Leader-Telegram, WI:  Bright sounds, big city
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Students have attended workshops and learned from jazz stars. They've come to school on weekends. Sections have turned pizza parties into practice sessions.

Those countless hours have paid off for Eau Claire Memorial Jazz Ensemble I. The 24- member high school band has qualified for the 13th annual Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival in New York City.

In-Forum, ND:  Hitting the right note
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Harvey Brudvig plays all of the musical instruments commonly used in school bands.

He has to. It’s his job to fix them, and he’s being doing it for 50 years.

“I play everything from the piccolo to the contra bassoon,” Brudvig said.

RedOrbit, TX:  Opera's 2009 Season Takes Film Noir Turn
Friday, May 2, 2008
The Santa Fe Opera announced Wednesday that its 2009 season will include the world premiere of The Letter, an opera based on a 1927 stage adaptation of a W. Somerset Maugham short story.

The SFO commissioned the opera by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec and critic, biographer and blogger Terry Teachout.

Jeffersonian, MD:  Whistler at work
Friday, May 2, 2008
Jack Harvey whistles while he works at Weis Market in the Honeygo Village Center.

Usually, he's whistling Mozart.

"I might as well entertain myself with the best," he said while stocking milk, butter and yogurt in the dairy department he manages.

Cape Cod Times, MA:  Beating the odds
Friday, May 2, 2008
Growing up in foster care can be a mixed bag.

Identical twins Brian and Brandon Nygard, 23, experienced the good and the bad and came out on the upside.

"We were very lucky," Brian says.

Madison County Herald, MS:  How do students get to Carnegie Hall? Practice and plenty of fundraising
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Madison County students have a new answer to the old question: How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

Forget "practice, practice, practice." For the Madison Central band and Ridgeland High choir, it's "raise money, raise money, raise money."

Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA:  Gwinnett Arena celebrates 5 years of entertainment
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The Gwinnett Arena opened five years ago with an Arena Football League game, followed up in later weeks and months by George Strait and Bruce Springsteen concerts.

"They came out of the chute pretty hard," said Josh Antenucci, a concert promoter for Atlanta-based Rival Entertainment.

Appeal-Democrat, CA:  Young musicians showcased Sunday
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Young local musicians will put their talents on display Sunday with the annual Young Artist Showcase.

The Yuba-Sutter Symphony Orchestra and the Yuba-Sutter Youth Symphony will perform along with four soloists starting at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 1390 Franklin Road, Yuba City.

Indianapolis Star, IN:  Fishers teenager finishes 2nd on ‘Jeopardy,’ wins $25,000
Saturday, February 23, 2008
CULVER CITY, Calif. — A Fishers teenager became $25,000 richer Friday after finishing second in the finals of the annual “Jeopardy! Teen Tournament.”

“It was a great experience,” said Rachel Cooke, 17, a senior at Fishers High School. “It was so much fun and I’m really happy I was selected to be on the show.”

Houston Chronicle, TX:  North Forest high school merger plan has opponents
Friday, February 22, 2008
Like her two older brothers, Marsha Dillard is a proud Jaguar. She played in the Forest Brook High School marching band and recalls the friendly sound-offs with rival Smiley High School during football games.

A 1993 graduate, Dillard is nostalgic yet pragmatic upon learning that the North Forest school board on Monday plans to consider merging Forest Brook and Smiley as part of a major cost-cutting strategy.

Swampscott Reporter, MA:  SHS Seniors in Performing Arts: Rosalia Falco is a drum major, dancer and flutist
Friday, February 22, 2008
Swampscott - Rosalia Falco, 17, of Swampscott has both a justifiable feeling of personal accomplishment and a strong sense of teamwork, stemming from her life-long dedication to dance and music

She has been dancing with Dance Exclusive (now the Performing Arts Academy) since she was 6 and is adept at ballet, tap, jazz and hip-hop. Her public dance performances have included a pre-Celtics game routine at TD Banknorth two years ago and a performance at Disneyworld.

Albany Times Union, NY:  Boy Scout earns Eagle rank
Friday, February 22, 2008
COLONIE -- Brian G. Hines, a junior at Shaker High School in Latham, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest award a Boy Scout can achieve.

For his Eagle project, the 16-year old devoted more than 310 service hours to collect and organize a toy drive of 5,000 new and gently used toys to benefit seven local charities: New Day Art Center of Catholic Charities of Albany County, City Mission of Schenectady, Hamilton Hill Arts Center, Jewish Family Services of Northeastern New York, St. Anne Institute, Trinity Institution-Homer Perkins Center and the Capital City Rescue Mission.

The Pacifican, CA:  Walken and Pacific say ‘More Cowbell!’
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Who is the Cowbell Guy Smackin’ That for the Tigers! ?

With somewhat low game attendance and obvious lack of school spirit, it is unfortunately difficult to find a die-hard Tigers fan. At Big Monday, where the Tigers played Cal Poly on ESPN2, there was a young man “smacking that” on his cowbell during Pacific’s Pep Band’s amazing rendition of Akon’s “Smack That.” He was on the jumbotron for a good five minutes, right in front of the band. His popularity goes beyond games as well. There are 121 people in a Facebook group dedicated to him called, “We freaking love the COWBELL GUY!” Who is this mysterious “Cowbell Guy?” and where did he get those moves?

