The band started out as they always do by playing a march, and this year’s selection was “Billboard March” by John N. Klohr. The march serves as a warm-up for the band before transitioning into their two prepared pieces. Their first prepared piece was “Variations on a Korean Folk Song” by John Barnes Chance, which is comprised of the main theme (a traditional Korean folk song) followed by five variations of that theme. The piece featured solos by senior Elizabeth Fortenberry on oboe and junior Nathan Ward on trumpet.  The piece also featured the percussion ensemble on a highly challenging fugal section.  This included Radina Dosseva, Del Henderson, Louis Henninger, Alison Grant, Ted Rueckert, Sally Blakemore, Andrew Breen and Hannah Wertime-Walker on percussion. Their second prepared piece was the dramatic “Flight of the Griffin” by Brian Balmages. The piece was originally scheduled to feature a flute duet between freshman Shelley Gresko and sophomore Maggie Fortenberry, but Gresko suffered an eye injury on the day of the performance and was unable to attend. Fortunately, senior Alicia Hartstack filled in admirably for Gresko.

Mrs. Mary Jo Webster has directed the symphonic band to seven straight Superior overall ratings at the District X Band Festival.

After leaving the stage to a round of applause from the many parents who made the trip to see the band perform, the band made their way to the sightreading room. There, they were given seven minutes in which to review the Grade III piece that they had been given. During those seven minutes, the students were allowed to talk about it, sing, finger on their instruments, or clap the rhythms; however, they were not permitted to actually play their instruments. When the seven minutes were over, they performed the piece that they were given. After their performance, the judge commented that they had done well, but that the brass section had been covering up the woodwind melodies.

In December, numerous musicians auditioned for the All-District X Band. Out of those musicians, 26 were selected to perform with the band. Senior Elena Martinez (clarinet) and junior Morgan Moscati (French horn) were selected to perform with the top band, while senior Alicia Hartstack (flute), freshman Wendy Herbst (clarinet), junior Amelia Nystrom (clarinet), junior Emily Perry (alto saxophone), junior Jeff Williams (trumpet), sophomore Kaatrin Netherton (French horn), freshman Jenny Lewis (French horn), junior Alex Prewitt (baritone), and freshman Jack Western (baritone) were selected to perform with the second band. Also, senior Charlotte Volpe (flute) and junior Meredyth Duncan (trumpet) were selected as alternates to the high school bands. Eighth graders Anuraag Sensharma (clarinet), Crawford Taylor (trumpet), Dane Warner (trumpet), Daniel Drawbaugh (trumpet), Jay Rodock (trombone), Matt Baker (trombone), Jordan Robarge (tuba), and Hannah Wertime-Walker (timpani) were selected to perform with the Junior All-District Band. In addition, eighth grader Gemma Seidita (flute) was named as an alternate to the Junior Band.

The two Jazz Bands (one comprised of Symphonic Band members, the other comprised of Concert Band members) have made numerous appearances in the local community throughout the year, as have the Brass Quintet and the Saxophone Quartet. Several musicians are also planning to perform at the District X Solo and Ensemble Festival in April.

Next on the bands’ agenda is next weekend’s trip to Atlanta, Georgia, where the pep band and chorus will be performing on the court before an Atlanta Hawks NBA basketball game. They will also be seeing many of the sights that Atlanta has to offer, including Six Flags Over Georgia, CNN Studios, the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, and Centennial Olympic Park.