Northern Michigan Arts: The Northwest Academy Advanced Band is “just too good” not to be invited to perform at the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools Conference in Washington D.C. in June.

“We are very excited to have been chosen to perform at the conference since very few schools are invited to attend this way” said Mr. Dave Pugh, Director of Music at Northwest Academy. This is a special honor for the Northwest Academy Advanced Band because bands local to the conference are typically chosen to perform.

Northwest Academy has been educating students in Charlevoix for 18 years. Mr. Gary Stutzman, recently retired Director of Music at Northwest Academy said, “The NWA bands have been embraced by the students as well as the parents throughout the years. The students have worked hard on their craft and the parents, faculty, and staff have been very supportive of the many field trips and performances throughout the country. It is this continued support that has helped to make the NWA Advanced Band one of the finest small bands in the country“. In 1999, the Northwest Academy Advanced Band performed at the same National Charter School conference in Denver, Colorado, and also made their first appearance at the Michigan State Band and Orchestra State Festival. This feat was accomplished within the first three years of the band’s existence!
Mr. Dave Pugh and Mr. Gary Stutzman are proud of the accomplishments of Northwest Academy’s award winning band program. Recently the band received a first division rating at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra District Festival and is planning on attending the Michigan School Band and Orchestra State Festival in May. Northwest Academy is a tuition free K-12 Michigan Public School Academy that is chartered through Saginaw Valley State University.