From  March 5th through 9th, the Ada High School Band is going to Chicago, Illinois to preform in the Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival. They are one of four specially selected bands across the United States to preform on Chicago’s Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center.

Percy Grainger was a famous composer in the early 20th century. He once came to Ada to be a conductor and clinician for the 1940 East Central Music Festival at East Central University. He was even arrested for vagrancy in Ada due to his inclination to where the same clothes for days and not being ironed.

Now the Ada High Band is set to preform at the festival named for him and attend a clinic with Colonel Dennis M. Layendecker, who was a Commander and Music Director of The United States Air Force Band for 26 years, and is now retired.

Thanks to the hard efforts of the band members they are privileged to be able to play on such an esteemed stage that is a once in a lifetime chance.