Senior Dana Phelps will be adding to her musical résumé this weekend.
Phelps, a music education major, was selected to play in an honors wind ensemble at the semi-annual CBDNA conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which began Wednesday and runs through Saturday.
CBDNA, which stands for College Band Directors National Association, chooses 80 of the best musicians from small colleges across America to play in the honor band every other year.
Phelps, along with over 300 other applicants, had to submit a résumé including all the pieces she has preformed, the honors she has received and letters of recommendation. Phelps said she understood she had a very slim chance but knew this kind of distinction could better her career.
“Any chance I get to perform is going to better me as an educator,” Phelps said.
Phelps has received the music she will be performing this weekend and said it was very difficult.
“It is a very challenging repertoire,” Phelps said. “It is probably the hardest music I have ever had to play.”
Associate Professor of Music J.D. Parr taught Phelps her freshman year and provided her with a letter of recommendation. Parr said this is the musical equivalent of being declared an All-American athlete.
“Dana is one of the finest flutists we’ve had in 25 years, so I’d say this is a well deserved honor,” Parr said.
Instructor of Music John Boulton teaches flute lessons for the music department.
“I’ve taught Dana for three years, and she has continued to improve,” Boulton said. “The flute literature has pieces from many generations, and she has learned several musical styles.”