4 / The Caledonian / News / April 13 , 2007
Band hosts music festival
kati taylor and christina hughes staff writers
For the first time in the history of TWHS, the band is holding their own cash-prize performance competition. Beginning April 23, the Chamber Music Festival has been initiated as an alternative to the usual UIL Solo and Ensemble competition. “The biggest difference between this and UIL is that there is an audience. Also, there’s a cash reward so that gives the kids more incentive to practice,” band director Brett Johnson said. The competition is open to all band members and will be held during and after school, culminating in a
recital for the top solos and ensembles. “It’s a twosided competition: competitive and n o n - c o m p e t i t i v e , ” Johnson said. “The non-competitive track features kids performing for their class during the day. The competitive track has three stages: preliminaries, semifinals and honor recital, which is finals.” Johnson structured the festival after Grand National, rewarding cash prizes for the champions. With prizes ranging from $100 for the top player from each band, to $500 for the top player overall, the Chamber Music Festival provides students with an opportunity to perform in front their friends and family and a
chance to win money. “In the future, and even now, this will benefit students because we are able to bring in college band directors as judges, so when the kids apply to college, they’ll already have some exposure to these people,” Johnson said. The festival is being held in hopes that the idea will catch on in other high schools in Texas and the nation. M o n t g o m e r y College auditorium is the location for the festival. The final concert and the announcement of the winners will be held in TWHS auditorium at 5 p.m. on April 28. “Everyone is encouraged to come out and support these kids,” Johnson said.
Woodlands remembers
photo by adam campbell
HonorAble Sendoff The procession passed under an American flag hanging from a WFD ladder truck.
ryan wallace technology editor
From zero to guitar hero
kati taylor staff writer
In an effort to show people that hanging out at the library can actually be fun, the George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library is holding a Guitar Hero II competition on April 16. Located off of Woodlands Parkway in Sterling Ridge, the library invites all teens 12 and up to participate in a contest of the popular video game Guitar Hero II. The contest will run from 6:00-7:00 p.m. “I heard about Guitar Hero from some teens and it is just as addictive as they say,” young adult librarian and contest coordinator Melissa Baker said. The program is an outreach attempt to allow teens to become more involved
photo courtesy of google
Strummin’ Along The George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library is holding a Guitar Hero II contest on April 16. in the community, specifically, the library. “I want to bring teens to the library and show them that it can be a fun and cool place to hang out,” Baker said. The protector screen TV available for the contestants to play on is approximately 11 feet by 13 feet, which is a rather large screen compared to what most kids have at home. It reaches the ceiling and extends all the way across the wall in the library. For m o re information, contact Melissa Baker at the Mitchell Library.
On March 19th, Woodlands citizens gathered to remember a former resident who gave his life in the Iraq War. Private First Class Cory Kosters, who belonged to the 82nd Airborne Division in the U.S. Army, was killed on March 5 in Samarra, Iraq, along with five fellow soldiers when the Humvee he was riding in set off a makeshift explosive device. The funeral procession was held along Research Forest Drive as hundreds of Woodlands residents lined the street to show support of Cory Koster’s life and for his friends and family. “Cory was a very sweet person, polite and always respectful to myself and others,” Alice photo by adam campbell Thomas said, a senior English teacher who roAd of Honor taught Cory in her The Kosters procession was led by the Patriots for Peace, 2005 spring class. a motorcycle support brigade.
“He would have done well wherever he went, for he had especially strong moral values.” K o s t e r s ’ involvement in the U.S. Army began after he graduated from TWHS in 2005. “Before he left high school, he made mention of going into the army,” senior Danny Silva said. “He was well suited for it. He liked to play war games and had an impressive knowledge of different types of weapons.” As the first from the Woodlands to lose their life during the Iraq War, Cory’s death was
deeply felt by all. “Giving your life for your country is the ultimate service you can do for it,” Thomas said. “I will never get the chance to thank him enough for the sacrifice he made for our nation.” Monday, the day Cory Kosters was laid to rest - was the fourth anniversary of the day the United States began combat operations in Iraq. According to the Associated Press, 3,217 military personnel have died since the war began on March 19th 2003.
Woodlands Ballroom Dancing Club
Always wanted to learn Ballroom dancing? Need more exercise? Need a fun thing to do on a Sunday night? Want to make some new friends? All ages Classes and Social Dance Every Sunday From 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm $10 cover charge per person (Smoke and Alcohol free) WALTZ, FOXTROT, TANGO, CHA-CHA, MERENGE, EAST COAST AND WEST COAST SWING, SALSA For information, call (713) 805-4466
Knights of Columbus Hall, 1-45 North to FM 1488, make left go 3 miles, or take SH 242 west to FM 1488, make right on FM 1488, go 1/4 mile