UND and area high school students to collaborate at annual music festival

The University of North Dakota\u27s Department of Music will host its 29th Annual Honor Band & Choir Festival Jan. 24-26, featuring more than 325 high school students from throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. These musicians were selected from more than 750 students who auditioned in the fall. While these students are on campus, they will participate in rehearsals, master classes and performances. A number of performances will be held as part of the festival in the Chester Fritz Auditorium, on the UND campus. Friday, Jan. 24, in the Chester Fritz Auditorium: 3:45 p.m., The 1:00 Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of UND\u27s Robert Brooks; and The Steel Pan Band, directed by UND Professor Michael Blake. 4 p.m., Festival Showcase Concert. Featured on the festival concert program will be the UND Varsity Bards Men\u27s Choir and Concert Choir, conducted by Joshua Bronfman; the Allegro Women\u27s Choir and Vivo Chamber Choir, conducted by Melanie Popejoy; the UND Chamber Orchestra, directed by Alejandro Drago; and the UND Wind Ensemble, with James Popejoy as conductor. In addition, the Showcase Concert will feature selected soloists and chamber ensembles. There concert is free and open to the public. Sunday, Jan. 26, in the Chester Fritz Auditorium: 1:30 p.m., the UND Honor Band, Women\u27s Honor Choir and Mixed Honor Choir. The groups will be led by UND music faculty members Joshua Bronfman, James Popejoy and Melanie Popejoy. The three groups also will combine to perform Carmen Dragon\u27s arrangement of America, the Beautiful, as part of the event. Tickets for this performance are $6 for adults, $3 for students/senior citizens, or $12 per family (two adults, two children), and are available at the door