Student to perform at Grand Old Opry

The National Association for Music Education has selected East High School senior Matthew Hontz to perform in the 2015 All-National Concert Band.

Hontz, who plays the French horn, will join 672 of the “best-of-the-best” high school musicians from across the country to perform a gala concert inside Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House on Oct. 28.

The concert is a special part of the National Association for Music Education’s annual conference.

The All-National Concert Band, which will be directed by renowned conductor Eugene Migliaro Corporon, is one of four honors ensembles that will be performing at the conference; the others include a symphony orchestra, mixed choir and a jazz ensemble.

Students were selected to perform in one of the AllNational Honors Ensembles through an audition process that followed qualification at the district, regional and state level.

“Being selected for the AllNational Concert Band is a feeling like none other than I have ever experienced,” said Hontz, who began playing the French horn when he was 6 years old. “I started playing the summer after first grade, and I liked the way the unique instrument sounded.”

Hontz hasn’t seemed to put the instrument down since then, and believes music has made a major impact on his life thus far.

“Music taught me about responsibility, and to take responsibility for my actions in life,” he said. “My role as principle in many groups served as a natural gateway into other forms of leadership.”

In addition to playing the French horn, Hontz is a member of East High School’s baseball team, where he served as captain of the freshman and

“Being selected for the All-National Concert Band is a feeling like none other than I have ever experienced.”

— Matthew Hontz

the junior varsity teams.

Hontz also participates in his school’s Interact Club and Best Buddies, and leads his church youth choir.

Hontz was recently accepted to West Chester University, where he will major in Music Performance and Education within the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and hopes to be a professional musician someday.

“I couldn’t be more excited to have the opportunity to pursue music past high school and through college,” he said.

Matthew Hontz of East High School was selected to perform in the All-National Concert Band by the National Association for Music Education.

COURTESY PHOTOS Matthew Hontz (pictured center playing the French horn) and his classmates participate in band practice at East High School.