The Hialeah Miami Lakes High School’s band program has a lot to celebrate. Various students within the school’s band program have received accolades and opportunities to showcase their abilities.
Trojan band caption, Jesus Perez was selected for the University of Miami Frost School of Music Honor Band Festival. In mid February he received one-on-one mentorship from the world class musicians of the university faculty and performed alongside other elite high school students from all over Florida.
Perez also auditioned and was selected with classmate Jorge Acin for the Superintendent’s Honor Band Festival, a band made up of only the best musicians in the county for the concert held on Thursday, April 9 at Miami Coral Park Senior High. Perez plays the euphonium and Acin plays the tuba.
Seniors Kevin Baluja and Christopher White performed a marimba duet and received a Superior rating at the District Solo and Ensemble Festival. The duet performed “Minuet” by Johann Sebastian Bach. Christopher White was also selected along with classmates, Michael White, Yonal Cordero, Daniel Valentin, and Sarai Monzon for the Youth Pride Band of South Florida, an honor band celebrating diversity and uniting against bullying. The students rehearsed and performed under the direction of world-renowned composer Frank Ticheli. They performed in February at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Christopher White was also awarded a $1,000 scholarship for college for his exemplary character, work ethic and musicianship from the Youth Pride Band of South Florida. Recipients for the scholarship are chosen of the members in the honor band ensemble and are evaluated throughout the month that they are rehearsing together. The mentors discuss possible candidates based on musical experience and past achievements.
Additionally, the school’s Winter Guard competed in the South Florida Winter Guard Association regional competitions and placed in the top 5 consistently over 3 weeks of competitions amongst participants from Miami-Dade and Broward county schools.
While the school celebrates the many accomplishments of its musical students, preparations are being made for the school’s Annual Spring Concert on April 28 at 7 p.m. in the school’s auditorium. The event is $5. The concert will feature the color guard and all 5 of the school’s bands: Beginning, Symphonic, Wind Ensemble, Latin Band and Marching Band. The Annual Spring Concert always finishes with a bang with students performing the year’s marching band show inside the auditorium by marching through the aisles.
For more information, contact the school at 305-823-1330.