By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Thompson High School concert band has been invited to perform at “one of the top two venues any high school band can be invited to perform in,” according to the school’s band director.

In mid-July, THS Director of Bands Jon Bubbett received confirmation the band had been selected to perform as a featured band at the National Concert Band Festival.

The Concert Band Festival will be a part of the 2015 Music for All National Festival presented by Yamaha, which will be in Indianapolis from March 12-14, 2015.

“Your selection to perform at the Festival was made from an outstanding pool of ensembles. Your ensemble was deemed to have achieved the high level of musical performance and artistry worthy of being featured on a national stage,” read an email sent to Bubbett by Music for All President and CEO Eric Martin. “We commend you and your students for your exemplary commitment to excellence and look forward to bringing national attention to your students and program.

“Based on the recommendation of our distinguished panel of evaluators, who are some of the most respected music educators in the country, we are pleased to extend this invitation and esteemed recognition to your outstanding ensemble,” read the email.

According to the festival’s website, only 18 bands from across the nation are selected to perform as “featured bands.” The THS band will perform in Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University, and then the band’s conductors will take part in a one-on-one mentoring session with one of the festival’s evaluators or clinicians.

“This mentoring session affords the conductor the opportunity to engage one-on-one with the evaluator about the program and topics of interest to both the conductor and the mentor,” read the site.

In his email, Martin offered the THS band his “sincere congratulations” on being selected.

“It places Thompson H.S. in the extraordinary position of modeling to the world the results of excellence in achievement and music education,” Martin wrote. “We look forward to the Thompson H.S. wind ensemble representing your school, community and state at the festival.”