Five students from Stanley-Boyd High School participated in the prestigious Dorian Band Festival at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, on March 2nd and 3rd. The students were nominated to attend the festival, which annually accepts around 500 high school band members from across the region, all selected by their band directors.
Once at the festival, the students were divided into two different bands, where they were given less than 24 hours to learn new music before performing in the Grand Concert on Monday evening. The event provided a unique opportunity for these talented musicians to collaborate with peers from across the Midwest.
Stanley-Boyd senior Sydney Gundlach reflected on her experience at the festival, saying, “The Dorian Band Festival was a blast! It is such a great experience to learn about music and get the opportunity to play with so many people from around the Midwest.”
Gundlach shared that she particularly enjoyed being a part of the smaller massed band this year and appreciated working with three different directors, one of whom was from Fall Creek.
“My favorite part of the festival is getting to create music with some of the best musicians in the Midwest,” she added.
The Dorian Band Festival is a memorable experience for many high school musicians, and for the Stanley-Boyd band members, it was an opportunity to showcase their skills and learn from some of the best in the region.