Colorado Core Knowledge Schools' Music Festival

A Rousing Success

By Holly Hensey

Music filled rehearsal rooms and hallways on February 11, 2005, as student musicians from across the state of Colorado rehearsed and performed in the first Colorado Core Knowledge Music Festival. Representing thirteen Colorado Core Knowledge schools, 145 students participated in the Festival's band, orchestra, and choir under the direction of three of the finest conductors in the Rocky Mountain Region.

Arriving at the host school, The Pinnacle Charter School in Federal Heights, a northern Denver suburb, the young musicians were charged with adrenaline. Anticipation was great. Even though the students didn't know exactly what the day would bring, they were ready to make Core Knowledge history. The students came, music in hand, their backpacks filled with water bottles and snacks for the breaks. Rehearsals began at 9:00 AM and ended at 5:00 PM with two breaks and lunch in between.

That evening after dinner, the students changed into concert performance attire, and after last minute warm-ups and coaching from the conductors, they were ready to face a sold out audience. Thunderous applause followed each selection. The enthusiastic response went beyond appreciation of the music performed and embraced the students for their pioneering spirit.

Conductors Dr. Daniel Grace, choir; Mr. Steve McNeal, orchestra; and Dr. Edward Cannava, band, were applauded for going well beyond the call of duty.

The idea for the music festival was born at the Colorado Core Knowledge Conference in October of 2002 and really developed legs at the Core Knowledge music teacher round-table in February, 2004. During that roundtable, over twenty music teachers brainstormed to make the idea a reality, exchanged email addresses, and offered up their creativity and time. Jon Hutchison, music teacher and director of fine arts at Monument Charter Academy in Monument, chaired the committee and coordinated the band. Kim Davis, music history teacher and choir instructor at James Irwin Charter School in Colorado Springs, chaired the choir. Tommy Reddicks, music teacher at The Pinnacle Charter School, chaired the orchestra and offered to host the Festival at Pinnacle's new performing arts center. What was planned as a one-time event blossomed into something more. Students and teachers from across Colorado are now urging that the Festival become an annual event.

The Festival was created with a three-fold purpose. First, the sponsors wanted students to be able to rehearse and perform with other top student musicians from around the state. They wanted them to experience performing in larger ensembles of higher musical caliber than is typically found in a single school. Second, they felt that being led by top-notch conductors might inspire students to have greater musical aspirations. Lastly, they felt that the students would benefit from meeting musicians from other schools. The students, no doubt, would rate getting a day off from school high on their list of the festival's pluses, but most of them worked harder and learned more that day than they yet know. Teachers surely know that an investment in activities such as a music festival can be enormously valuable.

Making the selection process effective and fair was the concern of school music directors and a steering committee. School music directors auditioned their interested students based upon criteria set up by the steering committee. They sent written recommendations with rankings to the area chairperson. The steering committee then made selections in light of school participation and the needs of each ensemble. Each participant received a certificate of participation, but, more importantly, all had the satisfaction of knowing that they had been involved in a day that not only developed their musicianship but also built their leadership skills.

A registration fee was charged to help cover the costs of sheet music, conductor fees, meals, facility charges, instrument rental, and awards. Some expenses also were covered through the concert ticket sales.

Many commented that the festival was a cross-fertilizing experience, advancing the quality of music programs across the state by allowing creative ideas to be transferred from school to school. It also helped to develop valuable networks among all the participating music directors.

The post-festival activities continued to expand the benefits of the day itself. One school hung a banner over its entrance with the participants' names emblazoned across it. In other schools, participants gave reports at their school spring concert or were invited to make reports to their school boards. Some students were even heard to ask for more challenging music like the music they played at the Festival. Across Colorado in Core Knowledge schools, there was a common cry from students and school directors alike: “I want to do it again next year!”

When the final tally was made, the music festival budget came out in the black, and the second annual Colorado Core Knowledge Schools Music Festival is in the works for 2006!

For more information on creating and hosting a Core Knowledge Schools Music Festival contact the steering committee chairman, Jon Hutchison, Monument Charter Academy, jhutchis@monumentacademy.net, or 719-481-1950.