Aberdeen, WA – November 18, 2024 – The Grays Harbor College Foundation is proud to sponsor the 2024 Grays Harbor College Small Schools Band Festival, which will take place on Thursday, November 21, from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Bishop Center for Performing Arts. This free, non-competitive event brings together over 364 young musicians from across the region, offering high school music students an opportunity to perform in front of a live audience and receive professional feedback from experienced clinicians.
Participating schools for the 2024 festival include:
- Hoquiam High School
- Ilwaco High School
- Montesano High School
- North Beach Jr./Sr. High School
- South Bend High School
- Tenino High School
- Willapa Valley High School
- Wishkah Valley High School
Dr. Bill Dyer, Director of Music for Grays Harbor College, highlights the importance of this opportunity: “Most area schools are Title 1, rural, and traditionally perform in their gymnasium. This will be a unique experience for students!”
Andrew Bowerly, Director of Bands for the Tenino School District, expressed his gratitude for the festival: “Thank you so much for sponsoring the Small Schools Festival! My students genuinely enjoy this festival each year, and it allows our students to experience Grays Harbor as a viable post-secondary option.”
Since 2022, this event has been made possible thanks to the generous support of donors to the Grays Harbor College Foundation. This year, an anonymous gift from the San Diego Foundation has funded the event, which costs $5,000 to operate.
“We are so proud to sponsor this festival, which provides an important platform for young musicians to showcase their talents and experience the arts in a new and exciting way,” said Lisa J. Smith, Executive Director of the Grays Harbor College Foundation. “Additionally, it is a great experience for students to come onto a college campus and meet with our recruitment and outreach team to learn more about continuing their education at Grays Harbor College.”
The Small Schools Band Festival is a vital part of the Grays Harbor College Foundation’s ongoing efforts to support educational opportunities for local students. If you’d like to sponsor the 2026 festival, please contact Executive Director Lisa J. Smith at 360-538-4243 or lisa.smith@ghc.edu
