Each year, the district organizes a special concert that brings together student musicians from band, orchestra, and choir. These students perform alongside a guest conductor or artist. This year, the District Band Festival on Thursday, March 13, featured renowned composer and arranger Carol Brittin Chambers as the guest conductor, leading the vibrant performances of BC band students in grades 5-12.
- View an album of photo highlights on the district’s Facebook page.
- View a copy of the 2025 Band Festival program [PDF]
Under the guidance of the BC music department, the students spent several months practicing the concert works of Carol Brittin Chambers. The students also spent two days working directly with Chambers prior to the concert.
This was the first Band Festival in the district since 2019. The Covid pandemic disrupted what is a rotating annual celebration of band music, orchestra, and choral music. The annual tradition began in Bethlehem in 1978 with a Choral Festival. In 2024, it was a District Orchestra Festival; next year, there will be a District Choral Festival.
Music department supervisor David Norman has coordinated the festival for the last several years. Norman will retire at the end of the school year after 24 years of service as a music educator in Bethlehem.
A big thank you to Mr. Norman and to our band teachers Sarah Baker (BCMS, Elsmere, Slingerlands), Patrick Beauregard (BCHS), Julie Taylor (BCHS, BCMS), and Genoveffa Vitale (BCHS, BCMS, Eagle, Glenmont, Hamagrael).