Honor Band and Choir festival exposes students to a higher level of music

Grand Forks, ND (WDAY TV) -- High School students from four states were chosen for the 27th annual Honor Band and Choir Festival at UND.

That festival exposed students to a higher level of music.

Melea Hoeffner, Parkston, ND Student: "Absolutely amazing. I learned so many new things and the music was phenomenal."

Melea Hoeffner is just one high school student chosen from 800 who auditioned for the Honors Band and Choir Festival. Students from Montana and the tri-states learn at a more advanced level.

Melea: "it was really cool. It gave me like a higher quality of learning with different people who had been playing for longer, like the college students, it was a really good opportunity."

Standup: "280 high schoolers spent their weekend right here at the Hughes Fine Arts Center. They worked with UND faculty and music students. The high schoolers say the weekend was challenging, yet unforgettable."

Brandon Viestenz, Jamestown, ND student: "It was a major learning experience."

Elizabeth Tange, Band Director / Lake of the Woods School: "many of the students come from smaller schools so they never get this chance to play this higher level music. And so when they're here it's a new experience, it's a good experience and it's a good challenge for many of the kids that are here."

Tange was in her high school honor band, then a music student at UND. She says working with these students this past weekend is rewarding.

Elizabeth Tange: "it's definitely because they're passionate about it and know it's important and want to learn more about it."

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