New London sends four students to UNI band festival

Four New London High School students were accepted to attend the Northern Festival of Bands. This annual event is held at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI,) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Josiah Denney, Carleen Zaragoza, Colin Pealer and Tray Schuster attended.

The workshop is very busy. Beginning on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 22, the students were practicing. They continued learning and playing Thursday evening, working all day Friday, and again on Saturday morning. The concert was held Saturday afternoon, Jan. 27 at 2 p.m. Grace Baugher Dunlap was guest composer and conductor.

Grace is Kansas-born. She is well known as a composer, horn player and music educator. Her music is melodic and highlights emotional aspects of the human experience. She has studied at Kansas State University and the University of Tennessee, Grace is currently composing, performing, and teaching Brass in the Kansas City area. She is in demand as a guest composer and speaker due to her open and honest conversations about creativity and mental health.