On March 7 and 9, Lightridge concert bands performed at Rock Ridge High School for their yearly assessment. All four ensembles left the stage with overall superior ratings, with the Wind Ensemble achieving the highest possible score. As a result, the Lightridge’s Wind Ensemble is now formally recognized as a Virginia Honor Band.
The assessment is an annual competitive performance where choruses, bands, and orchestras from multiple schools perform selected pieces in front of judges. Each classification has their own separate assessment. The judges grade each performance based on multiple factors. The evaluated factors include accuracy, technique, tone, musicianship and literacy. The grades range from one through five, with one being superior and five being poor.
The Lightridge band ensembles started preparing for assessment at the start of the school year. The students were taught fundamentals of musicality, attended morning rehearsals, and met with sectional coaches. During rehearsals, the band performed warm ups that focused on tone quality and other concepts that were present within their assessment pieces. Sectional coaches who specialize in certain sections also met with them to perfect their part of the songs.
Band director, Jonathan Philip, was confident in the band’s ability to give a great performance for the judges at assessment. However, that wasn’t his major focus.
“The rating is not the main goal,” said Phillip, explaining that he aimed to focus on increasing growth as musicians past where they have been before.
Philip also attributed some of the band’s success to their senior leadership.
“The senior class is leading and doing a great job encouraging others to get better,” said Phillip.
Several band members commented on how determined and focused they all were during rehearsals leading up to assessment.
Senior trumpet player John Marc Glass agreed that the band’s focus was a large contributing factor to their excellent scores.
“it’s really the focus that brings us to the next level,” said Glass.
