More than 400 high school students from throughout North Dakota and Minnesota have converged on UND this weekend for the 33rd annual Honor Band, Choir and Strings Festival.
The musicians were selected from more than 825 students who auditioned last fall for the honor of participating in the event, according to James Popejoy, a member of UND's music faculty and event organizer.
The UND Honor Band, Women's Honor Choir, Mixed Honor Choir and Honor Strings Ensemble will present a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Chester Fritz Auditorium, performing a wide variety of outstanding literature, Popejoy said.
The band, choirs and string musicians will combine to present a grand finale performance of "From Sea to Shining Sea."
Tickets are $7 for adults, $3 for students and senior citizens, and $14 for a family of two adults and two children.
In the past two days, the student musicians have been rehearsing and attending master classes with UND music faculty members.
They have also had the opportunity to hear performances by many of UND's music groups including the 1:00 Jazz Ensemble, the Steel Pan Band, Vivo Chamber Choir, Allegro Women's Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Varsity Bards Men's Choir, Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, Red River Trio, Cello Ensemble and Piano Duo.
1/4: UND Honor Band euphonium player Chancellor Quitugua, of Minot (N.D.) High School, watches for conductor James Popejoy's cues during a late morning rehearsal on Saturday at Chester Fritz Auditorium. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald
2/4: Dr. James Popejoy leads local high school students from North Dakota and Minnesota in a rehearsal of Girolamo Frescobaldi's "Toccata" as part of the 33rd Annual Honor Band, Choir and Strings Festival Saturday morning at the Chester Fritz Auditorium. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald
3/4: Dr. James Popejoy directs members of the UND Honor Band, composed of area high school students from North Dakota and Minnesota, in a rehearsal of Girolamo Frescobaldi's "Toccata" Saturday morning at the Chester Fritz Auditorium. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald
4/4: UND Honor Band flutists Cassidy Holth (center), of New Rockford-Sheyenne High School, and Michaela Fischer (right), of Bowman County High School, rehearse a portion of Girolamo Frescobaldi's "Toccata" Saturday morning at the Chester Fritz Auditorium. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald
Pamela Knudson is a features and arts/entertainment writer for the Grand Forks Herald.
She has worked for the Herald since 2011 and has covered a wide variety of topics, including the latest performances in the region and health topics.
Pamela can be reached at pknudson@gfherald.com or (701) 780-1107.