DeRidder Beauregard Daily News, LA:  Beauregard Parish Honor Bands To Present Concert Rriday
Monday, February 18, 2008
The 23rd annual presentation of the Beauregard Parish Honor Bands concert is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 22, 2008, at the DeRidder High School auditorium.

The public is invited to attend the free concert which spotlights Beauregard's outstanding junior high and senior high student musicians, said Supervisor Tim Cooley, coordinator of the event.

Lancaster Newspapers, PA:  Faith Flyers helps teen pilot spread her wings
Monday, February 18, 2008
A year ago, Lisa Halsey had never been in an airplane. But since April, the 16-year-old from Dillsburg has been behind the controls of a Cessna Skyhawk, soaring over the fields and highways of central York County.

Halsey can take wing thanks to Faith Flyers, a new group that aims to help teens who otherwise might not be able to earn their private pilot's licenses.

Journal-Register, NY:  ColorBurst bittersweet for Medina seniors
Monday, February 18, 2008
Always on the go, Medina High School seniors Maggie Moriarty and Lisa Husung performed with the Varsity Winterguard team for the last time on their home turf Saturday.

Husung has participated in the Colorguard — field, street and winter — year round since the seventh grade, she said. One of five Winterguard staff members responsible for equipment and aiding the captain, she is also an active member of the Twirlers program and the PAAC Club dedicated to promoting the acceptance and awareness of other cultures.

Rocky Mount Telegram, NC:  Nash Central band to play at capital
Monday, February 18, 2008
In the Nash Central High School band program's five-year history, its bands have marched in parades and performed in various states, but nothing quite compares to their upcoming June gig.

Nash Central has been chosen to represent North Carolina in Washington, D.C., during Flag Day weekend.

Boca Raton News, FL:  Florida Youth Orchestra highlights concert series
Monday, February 18, 2008
The city of Boca Raton continues its “Music in the Park” series Sunday, Feb. 24, with a performance by the Florida Youth Orchestra. It will be held at 4 p.m. in the Mizner Park Amphitheater, located in the north end of Mizner Park on Federal Highway.

An afternoon program of various contemporary and classical musical selections has been prepared by this 125-member orchestra In its 14th consecutive appearance on the Mizner Amphitheater stage, the orchestra, as a not-for-profit, self-supporting musical group, was started in 1988 by former WTVJ-Channel 6 weatherman, Bob Weaver, and his wife, Myra, to showcase the musical talents of area students, ages 5-19.

NTV, NE:  Aurora Band Fundraising with Waffles
Sunday, February 17, 2008
You've heard of a pancake feed, now there's a waffle feed. The Aurora school band hosted the annual fundraiser to raise money for new instruments and competitions.

Middle and high school students provided the entertainment, while hundreds of folks lined up for the long line of waffles.

The Plain Dealer, OH:  And Shaw's band will play in China
Friday, February 15, 2008
Donshon Wilson picked up his ringing phone on the morning of Monday, Jan. 28, and heard an excited voice on the line.

"You've got to get to the treasurer's office right away," an East Cleveland school administrator said.

Quad-Cities Online, IL:  After 22 years, Geneseo buying new band uniforms
Thursday, February 14, 2008
GENESEO -- The last time the Geneseo High School marching band had new uniforms, Ronald Reagan was in his second term as president of the United States.

Wednesday, the Geneseo school board ended 22 years of marching in worn material by approving the purchase of 120 new uniforms.

Cleveland Daily Banner, TN:  Bradley High band to play in Dublin, Ireland parade
Sunday, February 10, 2008
On March 15, the Bradley Central High School Marching Band will be leaving for Dublin and Limerick, Ireland.

The band will be playing and marching in the Dublin, Ireland, 2008 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Florida Times-Union, FL:  HONORING A FRIEND
Saturday, February 9, 2008
The Neptune Beach City Council agreed to give the Fletcher High School marching band $2,000 this week to help the band perform in the nation's capital this summer.

And one councilman, Fred Lee, added a personal $1,000 donation.

Springfield News Sun, OH:  American Dream raffle under way
Saturday, February 9, 2008
SPRINGFIELD -- Tickets are already on sale for a local raffle that raises thousands of dollars each year for area organizations and non-profits.

The American Dream Raffle raised about $100,000 last year for organizations such as the Catholic Central Foundation, the Springfield High School marching band and the Springfield Lions Club, said Pat Hearlihy, chairman of the raffle.

Jefferson City News Tribune, MO:  JCPS ‘Bands Spectacular' set Sunday
Friday, February 8, 2008
It's the annual “Bands Spectacular” in the high school's Marvin Fleming Fieldhouse, director Steve Eubanks said.

“The purpose is to showcase all the students who are enrolled in band, grades 7-12,” he explained. “And the younger kids get to see what to expect as they mature as musicians.”