We are very excited to share that the Lake Braddock Symphonic Band has been accepted to perform at the Virginia Music Educator’s Conference for the 5th time! This is a tremendous honor for our students, our band program, and all the alumni that came before us. We are excited we get to continue the tradition and share our music as well as our history with directors from across the state of Virginia.
Over the next two months in the classroom, students will prepare a 45-minute concert program for music educators across the Commonwealth. To support all directors in attendance, they will perform a variety of music. The music will range in grade levels from 1 to 6 as well as present different styles, genres, and composers. There will be a balance of newly composed music with well traditional standards like a Sousa March and a concert fanfare. This music will provide attendees an exposure to new music, an approach to inclusion in concert literature, and the fundamentals in developing superior ensemble skills. Directors will be able to take these back to their students and expand the impact exponentially to more students across the Commonwealth.
Some of our music we are highlighting has a personal connection to the history of our band program. We will perform a composition we had written in honor of our retired Middle School Band director, Mr. Bean (Mischievous Behavior). We will spotlight our tuba instructor, Dr. Porter, who has been with us for more than 30 years, with a movement from a Tuba Concerto written specifically for him. We will also perform a transcription we performed at Bands of America (BOA) National Concert Festival in 2015 (Slavonic Rhapsody).
The performance is at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on November 18th, at 2PM. Unfortunately, the association does not sponsor the ensembles selected to perform. So, we are attempting a donation drive, similar to Go Fund Me, to raise money for the students’ performance. It is my hope that the students do not have to pay for this opportunity to present music and professional development to the music educators across the Commonwealth.
Our expense estimate for the 62 musicians to travel is about $7,000.
To donate to the LBSS Symphonic Band VMEA Performance, please click HERE.
This link will take you to My School Bucks, a platform for FCPS. This site will send 100% of the donations directly to the Lake Braddock Band. No fees or percentages taken by any company!
We hope that you will consider supporting the ensemble with whatever donation you can whether you are an alumni, extended family member, or just a believer in students and music education.
Thank you for your support,
Mike Luley
www.lbband.org