National Education Music Company (NEMC) recently completed its third annual Music is Life contest by presenting the winning performance group, The Reading Intermediate HS Jazz Band of Reading PA, with a prize package worth $11,000. NEMC’s Music is Life Contest is a nationwide video performance competition open to any school-based performance group, including bands, orchestras, choirs and small ensembles. Applicants are required to submit a short performance video to showcase their talents, with the winner selected on the company’s Web site (nemc.com) by popular vote. Conducted by NEMC with prize support from F.E. Olds and Conn-Selmer, the grand prize winner received a new F.E. Olds four-valve Euphonium, a Selmer Baritone Sax and a check to the band boosters for $1,000.
Reading Intermediate HS Jazz band director Charlie DiCarne said, “We are grateful for the new instruments and proud to have been selected. The students all work very hard, so it’s great for them to be recognized. We have a growing program in a fiscally constrained environment, so the additional instruments will be put to good use.”
According to NEMC President David Benedetto, the contest “was designed to stimulate creativity, recognize achievement and help school music groups work toward a common goal that fosters teamwork.”
View the winning performance at www.nemc.com.