Aaron Flatt

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Aaron Flatt, a freshman music education major from Streator, has been named the winner of the second annual Monmouth College High School Honor Band Festival conducting competition.

The Jan. 21 festival, which included more than 80 exemplary high school band musicians from around the state, featured six music education majors from the college who were given opportunities to conduct the honor band.

The students each had to prepare a score and rehearse the honor band. Meanwhile, a committee of three MC music faculty members judged each conductor in the areas of conducting technique, knowledge of the score and overall musicianship.

Flatt was chosen to conduct “Echoes” by Samuel Hazo. The contemporary work for band was composed “with the idea that teachers have a huge impact on our lives, and that as we journey through life their influence echoes back to us time and time again,” said Stephen Richter, lecturer in music and director of instrumental music activities at the college,

The high school band students who attended the day-long event at Monmouth College represented more than a half-dozen area school districts. In addition to being given tours of the campus and opportunities to audition for music scholarships, the honor band students also attended special sessions with Richter and music lecturer Tony Oliver.

The culmination of the festival was a 4 p.m. concert in which the festival band performed selections including “Celebration” by Walter Mead, “Mandalen Landscapes” by Philip Sparke and “Persistence” by Richard Saucedo.

Released by the Office of College Communications
Barry McNamara, Associate Director of College Communications
Phone: 309-457-2117
Fax: 309-457-2330