMEA) District 12, Region 6 and All-State festivals. Lee is the third Radnor student selected to participate in the NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles, joining Elizabeth "Geena" Woo, who was selected to the symphony orchestra in 2015, and Elia Foster, who played with the concert band in 2013.

"[Jonathan] is an outstanding clarinetist," Radnor High School band director Dan Drew said. "He sits first chair in the top ensembles and has been featured in various school concerts. I am proud that one of our students has again reached the national ensemble level."

The All-National Honor Ensembles consist of a concert band, symphony orchestra, mixed choir and jazz ensemble. Students were chosen through an audition process. The concert band and symphony orchestra, conducted by Dr. Paula Crider and Dr. William LaRue Jones respectively, will each have approximately 150 instrumentalists; the jazz ensemble, conducted by Chris Crenshaw and Todd Stoll, 20 instrumentalists; and the mixed chorus, conducted by Dr. Anton Armstrong, approximately 350 vocalists. Eligible students have qualified for their state-level honor ensemble program and competed against top students for a spot in these ensembles.

All conductors will spend several days rehearsing with students before the concert. The ensembles will perform for an audience of thousands on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 9 a.m. in the Texan Ballroom at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center.

The 2016 NAfME All-National Honors Ensembles Concert is a highlight of a four-day conference taking place November 10-13 in Grapevine, Texas.

The National Association for Music Education, among the world’s largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. For more than a century, NAfME has advocated at the local, state, and national levels; provided resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosted professional development events; and offered a variety of opportunities for students and teachers.

Photo courtesy Radnor Township School District, video courtesy NAfME