Prominent band composer and conductor Michael Story will join student musicians in Hopewell Valley for two days of workshops and a culminating performance of a new composition at the district’s annual Band Festival, March 19, at the Hopewell Valley Performing Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public.

The Houston-based Story has written extensively for college, high school, junior high school, and elementary school bands as well as for professional groups including the Houston Pops Orchestra. He is best known for his numerous publications for young or developing concert and marching bands.

While in Hopewell Valley, Story will work with grade-level bands from Timberlane Middle School, the symphonic band of Central High School and a combined, all-district 5th grade band. More than 200 students will participate.

On March 19 the bands of CHS and Timberlane’s 8th grade will perform “Intrada Festiva,” a piece specially written by Story for Hopewell Valley, as well as several other Story compositions. The concert will also include performances by the high school and middle school jazz bands, as well as a performance by the all-district 5th grade band.

The event begins at 7:30 p.m.

First published at age 20, Story has had more than 1,200 compositions and arrangements published for concert band, marching band, jazz ensemble, and orchestra, as well as numerous solo and ensemble collections. Many of his concert band pieces can be found on numerous required state music lists, and his Big & Easy Marching Band Series has been an industry leader for 30-plus years.

Story has been a contributing arranger and composer for numerous band methods, including the First Division Band Course, the Medalist Band Course, and the 21st Century Band Method. He is also a chief music arranger for the Expressions Music Curriculum, the first-ever comprehensive K-12 music program, as well as a composer/arranger/author for its band component, Band Expressions.

Story holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education from the University of Houston, where he served as assistant director of the UH Cougars Marching Band under the leadership of internationally known band director and music arranger Dr. William C. “Bill” Moffit. Peter Griffin, Hopewell Valley’s supervisor for visual and performing arts, is also a UH alum and former member of its marching band.