The music program at Greenbrier East High School received several commendations from the Greenbrier County Board of Education on Tuesday, Mar. 8. This includes all-state performances and a governor’s award for GEHS music teacher Jim Allder.
GEHS music program students performed last week as part of the West Virginia Music Educators Association (WVMEA) All-State Ensembles in Charleston.
“This is quite a tremendous honor for the students,” said Superintendent Jeff Bryant. “I always equate it to if someone made first team on all-state. That’s pretty selective, and these music students are the same way. They go through a pretty grueling process. … Hundreds and hundreds of high school students throughout the state of West Virginia try out for All-State Chorus. … [The students] go to auditions, and you have a lot of preparation, for months, to get ready. … I will tell you, honestly, it is probably the most tough, grueling audition that you have to go through. You have to prepare an etude, you have to know one that’s assigned, you have to know all of your scales. Then you go in and [play for] someone you’ve never met before in your life.”
The All-State Choir honorees include:
– Kayli Depriest
– Kaliyah Newsome
– Jameson Vance
– Heather Jones
– Lily Dense
The All-State Band honorees include:
– Ceili Allder on French Horn
– Cedric Allder on euphonium
– Lawson Hamilton on trumpet
The All-State Orchestra honorees include:
– Clara Long, Principal Flute
– Maggie Armstrong, Principal F Horn
“Greenbrier County has just as, if not greater, talent than anyone in that state,” Bryant said. “I can recognize music teachers and specialists who are playing a great role in this. … I also see Brian Carr here, he’s a music teacher and director of bands at the middle school, and an extraordinary musician. We’re so fortunate to have these teachers with their stature. Birch Graves, the assistant band director at the middle school, is here tonight. We have great choir teachers at both schools, but I don’t think I see them here tonight. … I see Jimmy Allder, … the music teacher and director of bands at Greenbrier East High School. He does an incredible job, and he just received the excellence in [Arts in Education] from the governor.”
The board celebrated the All-State performers on Tuesday, March 8. |
According to a press release form the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History, “the Governor’s Arts Awards are presented biennially to celebrate the state’s creative spirit and the amazing talents of the people and groups that produce art” and “also recognize those whose willingness to support arts organizations and artists help to ensure the arts maintain an important place in our communities and schools.”
In addition to a performance from Cathey Sawyer during the awards ceremony, Allder was announced as the individual winner for Arts in Education.
Tasha (left) and Jim Allder (center) at the governor’s awards. |
“Jim Allder has served as the director of bands, ensembles, guitar, and general music at Greenbrier East High School for more than twenty years, and in this role, he has excelled as a mentor and leader,” reads the award. “… Jim’s life work has required the investment of time, patience, and skill to challenge his students not only to work hard, but to seek excellence in every aspect of their lives. … Jim transcends the normal expectations of a music educator, providing innovative and musically sound ensemble opportunities that capture the hearts and minds of each listener. His students respect him not only for his musical vision and talent but also for the way he clearly values them as individuals.”
Allder highlighted the success of the students at the board meeting, saying “we definitely have wonderful students here. For me this year, it’s a little bit of a bonus because both of my own personal children are involved in all state band and are also involved with the honor recital. I also like to say that the support we get from the Greenbrier County Board of Education and the Greenbrier County School system is outstanding. We just came back from the conference where these kids were honored in those performances. We get to talk to colleagues all over the state, and I’ll tell you what, we’re blessed in this state.”
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