Smyrna tuba player selected for prestigious national honor ensemble

Mar 10, 2020 at 10:10 am by Voice Wire

Isaac Dortch with his tuba

Isaac Dortch, a tuba player at Smyrna High School, has been selected from applicants across America as a member of the national Honor Band of America.

Dortch was selected from a pool of hundreds of talented applicants for membership in this prestigious national honor ensemble.

Music for All's Honor Band of America is recognized as one of the finest scholastic ensembles in America. They will rehearse and perform in concert as part of the Music for All National Festival, presented by Yamaha, March 11-14 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dortch joins fellow Honor Band of America members from 26 states, representing 77 high schools. Colonel Timothy J. Holtan, 10th Leader and Commander of the U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" (Retired), is the 2020 conductor. The concert will feature the famed U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and the world premiere of two pieces, by composers Julie Giroux and Timothy Mahr.

In the past, Dortch has also been selected for Mid-State and All-State band.

Dortch is a member of the Smyrna High School Band under the direction of Richard Lutz and Ben Reagh; and is the oldest son of Michael and Halana Dortch.

The Honor Band of America will perform in concert at 8:00 p.m. March 14 at Clowes Memorial Hall, located on the campus of Butler University.

Members were selected by recorded audition, evaluated by leading music educators.

"To be selected from among their peers for membership in this national ensemble is a great achievement and honor," said James P. Stephens, Jr., Director of Advocacy and Educational Resources for Music for All. "The 2020 Honor Band of America members are ambassadors of America's music programs, as well as their states, schools, and communities."

The Music for All National Festival will bring over 3,000 of America's most outstanding scholastic musicians to Indianapolis. The Festival includes the National Concert Band Festival, the Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival, the Chamber Music National Festival, the Orchestra America National Festival, and the National Choir Festival, all taking place simultaneously in seven major venues throughout Indianapolis.

In addition to the performance and audience opportunities, students at the Music for All National Festival participate in master classes taught by world-class musicians and music educators, as well as a student leadership session and social events.

The Festival includes two other national honor ensembles, the Honor Orchestra of America and the Jazz Band of America. The Music for All National Festival, presented by Yamaha is an annual program of Music for All, whichis one of the nation's largest and most influential organizations in support of active music making and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

A full schedule of Festival ensemble concerts, times and locations is available at www.musicforall.org/festival,or for more information call 800-848-2263.

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