The Arts Experience All County Music Festival could be just another concert to spectators, but to the more than 300 students participating in tonight's event, the experience could be an avenue to a college major or career in music.

What distinguishes the festival from other performances is that students work with nationally recognized conductors and clinicians.

"It provides the students something to strive for and the chance to study the composition with a challenging repertoire," said Quincy Foil, president of The Arts Experience.

Since performing in the All County Music Festival in 2001, Sarah Hampton graduated from Central Cabarrus High School, enrolled at UNC Charlotte and became a music education major with a concentration in voice.

As a student teacher at Jay M. Robinson, she's helped prepare 25 of the choral program's best students for tonight's show.

Jay M. Robinson has used three of tonight's pieces for its own school concert. The group of 25 students performing in the All County Music Festival also practiced after school.

"A lot of times with the All County, they bring in a teacher from a college and they teach you about vocal production that you wouldn't get through the high school experience," Hampton said.

Those not so serious about music may gain a greater appreciation for what's taught in class, Hampton said.

Singers are nominated by their teachers to participate in the festival based on grades and performance skills.

Each school receives an allotment to participate based on numbers within each choral program.

Music teachers also benefit from the experience.

The Arts Experience offers teachers training in which they are eligible to receive state required continued education unit credits.

Clinicians Daniel Bara and Martha Youngwood are providing instruction to teachers about changing their voices, as well as inspiring and engaging leadership.

Bara is assistant professor of choral music at East Carolina University and directs the concert choir.

Youngwood is founder and artistic director of Voices in the Laurel, a regional community choir based in Lake Junaluska. She also teaches chorus and drama at Central Elementary School.

The Arts Experience also pays for substitute teachers to replace music instructors who participate in the show.

"I want them to be able to participate and enjoy the clinicians and see how they work," Foil said. Through participation, teachers can learn new rehearsal techniques to bring to the classroom.

Tonight's performance is the seventh year the concert has been held since The Arts Experience won a residency in 1999 by the National Endowment of the Arts and the American Composers Forum.

Contact Justin Vick at jvick@independenttribune.com or at 704-789-9138.