The students and staff at Apex Arts have been working hard all year and are ready to share with everyone their most recent finished product. The Apex Commercial Band (ACB) is a full-year project within the Apex Arts Magnet Program promoting student autonomy and collaboration to form a unique and cohesive performance ensemble and is directed by Jennifer Rivera and David Kauffman.
The group began in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic and has quickly become the forward-facing musical ensemble of the Apex Arts Program. On March 3, 2023, the Apex Commercial Band was the first Commercial Band to be selected and perform at the Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA) Conference in Baltimore. Their performance at the MMEA Conference provided educators with an opportunity to see and hear first-hand an alternative pathway of engaging students in instrumental and vocal music in the school setting.
The band’s repertoire is diverse and is selected to showcase student strengths and capabilities. Their setlists include (but are not limited to) classic rock, contemporary rock, pop, funk, soul, and rap. The ensemble has been invited to perform throughout the local community, for various conferences, and for music festivals in and beyond Maryland.
Their performance on June 5, 2023 at 7pm at Ram’s Head in Downtown Annapolis illustrates the recognition of their level of achievement and the value of providing these students with real-world music industry experiences.
Tickets for the Apex Commercial Band performance at Ram’s Head are on sale now.
Louis Nesbitt, PDM Department
