Top High School Musicians Return to Loyola University New Orleans for Second-Annual Big Easy Band Fest

Dozens of the top high school concert band members from across the region will perform next weekend at the second-annual Big Easy Band Fest at Loyola University New Orleans.

The two-day event takes place Nov. 7 and 8, with a Finale Concert consisting of the long-running Bourgeois Honor Band and the Loyola Wind Ensemble on Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. in the Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall, in the Communications/Music Complex at Loyola. The performance is free and open to the public.

The students will perform masterpieces from the band repertoire, led by Associate Professor Alan Mills, Loyola’s Conductor and Coordinator of Bands, and Col. John R. Bourgeois, former conductor of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, a visiting professor at Loyola and a Loyola alumnus.

“This festival brings together some of the region's most talented young musicians for a weekend of making music, learning from our faculty and performing alongside our students,” said Nick Volz, Area Coordinator of Instrumental Studies at Loyola, and Associate Professor of Classical and Jazz Trumpet. “It's also a chance for them to experience the special community we have here at Loyola. We're especially excited to welcome Col. Bourgeois back to campus, so he can share his remarkable experience with everyone.”

Bourgeois was the 25th director of “The President’s Own” band, and his acclaimed career spanned nine presidential administrations, from Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower to Bill Clinton.

As the band’s director, Bourgeois was Music Advisor to the White House, and selected the musical program and directed the band on its traditional place of honor at the U.S. Capitol for four Presidential inaugurations, a Marine Band tradition dating to 1801. He regularly conducted the Marine Band and the Marine Chamber Orchestra at the White House, appearing there more frequently than any other musician in the nation.

About 50 high school students, who were nominated by their band directors to participate, will gather at Loyola on Nov. 7 to begin rehearsals as the members of the Bourgeois Honor Band. The day will conclude with an opening concert at 4 p.m., featuring Loyola students and faculty members, Volz said.

The following morning at 10:45 a.m., those in attendance will enjoy the “Directors’ Band,” consisting of band directors from the more than 20 participating high schools, as well as an additional 10 music teachers from the area and members of the Loyola faculty, he said. After the lunch break, the Loyola University Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Loyola Coordinator of Jazz Studies Gordon Towell, will perform at 12:45 p.m.

The students also will take part in small-group instrumental rehearsals, and attend masterclasses and clinics with Loyola faculty members and students on each of the various ensemble instruments, Volz said.

Those wishing to attend the Finale Concert can request tickets to reserve a seat. Please visit https://cmm.loyno.edu/BEBF2 to RSVP.

About the College of Music and Media
The College of Music and Media is comprised of two schools — the School of Music and Theatre Professions and the School of Communication and Design. Students who choose to study in the college prepare for careers in music, theatre, music industry, graphic design, motion design, UX design, filmmaking, strategy, mass media and more.