Testimonials about the Batavia Band Festival
From Adjudicators/Clinicians
"For directors looking for a motivational performance opportunity for younger high school musicians, the Batavia Band Festival combines a philosophical priority on the development and reinforcement of technical and artistic skills with an exceptional Performing Arts Center venue and extended feedback clinic sessions to offer an exceptional performance and learning experience for students and conductors."
- Bill Jastrow, Neaqua Valley High School (retired)
"It is difficult to find meaningful performances for our ensembles that are non competitive in a significant performance venue. The Batavia Band Festival is the perfect example for such an opportunity. It's geared toward education, is non judgmental, and the performance hall is amazing."
- Jim Stombres, St. Charles North High School (retired)
From Directors
"Our developing ensembles are not our future, but our present, and this festival provides a safe and professional opportunity for them to flourish."
- Tara Cappelletti, Glenbard East High School
"The Batavia Band Festival was exactly the type of experience that my students, and our program, needed to take our performances to the next level. Not only did we get to perform in a wonderful venue, we received outstanding feedback from very highly respected educators and had the opportunity to watch many other fine bands from around the area. The entire day was a great step forward for our program!"
- John Clemons, Willowbrook High School
"This festival was a great experience for our students, one that we plan to return to annually. The performance space was top-tier, the judges were excellent, and the extended clinic was helpful for students and director alike."
- John Damore, East Aurora High School
"The Batavia Band Festival was a great experience for our students. The performance venue was excellent, and enough time was provided for the clinic in order for it to be educational and thorough."
- Anthony Gnutek, HD Jacobs High School
"The Batavia Concert Band Festival was the perfect opportunity for my younger group to be featured in a beautiful performance venue and receive a clinic from some of the top educators in the area. It really helped bring my Concert Band to the next level of performance for the rest of the year."
- Justin Heinekamp, Sandwich High School
"The Batavia Concert Band Festival provided a fantastic and unique opportunity for our 2nd Band to have a first-rate experience. The entire day was extremely well organized, the volunteers were friendly and helpful, and the communication was precise. Our students had a wonderful experience because they were able to perform in a fantastic venue, receive insightful feedback from exceptional clinicians, and listened to other ensembles at similar levels. We returned to the Batavia Concert Band Festival this year because we knew we would get to perform in an amazing auditorium, receive helpful feedback from well-respected clinicians, and get to listen to other similar bands. My students had a great experience and want to come back next year too! I highly recommend this educational performance opportunity to other groups."
- David Hutter, Maine South High School
"It is so wonderful to have a musical event that allows the students in the "non-top" bands to perform on their own. With such a magnificent performance hall, the Batavia Band Festival also provides a rewarding and very accurate recording to use as a reference for the rest of the school year. I highly recommend participating!"
- Andrew Packer, Glenbard East High School
"The Batavia Band Festival was an extremely positive and rewarding experience for my students. The festival was the most well run festival I have every attended. We will keep going back for years to come!"
- Steven Rexroat, Oswego East High School
"This was simply the perfect experience for our ensembles that so often get neglected in the usual festival experience. They felt special and their performane level grew exponentially both in the preparation for the event, and the comments they received in the fantastic forty minute clinic. The clinician really had time to dissect the pieces, and get the band to he next level."
- Kevin Schoenbach, Oswego High School
"I would like to thank all involved that made the Batavia Band Festival a first-class festival. Our students had the opportunity to perform in a beautiful venue, had a comprehensive clinic and were given feedback from some of the most respected music educators in our profession."
- Bobby Vriezen, Yorkville High School
"For directors looking for a motivational performance opportunity for younger high school musicians, the Batavia Band Festival combines a philosophical priority on the development and reinforcement of technical and artistic skills with an exceptional Performing Arts Center venue and extended feedback clinic sessions to offer an exceptional performance and learning experience for students and conductors."
- Bill Jastrow, Neaqua Valley High School (retired)
"It is difficult to find meaningful performances for our ensembles that are non competitive in a significant performance venue. The Batavia Band Festival is the perfect example for such an opportunity. It's geared toward education, is non judgmental, and the performance hall is amazing."
- Jim Stombres, St. Charles North High School (retired)
From Directors
"Our developing ensembles are not our future, but our present, and this festival provides a safe and professional opportunity for them to flourish."
- Tara Cappelletti, Glenbard East High School
"The Batavia Band Festival was exactly the type of experience that my students, and our program, needed to take our performances to the next level. Not only did we get to perform in a wonderful venue, we received outstanding feedback from very highly respected educators and had the opportunity to watch many other fine bands from around the area. The entire day was a great step forward for our program!"
- John Clemons, Willowbrook High School
"This festival was a great experience for our students, one that we plan to return to annually. The performance space was top-tier, the judges were excellent, and the extended clinic was helpful for students and director alike."
- John Damore, East Aurora High School
"The Batavia Band Festival was a great experience for our students. The performance venue was excellent, and enough time was provided for the clinic in order for it to be educational and thorough."
- Anthony Gnutek, HD Jacobs High School
"The Batavia Concert Band Festival was the perfect opportunity for my younger group to be featured in a beautiful performance venue and receive a clinic from some of the top educators in the area. It really helped bring my Concert Band to the next level of performance for the rest of the year."
- Justin Heinekamp, Sandwich High School
"The Batavia Concert Band Festival provided a fantastic and unique opportunity for our 2nd Band to have a first-rate experience. The entire day was extremely well organized, the volunteers were friendly and helpful, and the communication was precise. Our students had a wonderful experience because they were able to perform in a fantastic venue, receive insightful feedback from exceptional clinicians, and listened to other ensembles at similar levels. We returned to the Batavia Concert Band Festival this year because we knew we would get to perform in an amazing auditorium, receive helpful feedback from well-respected clinicians, and get to listen to other similar bands. My students had a great experience and want to come back next year too! I highly recommend this educational performance opportunity to other groups."
- David Hutter, Maine South High School
"It is so wonderful to have a musical event that allows the students in the "non-top" bands to perform on their own. With such a magnificent performance hall, the Batavia Band Festival also provides a rewarding and very accurate recording to use as a reference for the rest of the school year. I highly recommend participating!"
- Andrew Packer, Glenbard East High School
"The Batavia Band Festival was an extremely positive and rewarding experience for my students. The festival was the most well run festival I have every attended. We will keep going back for years to come!"
- Steven Rexroat, Oswego East High School
"This was simply the perfect experience for our ensembles that so often get neglected in the usual festival experience. They felt special and their performane level grew exponentially both in the preparation for the event, and the comments they received in the fantastic forty minute clinic. The clinician really had time to dissect the pieces, and get the band to he next level."
- Kevin Schoenbach, Oswego High School
"I would like to thank all involved that made the Batavia Band Festival a first-class festival. Our students had the opportunity to perform in a beautiful venue, had a comprehensive clinic and were given feedback from some of the most respected music educators in our profession."
- Bobby Vriezen, Yorkville High School
