Midvalley: 4 school bands mix it up
Musicians from area Catholic schools get together for epic jams
By Tabatha Deans, Close-Up Staff Salt Lake Tribune (April 17, 2008)

Music students from four Catholic schools along the Wasatch Front gathered at St. Vincent Depaul school in Holladay for the first annual Diocesan Band Festival.

Bands from Blessed Sacrament, J.E. Cosgriff and St. John the Baptist schools joined St. Vincent students in the morning for a mixed jam session where students and band directors broke into groups and practiced various songs.

Scott Larrabee, St. Vincent's band director, said there has been talk of a multiparish concert for several years, and he hopes the festival will become an annual event. "It's wonderful for the kids to see other kids from other schools and participate in a larger group," Larrabee said. "We decided to start small with just a few schools participating, and hopefully each year a different school will host the festival."

David Asman has taught music at J.E. Cosgriff school in Salt Lake City for 29 years. He said the key to teaching young musicians is to share passion about the music. "The students see how much music means to me," he said. "And it's very rewarding to see them feel great about learning to appreciate music."

Victoria Landa-Steinau, 12, a sixth-grader at J.E. Cosgriff, said she was nervous about playing the flute in front of the school. "But I look around and find my best friend Sierra and try to sit with her."

Sierra Jensen, 11, also with J.E. Cosgriff, said she doesn't get nervous. "It's fun to perform in front of people."

David Faires, the band teacher at St. John the Baptist School, said the experience was good for his students who rarely have the opportunity to interact with other bands. "They feel good about being here," he said.

The festival wrapped up with all bands playing "America The Beautiful" in unison.

Larrabee said the inaugural festival was a success and is looking forward to future festivals. "The kids did an amazing job, and overall it was a great experience for all of us."

tdeans@sltrib.com