The Clarke Central High School wind symphony warms up for their Large Group Performance Evaluation on March 22 in Mell Auditorium. CCHS junior and trumpet player Maggie DeMaria enjoys LGPE and the progress the band has made. “It’s always a little stressful because of the timing like after spring break and everything, but it’s a time just to have fun doing what we love. It really showcases how much we’ve grown over the year,” DeMaria said. Photo by Elena Webber
The Clarke Central High School band program will be one of the sites hosting the Large Group Performance Evaluation for District 14 on March 21-22.
Clarke Central High School will host the Georgia Music Educators Association’s Large Group Performance Evaluation for District 14 on March 21-22, one of the three sites to hold this event.
Bands performing for LGPE will prepare three selections to be evaluated by three judges. Following the prepared performances, the bands go into sight reading where they have six minutes to look at a piece they have not previously seen before and play it.
“It’s our state evaluation, so it tells us where we are and gauges us on things we need to work on, things we’re doing good (at) and things that we need to address in terms of our program to make it better,” CCHS assistant band director and fine arts department teacher Christopher Simpson said.
Clarke Central High School junior Maggie DeMaria, a trumpet player for the wind ensemble, is excited for LGPE and believes the band is well-prepared.
“We’ve brought in clinicians and had four-hour weekend rehearsals. Every (CCHS) band has done that, some more than others,” DeMaria said. “We’re practicing almost every day in class — just running through stuff, working with the comments from Pre-LGPE and just trying to get ready.”
According to Simpson, the pressure of LGPE causes stress during the weeks of preparation.
“It’s a pretty big thing, pretty busy, chaotic and hectic time for band directors. But, ultimately it pays off in the end to get that good rating,” Simpson said. “For me, it’s about the process of seeing our kids grow in the program versus trying to get a trophy. For me it’s about the journey, not necessarily the destination.”
The Clarke Central High School wind symphony warms up for their Large Group Performance Evaluation on March 22 in Mell Auditorium. CCHS assistant band director and fine arts department teacher Christopher Simpson believes that LGPE and the ratings from the judges are very beneficial for the band students. “I think a lot of kids are kind of shocked and surprised (about the ratings they get at LGPE) because (Dr. Lawrence and I) beat them up. We hear the flaws, we hear all the mistakes, so for someone to sit there and say you guys are doing really well, I think that really gives them a sense of pride and encourages them,” Simpson said. Photo by Elena Webber
LGPE was hosted at CCHS for the first time in 2018, and Simpson believes the location gives the CCHS players a valuable advantage.
“Having LGPE here, it makes it convenient and also just allows us to know where we’re playing and understand the acoustics, so we can prepare a little bit better for the performances that way,” Simpson said.
To view a gallery of the event, click here
