Pella’s rich tradition of excellence in bands continues this year, as two of their ensembles have been selected to perform in a unique honor later this week. Co-Director of Bands Dameon Place says their 11th/12th grade concert group and Pella Jazz I have been selected to serve as the honor bands for the Iowa Bandmasters Association annual conference, which runs this Thursday through Saturday in Des Moines.

“The conference is three days of clinics and concerts, aimed at helping band directors grow professionally,” Place says. “As such, bands are invited to serve as exemplary models for other band directors to listen to and learn from. Each year, the organization chooses from multiple audition recordings one band from each class. They also choose one jazz band to represent all classes. The chosen honor bands then get to perform a concert at the conference for the band directors of Iowa and all parents who wish to attend.”

To have one band selected is an incredible honor, Place says, but to have two selected from the same district is unprecedented.