CONCERT PROGRAM

  Symphonic Band 2006

  Concert Band 2006

    The heart of any quality band program is the concert program.  While the marching band is certainly an important aspect of our total band program and is without question vital to our overall success, the majority of our school year is spent in developing our musicians through a strong concert program.

    There are currently three ensembles that meet during the school day at NHS: Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Percussion Ensemble.  A total of 125 students take part in these groups.

    ALL BAND MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO AUDITION EVERY YEAR...the members are then placed in one of the two bands based on their audition results.  The most advanced band is the Symphonic Band.  This ensemble performs music on the class A-AA level.  The Concert Band performs music on the class C-B level.  All percussion students are in the Percussion Ensemble, which averages 25 members.  Members of the Percussion Ensemble are also assigned to one of the two bands, but rehearse with those groups only during after school sessions.

    Membership in the marching band is not required of members of the concert bands. About 75% of the NHS band program’s total membership participates in the marching band.  Since such a high percentage of the band members are involved in marching band, the first few weeks of the school year are spent primarily rehearsing music to be performed by the marching band, however the emphasis is switched toward concert band literature by October.

    The concert bands present their first program at the annual HOLIDAY CONCERT in December.  An emphasis of the winter months is participation in OMEA Solo and Ensemble Contest.  Both bands participate in OMEA District Band Contest in March and if rated superior move on to the OMEA State Finals in April.  With our outstanding auditorium, NHS has been selected to host the District Contest for the past 25 years and has hosted the State Finals 7 times.

    The All-City Band Festival is held each May and involves the band members in grades 5 - 8, plus the NHS Jazz Ensemble or Percussion Ensemble.

    The major musical event of the school year is the annual SPRING CONCERT in late May.  This concert features both bands as well as guest conductors and guest soloists.

    The list of guest directors that have worked with NHS bands in quite impressive and includes famed composer, the late Vaclav Nelhybel; composer James Swearingen; Commander John Beck - U.S. Navy Band; Colonel Richard Shelton - U.S. Air Force Band; Craig Kirchoff - University of Minnesota; Dr. Tim Swinehart - Capital University Conservatory of Music; Gary Tirey - Otterbein College; Richard Blatti - Ohio State University; composer David Shaffer - Miami University; Dr. Jon Woods - Ohio State University;  Dr. Don Ryder - University of Tennessee, and Mary Jane McKinley (Ohio Band Directors Hall of Fame) - Nelsonville HS, retired.

    Among the guest soloists appearing with the concert bands have been William Campbell - trumpet; Lucia Campbell - soprano; Dan King - trumpet; Tim Swinehart - trumpet; Don Stemen - alto sax; William Isenhart - clarinet; Tim Wallick - clarinet; Leon Spencer - baritone; David Wolford - trumpet, Doug Moran - trombone; and the Doug Moran Dixieland Band.