| New York City's Carnegie Hall is world renowned | | | | clearly pushes their music programs the same as |
| for hosting the world's best artists - all of whom | | | | their academics and their music programs |
| have considered it an honor and privilege to | | | | continue to grow. |
| perform there. In April 2007, the Hall will host the | | | | The ensemble ranks as one of the best bands in |
| National Invitational Band and Orchestra Festival. | | | | the nation with 69 musicians. It is the top |
| The festival is sponsored by Field Studies | | | | performing band of the 11 musical groups from |
| International, allowing high school musical groups | | | | the school and competes at the highest level of |
| from across the country to compete using a | | | | competitions, sponsored by the Ohio Music |
| recorded audition tape. This year, 18 groups have | | | | Education Association. The Ohio schools' ensemble |
| won the coveted opportunity to perform on the | | | | practices in the basement of the school, an aging |
| stage at Carnegie Hall. Frank Battisti of the New | | | | accommodation with a leaky roof. |
| England Conservatory, Craig Kirchhoff of the | | | | The Ohio schools' group will be playing four |
| University of Minnesota, and H. Robert Reynolds | | | | college-level pieces, one of which is Leonard |
| of the University of Southern Carlifornia will judge | | | | Bernstein's difficult Overture to "Candide". It has |
| the event, providing recorded comments and a | | | | taken a lot of hard work and practice for the |
| recording of the performance for each musical | | | | ensemble, who plans to be perfecting their |
| group. The wind ensemble at Ohio schools ' | | | | performance right up until they leave for New |
| Walnut Hills in Cincinnati is one of the 18 groups | | | | York. |
| selected for the final competition at Carnegie Hall. | | | | After they received the invitation to compete at |
| While most Ohio schools were cutting back on | | | | Carnegie Hall in October, the cost of |
| their music programs, the Ohio schools' Walnut | | | | transportation and accommodations while in New |
| Hills was maintaining its 11 bands. Kerry Kruze, | | | | York became a problem. The ensemble members |
| music teacher at the Ohio schools' Walnut Hills, | | | | and their families sold pizzas, magazines and other |
| believes that students thrive on the arts. The | | | | fundraising activities for four months. In the end, |
| participants in the wind ensemble play with | | | | the Ohio schools' group had raised $1,000 per |
| amazing precision and brilliant sound, according to | | | | person plus extra funds from the band's booster |
| Kruze, proving that music is not just for kids | | | | group. |
| whose parents can afford it. | | | | While in New York, the ensemble and their |
| Besides the ensemble, the Ohio schools' Walnut | | | | chaperones will see a Broadway show, visit |
| Hills has a choir, an orchestra, a band, a jazz | | | | museums, take in a jazz show at Birdland jazz |
| ensemble, and a steel drum program. Walnut Hills | | | | club, and see the sights of the city. |