Mineral County students had the opportunity to play in a special performance last week as part of the Mission Valley Band Festival. On Tuesday, Nov. 13, St. Regis and Superior band members traveled to Ronan to play at the Performing Arts Center.

“Most of these schools don’t have the chance to play in such a large ensemble or in such a nice performance space,” said St. Regis Music Director, Derek Larson. “The opportunity to collaborate with students from other schools is a big draw to the students and a good opportunity for athletes, bookworms, scholars, and artists to work and strive together in harmony in a way they don’t usually experience in school.”

Schools from Ronan, Plains, Charlo, Noxon, Hot Springs, and Thompson Falls, St. Regis, and Superior all gathered for a day of practice followed by the concert. This is the seventh year for the festival and is organized by Ronan’s band director, Alicia Lipscomb. She hires a guest conductor to put together a list of band pieces and those are sent to the participating schools.

“These are pieces that most of the participating schools would not be able to put together themselves,” Larson said.

Nearly 200 people attended the performance where this year’s guest conductor, Jesse Dochnahl, directed the students who played “Rhythm Stand” by Jennefer Hidgon; “Into the Arctic” by Brian Balmages; “Chasing Sunlight” by Cait Nishimura; “Mambo Perro Loco” by Julie Giroux; and “Rough Riders” by Karl King.

“It is wonderful and Mrs. Lipscomb works very hard to encourage the growth of small school music programs around her,” said Larson.