Churchville-Chili sixth-grade students will perform the world premiere of renowned composer Dr. Louis Ballard's "Scenes from Indian Life" arranged for elementary band May 2 at 7 p.m. in the Middle School auditorium. The piece was commissioned for the middle school students, Ballard's first composition project for a public school band program. The performance is free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Instrumental music teacher Kae Wilbert organized this project to provide students with an opportunity to learn about a culture other than their own and to connect with Native American people. Through this project, students have worked with Ballard, an established and respected professional composer who has written music extensively for professional orchestra, band and chorale. "Scenes from Indian Life" was originally commissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard Band. Ballard simplified and shortened the original 15-minute piece for the sixth-graders, who are in their third year of C-C's instrumental music program.

This project was made possible with a grant from Teaching Tolerance, the educational component of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Funding also came from the Churchville-Chili Middle School Effective Schools Teams, Muzet, Inc. and the Churchville-Chili Music Boosters Club. In addition, Ballard provided a very large in-kind contribution to the project. Ballard is an American composer whose works are performed regularly by major symphony orchestras, choral societies, chamber music ensembles and ballet companies. He has had major premieres at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian Institution. He has received numerous awards for his musical contributions, including an honorary doctorate from the College of Santa Fe. Ballard has also written a curriculum based on Native American music for the elementary music classroom. As a composer, writer and educator, Ballard is devoted to the values of Native American culture.