Walkertown High School Band Performs with Renowned Belgian Composer

Jan Van der Roost leads Walkertown High School Band

At its Winter Concert on Monday night, the Walkertown High School Band performed with Jan Van der Roost of Belgium, a world-renowned composer of band, orchestra and operatic literature. Van der Roost was here at the invitation of Quincy Lundy, the band director for Walkertown High and Middle schools.

“I wrote a message on his webpage back in the summer about how much I love his music and shared the story of why,” Lundy said. “Never expecting to hear from him directly, he contacted me and offered to come guest conduct the Walkertown High School Band en route to the Midwest Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago.”

Rehearsal

On the day before, Van der Roost also led an open rehearsal and clinic with the Piedmont Wind Symphony in Brendle Recital Hall in the Scales Fine Arts Center on the campus of Wake Forest University.

“The rehearsal and concert was everything I hoped for the kids,” Lundy said. “They performed amazingly and it was a huge confidence booster among other great things. The audience responded wonderfully to the band and was so appreciative for this opportunity. Mr. Van der Roost was super with the kids and they were perfectly respectful and grateful ladies and gentlemen. I believe we left as lasting of a wonderful impression on him as he did us! I am super proud of them.”

Van der Roost at work in the band's uniform room