GTCC, High Point Arts Council joining forces to form community band

Guilford Technical Community College’s music was looking to expand its ensemble to a full concert band. The High Point Arts Council wanted to organize a community band.

The two hit the perfect solution for both.

They have formed a partnership to create a community band made up of GTCC students, faculty and staff, and members of the community. The band will practice and perform at the old High Point Train Station, now owned by the arts council and houses the Centennial Stations Arts Center.

“We don’t have a large ensemble for woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The traditional concert band was something we didn’t offer,” said Larry Spell, GTCC music instructor and assistant professor of creative and performing arts. “Students who are going to pursue a music education degree will be working with (concert) bands in their profession.”

High Point Train Station in downtown High Point a decade ago and turned it into the Centennial Station Arts Center. The building covers more than 21,000 square feet.

“It’s perfect for community space. We just needed to activate it, create accessibility for the arts,” said Arpajian.

“This very much fits our budget; we create an equal exchange. The other advantage is to welcome in the next generation of leaders and patrons and community shapers, and the college does that.” the Winston-Salem community in book discussions for all ages centered around one book or central topic. This year’s book is “Dear America” and we discussed the themes of identity and belonging, the meaning of citizenship, finding home, and what it means to be American in today’s world. This book is not about taking a political side. It’s about finding home and understanding. The culminating event will be a free keynote event with Jose Antonio Vargas at the 18th anniversary Festival of Books and Authors on Saturday, September 23. This program is a sponsored project of the Arts Council of WinstonSalem & Forsyth County and funded through ARPA supported by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners. Learn more at bookmarksnc.org/BookwithPurpose.

Spell says he expects 30 to 50 players when the program begins. “We want to build it gradually,” said Spell, who was hired two years ago by GTCC as an ensemble instructor but has experience conducting concert bands.

With the formation of the band in the early stages, performances have not been scheduled, but public concerts are in the future.

Join us on August 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rhoades Conference Center in the Robert L. Strickland Center on Forsyth Tech’s Main Campus for an evening that celebrates the strength of the human spirit and the transformative power of education. Let’s explore the profound impact of “Dear America” and be inspired to create a more compassionate world for all.

The biggest roadblock for a larger performance group at GTCC had been the lack of a space large enough not just for performance but for housing and storage of equipment and instruments.

Enter Allie Arpajian and the High Point Arts Council.

“I met Larry, and he was talking about the real lack of community ensembles, that there were not a lot of places where people can plug in and play. One of my hopes had been to create an ensemble,” said Arpajian, who was hired as the arts council director a year ago.

“Larry had, in a previous role, created an ensemble. We had an awesome space. It all seemed like a natural fit.”

The arts council purchased the old

“Performances are a key part of the partnership. We want to support the arts council and their work on their offerings to people in High Point. We want to be part of that art scene,” said Spell.

Spell said rehearsals will begin once GTCC fall classes begin and he expects an inaugural concert as early as October. He also said the band will be designed for musicians with intermediate to advanced skill levels.

GTCC students who sign-up for the college’s ensemble class and play in the band will receive a grade based on participation.

Spell said anyone interested in joining the band should visit https://forms. gle/11svRJuKr1BRBEZc7 to complete an online interest form or email Spell at lsspell@gtcc.edu .