R-MA musicians bring home gold and silver medals

Fourteen R-MA Bandsmen and five members of the R-MA Chorus traveled to Norwich University in Northfield Vermont on February 24-26 for the 41st Military School Band and Choir Festival.

The three day festival, sponsored by the Military School Band Association, featured a concert band composed of military high school and college cadets under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Philip C. Chevallard, USAF, ret., former Commander and Conductor of the U.S. Air Force Academy Band.  There was also a cadet choir directed by CW4 Kathleen Landas, USA, who is 99th Regional Support Command (RSC) Staff Bands Officer.  Senior Chief Musician Michael P. Bayes, Drum Major of the United States Navy Band in Washington, DC conducted a clinic for military high school and college drum majors.

The R-MA Bandsmen earned several prestigious gold and silver medals at the Festival.

Jacob Karen, a sophomore from Winchester, VA, who was awarded a silver medal for being selected as first chair clarinet in the Festival Concert Band, was selected by its director, Lt Col Chevallard as the Outstanding Festival Band Musician and was awarded a gold medal.

Ryan Latham, a junior from Amissville, VA was awarded the gold medal for Outstanding Drum Major after winning the Drum Major Competition at the Festival.

R-MA junior Ryan Latham of Amissville gives a gold-medal performance as drum major during the Military School Band and Choir Festival. Photo by Misti Walters, R-MA Photography.

Yuyang Wang, a sophomore from Shanghai, China earned a silver medal for being selected as first chair trumpet in the Festival Concert Band.

Other R-MA Cadets who participated in the Festival Concert Band included:  Connor Gamma of Darnestown, MD on flute and piccolo; TaJour Gadson of Norfolk, VA and Kathleen Fedzer of Falls Church, VA on clarinet; Tradarius Gadson of Norfolk, VA and Jack Song of Shenzhen, China on alto saxophone; Omar Bran of Markham VA on tenor saxophone; Parker Overstreet of Luray, VA on trombone; and Ben Schoonover of Winchester, VA and Hong Li Liu of Shanghai, China on percussion.  Noelle Kramer of Richmond, VA and Jacob Gehly of Front Royal also participated in the drum major clinic.

Next, the R-MA Band and Parade Unit will head to New York City for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17th.