High school band kicks off Music in Park

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By MIM WOODRING
The first Music in the Park concert will feature the North Augusta High School Concert and Symphonic Bands May 15 at 7 p.m. in Maude Edenfield Park, adjacent to the North Augusta Community Center on Brookside Drive.
This is the fourth year student musicians have opened the outdoor summer concerts, explained Chuck Deen, band director. "It is a privilege that we get this opportunity every year," he said. "The support of the Arts Council and community is very important to us."
Having been a student of Richard Brasco, Deen remembers Brasco's style and decided when in high school he would become a band director. Brasco has organized the Savannah River Winds, having retired after 35 years as a high school director.
"We are concluding a very successful year with our program," Deen said proudly.
"All performance aspects of our band program has matured and we are approaching a consistent high level of performance and musical skills," he added.
At the State Concert Band Festival the Concert Band (ninth grade) performed in Class IV (musical skill) and received an overall excellent rating. The Symphonic Band performed in Class V (more difficult) and received a superior rating.
Selections for the concert will range from Hide and Seek by the pop artist IOGEN NEAP to the more challenging folk dances by Dmitri Shostakovich. There will be Glenn Miller for those who remember the oldies and Fantasia 2000, among other numbers.