Hull High School Jazz Big Band Receives Silver Rating at WorldStrides Music Festival

The Hull High School Jazz Big Band received a silver rating based on the National Standards for Music following their performance at the WorldStrides music festival last month. (Photo Courtesy Hull Public Schools)

HULL- Superintendent Judith Kuehn, Principal Michael Knybel and Band Director Ian Barkon are pleased to announce that the Hull High School Jazz Big Band received a silver rating following their performance at the WorldStrides music festival last month.

On Saturday, April 15, the Hull High School Jazz Big Band was awarded a silver rating, based on the National Standards for Music, following their performance of Mathew Montgomery’s "#1 No Pickles" and Andrew Homzy’s arrangement of Charles Mingus’ "Moanin’" at the 2023 WorldStrides New York Heritage Music Festival.

The 2023 WorldStrides New York Heritage Music Festival was held at Riverside Church in Manhattan, where the Hull High School Jazz Big Band performed for nationally acclaimed adjudicators, learned from their feedback and were given the opportunity to explore a new city and deepen their bonds with classmates.

With only six hours of practice time as an ensemble from January to April, the 18-member Jazz Big Band rehearses daily in class but as four small sections over the course of two days.

After arriving at the concert venue, groups warmed up in a private rehearsal room before taking the stage on Saturday. Festival performances ran throughout the day, with each ensemble performing for a total of 15 minutes. A panel of three adjudicators then provided written and recorded feedback for each performance.

Festival adjudicators said that the Hull High School Jazz Big Band had a good, strong sound and good energy in both of their performance pieces.

Following their performance, a clinic was provided to students by a jazz professor from the Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts in New Jersey. During the clinic, students were provided with additional feedback and reinforcement for classroom teachings.

The festival concluded with an award ceremony that was held later Saturday night at the Riverside Church, where choirs, orchestras and bands were recognized for high scores within their groups and standout individuals were recognized for outstanding performances. During the awards ceremony, when Hull was called up, Jazz Big Band members Petey Menice and Matthew Sullivan went up to the stage to accept the silver rating band plaque.

This is the first year since the COVID-19 pandemic that the group has been able to hold in-person rehearsals and travel to the WorldStrides music festival.

“Having band and music classes fully return to the classroom this year has been very helpful to all of our music students,” said Director Barkon. “Music plays a major role in the lives of many of these students and I hope that they are inspired to further curate these skills in the future.”

In addition to attending the festival, the band and Director Barkon explored many of New York City's historic sights and restaurants including the 9/11 Museum/Memorial; Bill's Bar Burgers; Top of the Rock; Pasta Lovers; Time Square; Broadway; the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum; Circle Line Dinner Cruise; Little Italy; Chinatown and Puglia.

To learn more about the 2023 WorldStrides New York Heritage Music Festival, click here.