Three students from Albert Lea High School attended the Dorian Band Festival at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, Feb. 24 and 25. Senior Maria Silva and juniors Kailie Drescher and Isaac Ware participated in the honor band. They were nominated by ALHS director of bands Suzanne Mauer and selected from a large pool of applicants.

Silva made the select symphonic band and received an honorable mention for the solo she played for Luther flute professor Carol Hester. There were about 12 students chosen for this honor, and Silva was the only flutist.

Approximately 530 student musicians from schools across the upper Midwest attended the festival to study and perform under college level instruction. Students got to see Luther’s concert band, jazz orchestra and a Luther faculty woodwind ensemble in performance on Feb. 24 and performed in the Dorian Band Festival grand concert on Feb. 25.

Dorian Festival grand concert performing ensembles included the Dorian select symphonic band under the direction of Joan deAlburquerque and the two Dorian massed bands. Throughout the event students had opportunities to both play and hear music at a high quality of performance. Festival sessions included group instruction, rehearsals, individual lessons with music faculty members, auditions for solo performances and master classes, auditions for music scholarships and social and recreational activities.