WEST LIBERTY, March 21, 2023 — West Liberty University’s Music Department is hosting the annual music festival that welcomes the region’s finest high school music students to campus on Saturday, March 25.
“Formerly called the Tri-State Honors Festival, we have renamed it the West Liberty Honor’s Music Festival and we look forward to welcoming students visiting this Saturday for the tradition,” said Dr. Douglas McCall, director of Choral Activities. About 65 students are expected to attend.
Schools attending include: Bellaire, Brooke, Martin’s Ferry, Oak Glen, Wheeling Park, Shadyside and Philip Barbour high schools.
The festival has gone on for many years and offers area high school music students a chance to work with college music professors to learn, rehearse and stage a concert. Plus, the students have a chance to explore campus and the Music Department’s offerings.
“Visiting Director of Bands Dr. Alvin Simpson and I invite everyone to enjoy the resulting concert at 7 p.m. in College Hall. The public will enjoy a great concert featuring some of the best music students in our region,” he added.
Registration of student participants takes place at 8:30 a.m., Saturday and this is followed by a rehearsal until noon when the group will break for lunch in the Bear’s Den cafeteria. Rehearsal begins again at 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. which is followed by dress rehearsals, dinner and finally a warm-up at 6:45 p.m.
The 7 p.m. concert will include a variety of music and will be followed by a reception, all in College Hall.
The Division of Music at West Liberty University offers undergraduate degrees in Music Education, Music Performance, and Music Technology. For more information, please visit westliberty.edu/music. To contact Dr. McCall, please email him at: douglas.mccall@westliberty.edu.