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Model High Student Earns Spot in the All American Concert Band
During the 2017-18 school year, along with other talented music students across the United States and overseas in military base schools, Barton Sopata from Model High School (MHS) practiced with dedication to gain a chair or part in his local, district, and state music honor ensembles. Now, Barton will join the “best of the best” for the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) 2018 All-National Honor Ensembles November 25-28, 2018, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL.
The All-National Honor Ensembles (ANHE) performers represent collaboration and creativity in its highest musical form. The All-National Honor Ensembles consist of a jazz ensemble, mixed choir, guitar ensemble (new this year), symphony orchestra, and concert band. Students were chosen through an audition process. The jazz ensemble will have 20 instrumentalists, the mixed choir 240 vocalists, the guitar ensemble 47 guitarists, the symphony orchestra 122 instrumentalists and the concert band 121 instrumentalists. Eligible students have qualified for their state-level honor ensemble program (not applicable to guitar students) and competed against top students for a spot in these national honor ensembles.
Barton is one of 120 students selected from across the United States, one of seven from the state of Georgia and has place in the top 4 trumpets selected to the group. MHS Band Director Tim Burton says that Barton is a joy to teach and knows he will accomplish everything he is determined to do.
Barton Sopata is a student with his sights set high. In his 7th grade year, he made a list of things to accomplish and he is well on his way to completing the list of tasks. Barton has placed as a member of the All State Band since his 8th grade year. In 2018, he was 2nd chair trumpet in the GMEA All State Concert Band. Barton spent his 2018 summer touring the country as a member of the Blue Coats World Class Drum Corps. He is a member of the Atlanta Youth Symphony. He has also had the privilege of instruction from Dr. Raymond Mase, Head of Trumpet instruction at The Juilliard School in New York.
Selected students will be rehearsing a challenging repertoire in preparation for performing under the baton of five of the most prominent conductors in the United States: Todd Stoll (Jazz Ensemble); Dr. Amanda Quist (Mixed Choir); Dr. Michael Quantz (Guitar Ensemble); Dr. Jean Montès (Symphony Orchestra); and Dennis Glocke (Concert Band). All conductors have received top honors in their field and will spend several days rehearsing with students before the concert.
The Jazz Ensemble and Mixed Choir concerts take place 7-8:30 PM, November 27, and the Guitar Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band concerts begin at 10 AM, November 28, in the ballroom at Disney Coronado Springs Resort. The cost of admission is $10 per person. Tickets will be available for purchase onsite.