Fair Honors Ensembles: History
History
MEDINA COUNTY SCHOOLS’ FAIR HONORS ENSEMBLES
History
In the fall of 1921, Samuel T. Burns, assistant superintendent of schools and director of music education for Medina County Schools, initiated what was to be later called the Medina County Plan. This plan made it possible for Medina County school administrators to secure and retain music teachers, with adequate training and successful experience, to teach in the county schools. Burns’ plan would allow for a comprehensive music program to be built in the Medina County Schools. The Plan made possible a varied and equalized program of music instruction at a moderate cost to each school and a fair degree of specialization in instruction through the employment of well-trained music teachers.
The Plan also called for the organization of honors organizations. A 60-member county honors orchestra, 75-member county honors band, and an honors chorus of over 100 voices were formed from students within the county school system. The students taking part in the ensembles were the most advanced and “best the county could offer.” Rehearsals were centralized and held regularly during the course of the year. Concerts were provided at various times during the school year as well. So successful were those groups that a county music camp was organized for one week during the summer.
The summer of 1982 saw a rebirth of Burns’ honors band concept under the leadership of Marcus Neiman, fine arts consultant. By 1992, the honors ensembles program had grown to include two bands, two choirs, and an orchestra (honors orchestras were in place from 1990 through 1994).
Since their rebirth in 1982, 3,574 students have participated in the fair honors bands, 1,685 students have participated in the fair honors choirs, and 222 students participated in the fair honors orchestras.
For the 2011 fair season, two bands and two choirs (comprised of over 320 students) performed on August 4 as part of the Medina County Fair. The instructional and administrative staff members for the 2011 Fair Honors Ensembles include:
| Sarah Baskerville | Student, Buckeye High School |
| Pamela Haberkorn | Choir director, Buckeye High School |
| Michael McClintock | Vocal music teacher, Highland Local Schools |
| Emily Miller | Vocal music and band teacher, Highland Local Schools |
| Alice Rudolph | Band and orchestra director, Strongsville City Schools |
| Nathan Rudolph | Band director, Alexandria Public Schools, MN |
| Brenda Zacharias | Fine Arts administrative assistant, Medina County Schools' ESC |
