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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The crowd listened intently as students delivered an evocative performance featuring a slate of dynamic shifts and movements during the Thompson High School Wind Ensemble’s 44-minute performance at the Alabama Music Educators Association Conference.

The THS Wind Ensemble had the opportunity to perform at this year’s AMEA Conference which was held at the BJCC in Birmingham on Thursday, Jan. 24.

“The 2025 AMEA Conference was an incredible experience,” said Graham Bennett, director of bands at THS. “We were honored to be selected once more to perform at such a prestigious event. Band directors from all over the state were in attendance for the professional development conference, and many were in attendance at our Thursday evening performance as well. Our students put on an outstanding 44-minute program including a variety of music and featured a renowned guest artist.”

Each year, only a limited number of schools and programs are selected to perform at the AMEA Conference which has music educators from across the state present.

The THS Wind Ensemble was selected last year to perform at the 2024 AMEA Conference which was planned for Jan. 18 in Huntsville. However, due to bad weather and no way to reschedule, the conference was cancelled which led to the band holding its own showcase at Thompson High School alongside Pinson Valley High School on Jan. 23, 2024.

For the THS Wind Ensemble’s performance at the conference, they brought an array of compositions to life, including high-energy pieces like “Clutch,” by Andrew Perkins, flowing melodies like “Salvation is Created” by Pavel Chesnokov and upbeat folk songs like “Molly on the Shore” by Percy Grainger.

“The performance evoked emotion in the audience as the students played a rigorous program,” Bennett said. “The students performed at a level that matched and exceeded collegiate precision and musicality, while also enjoying every note and moment.”

During their performance, the THS Wind Ensemble also had the opportunity to play alongside Dr. Rachel Park, associate professor of piano at Jacksonville State University, as the group tackled George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”

“It is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to play a masterwork of this magnitude, and our students were able to perform it with an incredible world class guest artist,” Bennett said. “We are so thankful for Dr. Park sharing her time and talents with our ensemble.”

Bennett expressed his gratitude to the many individuals and faculty members who made the AMEA Conference performance possible and who continue to support band programs at THS.

“I would like to extend our thanks to our incredible school board, many of whom were there—Dr. John Myrick and Mr. Derek Henderson,” Bennett said. “I would also like to thank our superintendent, Dr. Wayne Vickers, as well as our assistant superintendent and high school principal, Dr. Wesley Hester, who was also in attendance. I would like to thank all of our incredible parents and community members, including City Councilman Jamie Cole who was in attendance as well.”

He also thanked the many members of the THS band program who work with students every day to provide instruction and enhance their skills in order to deliver performances like at the AMEA Conference.

“Finally, I would like to thank the outstanding band directors that I have the pleasure and honor to work with each and every day, (including) Mr. Corey Hyman, Ms. Rebecca Reinhardt, Mr. Jamiah Robbins and our incredible Thompson Middle School directors, Mr. Michael Chambless and Mrs. Cheryl O’Brien,” Bennett said. “We are so blessed to have such a supportive school system, community and administration and couldn’t do what we do without them.”

Those who missed the performance will have one more opportunity to catch a snippet when Park joins the THS Wind Ensemble once again for another performance of “Rhapsody in Blue” during a free, pre-music performance assessment concert at THS’ Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11. During the performance, Park will utilize THS’ Bosendorfer grand piano.

“This concert is completely free, and we hope to see as much of our community in attendance as possible,” Bennett said.