The ensemble

has been asked to perform for the National Band Association and the Southern

Division of the College Band Directors National Association at the Clayton

County Performing Arts Center Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.

Dr. Donald

Hunsberger, conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble of the Eastman School

of Music at Rochester University, will be the guest conductor. He will

be directing the band on "Irish Tune from Country Derry" and

"Shepherd's Hey" by Percy Grainger.

The band's

performance under the director of Hunsberger is significant for two reasons:

the symphonic wind ensemble movement was first established by Eastman's

first conductor, Frederick Fennell, and Hunsberger, who is only the third

conductor at the Eastman School of Music, will retire after this year.

"It is

a tremendous honor for the Fayette County wind ensemble to perform under

the baton of Dr. Hunsberger. We were invited to give the performance because

organizers of the event knew of our band from past performances,"

said Kenny Beard, FCHS band director.

Not only will

the performance be an honor for the ensemble, but Beard said it is going

to hold special significance for him as well.

"I attended

the Eastman School of Music while working on my master's degree and was

in the Eastman wind ensemble with Dr. Hunsberger. The connection will

make the performance that much more interesting," he said.

The FCHS performance

will be the opening concert of the convention. The concert is free and

open to the public.

"The ensemble

would be honored with the support of our community on Feb. 20. I would

like to invite everyone to come out and take part in this special performance,"

said Beard.