Hundreds of relatives, friends and music enthusiasts attended the Honors Music Festival for high school students at the Grand Street Educational Campus Auditorium, 850 Grand St,, Brooklyn on Saturday, March 16. The Music Educators Association of New York City and the NYC Public Schools Arts Office organized the festival.

Members of the the Festival Modern Band at the Honors Music Festival in Brooklyn. Photo by Kevin Williams

More than 460 students from 47 schools participated in the festival which included the Honors Festival Chorus, Honors Festival Symphony Orchestra, Honors Festival Symphonic Band, Honors Festival Modern Band and Honors Festival Jazz Band. Within 24 hours of the festival, all the students were brought together for a rehearsal with their guest conductors. They were Dr. Monty Cole, Jazz Band Conductor; Dr. LaToya A. Webb, Symphonic Band Conductor; Skye Claire Hale, Modern Band Conductor, Dr. Ronnie Oliver, Jr., Chorus Conductor; and Gregory Robbins, Orchestra Conductor.

Dr. LaToya A. Webb conducts the Symphonic Band. Photo by Kevin Williams

The festival was dedicated to the life and work and life of past MEANCY Honoree an Advisory Member David La Morte and the 2024 MEANCY Honoree Mia Ibrahim for their service to music education in New York City.

Gregory Robbins conducts the Orchestra.Photo by Kevin Williams

Olympus Academy in Brooklyn participated for the first time with three students, two performing in the Honors Festival Chorus and one in the Honors Festival Jazz Band. Music Educator Sattanya Robinson from the Olympus Academy said that she looked forward to the festival and that it was a way to give students the exposure which could allow them to pursue a possible career in music. “It was a great way of networking with other music teacher,” she said. “The festival encouraged students to practice music that did not do before,” Robinson added.

Dr. Ronnie Oliver, Jr. conducts the Honors Festival Chorus. Photo by Kevin Williams

One of the students from Olympus Academy, Xavier Belfon who performed at the event played the tenor sax in the Honors Festival Jazz Band. He is from Grenada and a talented musician who comes from a family steeped in music including his father who is also saxophone player.

According to one attendee the festival was very entertaining and worth more than the $10 suggested donation.