Becoming the first to do something remarkable is a hallmark of greatness. In March 2007, 72 musicians from the Rising Starr Middle Symphonic Band, along with their director Steve Tyndall, will learn just how that feels when they go down in the history books as one of the first two middle school bands selected to perform at the Bands of America (BOA) National Concert Band Festival.

“We are so proud of the Symphonic Band at Rising Starr,” says Principal Len Patton. “This invitation is such an honor and is a direct result of the students' hard work and commitment to be the best musicians possible. It goes without saying that the superb direction and leadership of Steve Tyndall has made it possible for our students to achieve so dramatically.”

Only five middle school bands with excellent reputations across the nation were invited by BOA to vie for the honor of being the first band to perform at the festival. Historically, BOA has only invited high school bands to perform, but last May, festival organizers decided to include a middle school band in its 2007 program for the first time. After a lengthy judging process, the Rising Starr Symphonic Band and Bailey Middle School Band from Austin, Texas was selected.

“I’m really excited that we were invited because we’re the first. That says something that we stood out above everybody else. Everybody will remember that we were the first middle school band to ever play there,” says seventh grader Anna Harrell, who plays the oboe.

With its reputation in mind, BOA couldn’t include just any middle school ensemble on the program; they needed the best in the country. While any middle school band could submit an application, BOA specifically invited what it considered to be the best five bands in the nation to apply.

“This is a tremendous honor for the band and for Rising Starr Middle School. Simply to be asked to apply is humbling, but to be invited as one of the first ever middle school ensembles to perform is thrilling,” says Tyndall.

The seventh and eighth grade students who make up the Symphonic Band are not your ordinary band students. They made a conscious decision last spring to audition for the band, agreeing to put in the extra time for weekly after school rehearsals, sectional rehearsals, and for many of them, individual study in private lessons. Why would a pre-teen or teenaged student choose to devote so much time to rehearsal, on top of their already busy schedules, when they could spend time with friends or playing video games?

“Band is something you can work really hard for and be proud of yourself when you accomplish something hard. It’s your own,” says Kristen Black, an eighth grade French horn player. “If you’re first chair of an instrument, you can feel really proud of that.”

As a result of their dedication, these hard-working kids will be adding even more activities to their already hectic days as they help raise funds to offset the cost of the trip. Fundraising activities include selling pizza kits, cinnamon rolls, and cookie dough, washing cars in the hot sun, helping parents plan craft fairs and selling concessions at football games.

Performing at the National Concert Band Festival will add yet another honor to the growing list the Rising Starr band has received. They have performed for the University of Georgia Middle School Festival (1999), the University of Southern Mississippi Instrumental Conductor's Conference (2001), the Troy State University Southeastern United States Middle School Concert Band Clinic (2002), the Georgia Music Educators’ Association Annual In-Service Conference (2003), the 57th Annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois (2003) and the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington (2005).

Tyndall says it is the hard work of all students over the years that have cultivated the band’s excellent reputation and ultimately earning it a spot in history at the BOA Festival.

“It’s really an honor to be selected for this event. What's really great is to see the past several years of hard work from earlier Rising Starr Symphonic bands culminate into an honor for the present members. It’s really a testament to the dedication of each symphonic band member over the years to present,” adds Tyndall.

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