EVSC middle school band first in Evansville history selected for statewide performance
Originally published December 2019
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — After capturing one of the biggest accomplishments in Helfrich Park STEM Academy history, Band Director Doug Goodwin remained tight-lipped on the program's historic feat.
Without his students' knowledge, Goodwin applied for the band to perform at the 2020 Indiana Music Education Association's (IMEA) Professional Development Conference last spring. He submitted information about the band's history, recent musical accomplishments and three recordings from live performances.
And in July, as he expected, the band was picked among hundreds in Indiana to perform at the conference, making it the first time an Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. middle school was chosen for the honor.
After a month, Goodwin finally told his students they will perform at the IMEA conference, the state's largest professional development event for music educators. The event is Jan. 17, 2020, at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
"I think our band is incredibly musical, especially for their age," Goodwin said. "They don't just play the notes on the page, they put feeling behind the music."
The last EVSC program to be selected for the statewide conference was the F.J. Reitz High School band in 1991.
"I thought it was a big deal considering we have put in a lot of hard work," Helfrich flute player Amaya Miller said. "It really started to show, and I think people realized we're a really good band."
Miller said as the band inches closer to the state conference, she and her peers have continued to stay focused on the performance ahead.
The 75-member band will perform with multiple guest soloists and conductors for an audience filled with Indiana’s top music educators, administrators and musicians.
Former band member Tim Smith will play with the group, while his brother EVSC Superintendent David Smith and Fine Arts Director Dwight Emmert will serve as guest conductors.
Goodwin attributes the band's success to the hard work of his students and Emmert, who has pushed the school corporation to support local music programs.
"EVSC has invested a lot of support and money into the music programs and making sure all the kids that want to be in band can be in band," Goodwin said. "That has led to us having some very good kids in the band program who may not be able to afford it on their own. We wouldn't be able to do that without EVSC's support."
Goodwin said under the guidance of Emmert, the district has helped Helfrich and other Evansville schools receive funding, increase staff and student participation and supply instruments for their band programs.
Emmert said the growth of EVSC's music programs is due to the school corporation's increased efforts the last decade.
"We had about 10-15 years of having nothing really going on, so (EVSC) had to rebuild that from scratch," Emmert said. "It's a commitment that's been made over many years, this doesn't start in one. There's a real foundation for the kids. These programs aren't going anywhere."
Goodwin said the band's performance will prove that students and schools from non-suburban districts can obtain statewide recognition, especially with the support of their local community and school corporation behind them.
"(IMEA) typically selects suburban schools from some of the wealthiest parts in the state," Goodwin said. "This is our opportunity to show them it doesn't matter what your background is, where you're from, what your upbringing is, how much money you have — you can be a great musician."
But even with their support, the Helfrich band is still unable to fully fund the trip to Fort Wayne on its own. School administrators have been looking for ways to ensure students will be able to perform at the conference.
Helfrich Park Principal Shane Browder said the school will continue to do fundraisers and receive direct donations to pay for students' transportation and an overnight stay for the event, which comes out to roughly $20,000 in expenses.
At the time of publication, they are still short about $8,000 in donations to make the trip to Fort Wayne.
"We have 75 incredibly hardworking students that will make a difference in our community in the future," Goodwin said. "This is an opportunity to give these kids a life-changing experience, one that we know they will pay forward in the future."
To donate, contact the Helfrich Park school office or email douglas.goodwin@evsck12.com.