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Colonial Forge band takes Jamestown stage
The Colonial Forge Wind Ensemble performed during yesterday's Jamestown commemoration
Date published: 5/13/2007
VIDEO: See VIDEO of the Colonial Forge band on FREDCast!
BY CATHY JETT
JAMESTOWN--Band director Andrew Loft likes students to perform in all sorts of venues.
Yesterday morning, his award-winning Colonial Forge High School Wind Ensemble got to play at a historic one.
The 60-piece concert band was among the dozens of entertainers helping Jamestown commemorate its 400th anniversary.
As Loft raised his baton on the grounds of Jamestown Settlement, the Stafford County students launched into a 45-minute performance of American classics, such as "Semper Fidelis" and a medley of tunes from "The Music Man," along with the classic British march "Army of the Nile." Some were numbers they had performed at a recent Virginia Band Directors Concert Festival, where they received a superior rating.
About 200 people, including dozens of camera-toting parents, sat under an awning to watch.
"It was awesome," bassoonist and senior Kevin Shira said afterward. "It was an honor to come down. This will never happen again."
Loft applied for a spot at the anniversary event months ago and was thrilled to get a message on his answering machine saying the band had been accepted.
"It's one thing to play for parents and another to play for people who don't know us," he said.
Loft's students were just as excited when he told them the news. Then they had a reality check.
"Is this a big deal, Mr. Loft?" they said. "I told them, yes, this is a BIG deal," Loft said.
Not only did the band get to make its first trip outside Stafford, a privilege that has always gone to the marching band in the past, they also got free passes to spend the day meeting other high school bands, seeing other entertainers and the numerous exhibits inside and out at the Settlement and nearby Historic Jamestowne.
"There's so much education in meeting other schools from around the country," said Principal Lisa Martin. "Our students talked to a band from California while they were waiting to change their clothes. They talked about our school and how neat it is to be in the birthplace of our country."
About 40 parents in Colonial Forge's close-knit Band Boosters came along and made it a family day.
Lynne Neiss and her daughter Laurel, a senior and contrabass clarinetist with the ensemble, took in a Polish folk-dance group before the concert and planned to see a popular glass-blowing exhibit afterward.
Elizabeth Clark planned to see some of the exhibits with her daughter Kelli, who plays the French horn, and her mother-in-law and best friend.
"My daughter just absolutely loves history," Clark said. "For her to be here is a memorable event she'll be able to tell her children about."
One thing the band won't be able to do, however, is say they got to see the evening's star-studded lineup of Bruce Hornsby, Chaka Khan and Ricky Scaggs.
The threat of a thunderstorm forced Loft to cancel plans to end the day by watching the concert, which ended up being held as the sky cleared.
But Loft was philosophical.
"They were all smiles and sunburns," he said, "so it was a good day."
CATHY JETT: 540/374-5407
Email: cjett@freelancestar.com
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Date published: 5/13/2007
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