Lord Botetourt High School senior Hannah Martin will join the “best of the best” for the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) 2018 All-National Honor Ensembles November 25-28 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
Martin has an Alto 1 part in the Mixed Choir Roster after earning a parts in her local, district and state music honor ensembles. Martin was selected to participate in the Virginia Choral Director’s Association All-State Choir Event in April in Richmond.
Martin is among 11 Virginia students from across the United States and overseas in military bases schools selected for the national ensemble. She is under the direction of Joel Brenner at Lord Botetourt.
The Mixed Choir will perform the same evening as the Jazz Ensemble, from 7-8:30 p.m. November 27. The national Guitar Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band concerts are November 28.
The ensembles consist of 550 students from 49 states and territories.
The All-National Honor Ensembles (ANHE) performers represent collaboration and creativity in its highest musical form, according to the NAfME.
The All-National Honor Ensembles consist of a jazz ensemble, mixed choir, guitar ensemble (new this year), symphony orchestra, and concert band.
Students were chosen through an audition process. The jazz ensemble will have 20 instrumentalists, the mixed choir 240 vocalists, the guitar ensemble 47 guitarists, the symphony orchestra 122 instrumentalists and the concert band 121 instrumentalists.
Eligible students have qualified for their state-level honor ensemble program and competed against top students for a spot in these national honor ensembles.
Selected students will be rehearsing a challenging repertoire in preparation for performing under the baton of five of the most prominent conductors in the United States: Todd Stoll (Jazz Ensemble); Dr. Amanda Quist (Mixed Choir); Dr. Michael Quantz (Guitar Ensemble); Dr. Jean Montès (Symphony Orchestra); and Dennis Glocke (Concert Band).
All conductors have received top honors in their field and will spend several days rehearsing with students before the concert.
National Association for Music Education, among the world’s largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. NAfME advocates at the local, state and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers.
The Association orchestrates success for millions of students nationwide and has supported music educators at all teaching levels for more than a century. With more than 60,000 members, the organization is the national voice of music education in the United States.
Martin is also a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society that opens up a world of opportunities for students who have already shown themselves to be academically capable and musically gifted. Through performance and community service, they develop confidence, creativity, critical thinking, compassion and a host of other leadership skills sure to serve them well in school and beyond, according to the society website.