April 25, 2024

GCHS Senior Selected To Perform at Sydney Opera House

Colten May, a senior at Garden City High School, has been accepted to perform at the Sydney Opera House with an honor band through Honor Performance Series. The 2018 High School Honors Performance Series will take place July 18-23, 2018 in Sydney, Australia.

The High School Honors Performance Series at Sydney Opera House builds upon the heritage of the Carnegie Hall Series and challenges accomplished 9th-12th grade musicians at one of the world’s most recognized and revered performance institutions: the Concert Hall at Sydney Opera House. Selected finalists will spend six days in Sydney, where they will study under master conductors, experience the highlights of “the Harbour City”, and get to know accomplished musicians from around the world.

May performed Euphonium in February with the 2018 International Honors Band at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He had the opportunity to learn from world-renowned conductors, worked with other finalists, and got a taste of New York City.

Colten has studied music for eight years and is a member of the GCHS Wind Ensemble, the top Senior High Jazz Ensemble, and has been selected in both district and state level honor bands in Kansas. May’s accomplishments as a musician also include: Principle Euphonium – GCHS Wind Ensemble, Principle Euphonium – Southwest Kansas Music Educators Association (SWKMEA) District Honor Band, 3rd chair Euphonium – 2017 Kansas All-State band, Trombone – All 3 GCHS Jazz Ensembles, 1st Trombone – SWKMEA District Honor Jazz Band, 2nd Trombone – Kansas Big Band Flat Land Jazz Band, Superior Solo Euphonium ratings three years in a row, lead role of Benny – “In the Heights” musical, three year member of District Honor Band/ Jazz Band, three years involvement of musical pit (Trombone), Municipal Band participation (Euphonium), Christian singer/songwriter (Piano/Vocal), and soloist in the Marching Stampede’s 2017 halftime show “Dreamspaces”.