After a year of dedication and hard work, the students and staff at Barbara Ingram School for the Arts are thrilled to unveil their latest ensembles. The Commercial Band, with 4 vocalist and a 6-piece horn section and the Electric Ensemble, an electric string quartet with rhythm section, are ensembles within the school’s renowned instrumental program, showcasing the talents of the BISFA students using popular music as the forum and are directed by Scott Benford and Petr Skopek.
The Commercial Band and Electric Ensemble have quickly become the forward-facing ensembles of the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts instrumental program. Their performances have earned accolades, including the Commercial Band being the first selected to perform at the Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA) Conference in Baltimore on March 4, 2023. This performance showed music educators an additional avenue for engaging students in instrumental and vocal music within the public school setting. Additionally, in 2024, four members of the Commercial Band were selected to represent BISFA at the Inaugural Maryland State Commercial Music Ensemble.
Diverse in their repertoire, the Commercial Band and Electric Ensemble setlists include classic hits from artists such as Madonna, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, Chicago, and more. From pop to funk, rock to soul, their performances entertain audiences with their impressive talent and musicianship.
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 May 23rd at 7 pm at Hub City Vinyl illustrates the recognition of their level of achievement and the value of providing these students with real-world music industry experiences.