Students to perform at music festival in China

The North Yarmouth Academy bluegrass ensemble, the Royal River Honey Badgers, was selected to perform at the 2012 JinJiang-Jiaxiang International Students’ Arts Festival in Chengdu, China from Oct. 22-25.

The JinJiang-Jiaxiang International Students’ Arts Festival was planned and initiated by 32 students from eight high schools in the JinJiang district of Chengdu. Activities will include vocal music, dance, instrumental music, martial arts, school culture, exploration of traditional arts, local folklore and culture.

The students will spend four days in Chengdu and two days in Beijing. The Chengdu region is a habitat for pandas, and they hope to visit Chengdu Panda Base, a panda breeding center while they are there. Following the festival, they will travel to Beijing, where they will visit landmarks such as Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. The ensemble’s airfare, food and lodging in Chengdu are covered by their hosts.

The Royal River Honey Badgers is a six-member ensemble has been together for about three years. Members include mandolin player Grace Gilbert ‘13, of North Yarmouth; guitarist Alex Paige ’14, of Brunswick; bassist Dainius Bukauskas ’13, of Peaks Island; guitarist Max Maurer ’14, of Freeport; fiddler Claire Maurer ’16, of Freeport and Perrin Davidson ’17, of Freeport, who plays banjo.

“All of us in bluegrass are really excited about the opportunity to play at the festival. We are already practicing intensively to prepare for the trip and are looking forward to interacting with people from other cultures that will also be performing there,” said Paige.

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The group practices two times per week for 45 minutes and works with the faculty at 317 Main Street Music Center in Yarmouth once a month.

North Yarmouth Academy is an independent, college preparatory, coeducational day school serving students in grades five through 12.

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The Royal River Honey Badgers, from left: Dainius Bukauskas, Grace Gilbert, Alex Paige, Max Mauer, Claire Mauer, and Perrin Davidson.


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