On Feb. 20, Norwin band members participated in the annual Youngstown State University Wind and Percussion Invitational along with the YSU Wind Ensemble and the Brookville Area Concert Band at Stamburgh Auditorium. The concert started at 7:30 pm, but the students arrived earlier in the day in order to prepare. They performed at the school’s concert hall after having instruction specific to the instruments they play. They were also able to learn from Dr. Garrett Griffin, the Director of Bands at Coastal Carolina University.

“My favorite part of the experience was being able to play our pieces one last time in such an amazing concert hall,” said Morgan Stephan, a junior who performed at the invitational.

In order to prepare for the concert, the participants practiced the music during class. The students also knew what areas of their performance to work on since they had already performed in two concerts prior to the YSU Wind and Percussion Invitational.

“We prepared for this concert just like any other. We practiced our pieces for the weeks leading up the invitational and ran them in class,” said Stephan.

One aspect of the concert hall that made it a unique experience to perform in was how the auditorium was designed to elevate the sound of the instruments. The sound setup facilitated the music to have a much better quality than a space not meant for musical performance would.

“I loved the concert selections we had, and being able to play in a hall that is acoustically treated and meant for music is truly a worthwhile opportunity,” Stephan said.

The concert was a final time for the band to perform their songs in front of an audience. The experience was a good learning opportunity for the students as well as a way for them to have fun performing their music.

“I loved the concert selections we had, and being able to play in a hall that is acoustically treated and meant for music is truly a worthwhile opportunity,” Stephan said.