Caldwell County All-County Band performs Saturday

Nov. 20—The Caldwell County All-County Band concert showcased high school and middle school students from across the county Saturday at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir.

"The bands are auditioned and all band students willing are encouraged to audition," said West Caldwell band director Jim Shulstad.

The high school clinician is Mike Howell, director of bands at Oak Grove High School in Winston-Salem.

Howell, a native of Martin County in eastern North Carolina, has received numerous awards, including many superior ratings at Concert Band Music Performance Adjudication, MPA, performances in Grade VI and at the Masterworks level.

Haskew Smith, the retired Band Director at Newton-Conover High School, was clinician for the middle school band students.

Smith, a 1992 Appalachian State University graduate, has served for the past 20 years as a host, member, and leader in the Newton-Conover Community Band. In 2015 and 2019, he was the Catawba Valley Band Director of the Year.

Middle school band student's selections included "Epic Venture," "Frogs," "Hope Everlasting," and "Scherzo for Santa" under the direction of Haskew Smith.

High school students, under the direction of Howell, performed "Halcyon Hearts," "Valdres," "Lux Aurumque," "The Roosters Lay Eggs In Kansas," "Seagate Overture," "Scramble," and "Greensleves."

Gamewell Middle School band director Steven Robison was excited about this year's clinic.

"Each year our Caldwell County band students continue to impress me as they come from all schools to audition," he said.

"Caldwell County's music heritage is well known and this year's clinic shows how much band makes a difference in our students lives each and every day."