The Murchison Middle School Wind Ensemble has been accepted as one of five bands in the U.S. to perform at the Middle School National Music Festival in Indianapolis in March. The festival is part of the 2016 Music For All National Festival, presented by Yamaha.

This is the first time the Murchison band program has been chosen to perform at the national level. The Wind Ensemble is the only Austin band to be accepted.

“There is no other music festival that can provide such a life-changing experience for students and directors alike through so many rewarding music education activities at one non-competitive event,” said Richard Crain, coordinator emeritus of the National Concert Band Festival and chairman/president of the Midwest Clinic board of directors.

At the festival, students have the opportunity to participate in a master class with a noted professional performer on their instrument and can listen to other middle school and high school bands, orchestras and percussion ensembles from all over the nation. Each ensemble receives a post-concert clinic, student social and special opening session, and attends the Gala Awards Banquet.

“The inclusion of middle school ensembles into the Music for All weekend is a tremendous incentive, providing a new musical challenge without the pressure of trying to achieve a rating,” said MFA Festival evaluator and Midwest Clinic board member Ray Cramer.

Each ensemble performs a program of its choice for an assigned audience. The bands are selected through a recorded audition judged by a panel of music educators. All auditioning ensembles receive recorded and written critique from the educators on the selection committee. Evaluators then recommend the top ensembles to perform at the festival.

The Murchison band program has set up an Amazon Smile account to raise funds for their travel to Indiana.

For more information, please visit www.musicforall.org.