Howard Payne University’s Department of Music hosted two events in April for area high school music students. More than 100 students from eight area schools participated in the HPU Band Festival held on the HPU campus on April 11. Two weeks later, the first-ever HPU Percussion Festival was held with 70 students participating from six area high schools.

The HPU Band Festival is an annual event that offers middle and high school band students the opportunity to perform solos, ensembles, jazz or concert band programs in an adjudicated setting.

“This event is such a great experience for our area bands,” said Dr. Jonathan Kraemer, HPU director of bands and assistant professor of music. “It offers the opportunity for students in those programs to develop their solo and ensemble performance skills in a positive environment while simultaneously providing a strong level of educational support to help them grow as young musicians. This event has seen tremendous growth over the past two years and we are very excited about its potential for the future.”

The Band Festival utilized Mims Auditorium, Grace Chapel and the Davidson Music Complex for the event.

The HPU Percussion Festival was the first event of its kind offered by the Department of Music. The format consisted of a percussion solo or ensemble performance on the Mims Auditorium stage, followed by a 30-minute clinic with Mark Ford, Regents professor of percussion at The University of North Texas. Additionally, Ford presented an hour-long percussion masterclass on the techniques and values inherent in percussion music education.

The Percussion Festival was a collaborative effort between HPU alumnus Nathan Lacy ’21, percussion director for Brownwood ISD, and Dr. Kraemer. Last fall, Lacy approached Dr. Kraemer about the possibility of starting a local percussion festival that would cater to the needs of the percussion students in this area of the state. He felt like there was a need for this type of educational experience for young percussionists.

“The immediate and overwhelming positive response from local band directors provided a huge affirmation for this event,” said Dr. Kraemer.

Sponsors for the Percussion Festival included Meinl Percussion, Tama/Bergerault, Sabian, Evans Drum Heads and Innovative Percussion, Inc.

Both the HPU Band and Percussion Festivals were joint ventures between the HPU Yellow Jacket Band and the Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma service fraternities.

For more information about music program at HPU, visit www.hputx.edu/music.