Man, that’s a lot of B’s!!!! Anyway, on Tuesday, September 14th, Buona Beef will be helping our band boosters earn money for the upcoming year by donating a percentage (15-25%, depending on how many people come in) of their profits to our organization. All you need to do is print off the attached flyer and bring it in. So go enjoy some delicious beef, and support our band!!!

OHS Band Booster Buona Beef Night Flyer

This past summer, both Ms. Silosky and Mr. Schoenbach both received their Master’s degrees from VanderCook College  of Music, though because his name was first in the alphabet, Mr. Schoenbach technically received his first.

This year marks the 50th year of the origin of District 308. Several events will be planned throughout the year to celebrate this milestone, but in the meantime, check out this picture from 20 years back.

If you would like to see what the marching band show looks like from the audience perspective, look below for instructions.
Student Viewer Download Instructions

1. Go to www.pyware.com
a. Click on student viewer” on the left menu
b. Click on either Mac or Windows under Download Performer’s Practice Tools.
c. Run installation
2. When you come to the screen Performer’s Practice Tools: Activate Full Featured Version, click skip for now.
3. Under 3D Account Set Up, enter the following information:
3D Account Name: Oswego Bands
3D Account ID: 35073
Group Name: Oswego Bands
Group Password: PMB
4. Under Cast Member ID, type your name and select your instrument. Click Log In.
5. Under What Do You Want to Do, click Performer’s Practice Tools Download Marching Shows. Click Next and then Connect to the Internet.
6. You will come to a screen with a table on it listing Oswego Bands. Click on Oswego Bands and then open.
7. Under the Sign On Screen, click on Registered User. Type Oswego Bands for user name and type in PMB for the password.
8. A screen will appear with a table listing the three movements of our show. Click Check Box to Pick File for each movement. Click Download.
9. Your next screen will say Pick a 3D Drill or Production and will list each movement. Choose a movement on click Next.
10. You will see a screen that says No Matching Cast Member. (Sorry, I haven’t entered your names/numbers!) Click I want to be a guest performer. Find you number on the field and click on it.
11. Under Select a 3D Performer’s Tool, click Drill Explorer.
12. At this point, the drill will show up. Click play to view. Your drill spot will be highlighted throughout. (A few pages of the animation are incorrect. Please follow the directions in the white boxes.)

TICKET ORDER FORMS are currently available for download by clicking on this link. The students will take the form, receive orders from family, friends, and neighbors and bring the order form AND the money back to the directors. The deadline for orders is June 14, the beginning of band camp, to allow for food ordering for the event. More information about the event is below…

This year for the first time, OHS Band Boosters are partnering with OFEE, Oswego Foundation for Educational Excellence, to sponsor an outdoor BBQ at Prairiefest prepared by 5B’s BBQ & Catering!

THE EVENT will be Friday, June 18 at Prairiefest Park and the dinners will include either pork chops, chicken or a combination and sell for $11. There is also a hot dog meal for the kids that will sell for $5. There will be a dining area on the grounds. Drive-thru pickup is also being planned.

ALL PROFITS will be shared with OFEE and the majority of ticket profits will go directly into the student’s personal band account (approximately $3 per ticket) to potentially be used for their upcoming New Orleans band trip.

PARENT & STUDENT VOLUNTEERS: There is also a volunteer form to help at the event and each shift is 1-1.5 hours and includes ticket sales, food serving or cleanup. The boosters will also be selling soda and water at the event. Please contact the directors for information during school or Dion Novak at djn605@comcast.net at any time for more information, to volunteer or receive tickets.

Let’s make this first event a very successful one!!

This year, we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the OHS band program. We had an excellent round of concerts with many special events. Former directors were in the audience, and Lucille Hafenrichter (member of the first OHS band) also took in the sights and sounds. The Wind Symphony had a piece commissioned especially for them by composer Nathan Daughtrey, and his piece “Imagining World” had its world debut performance. We recognized the graduating seniors and parents, and outgoing members of our Band Boosters. All in all, after 75 years, the OHS bands program is going stronger then ever. If you would like to see photos of the OHS band through the years, look below at the pictures that were shown the nights of our concerts.

The 2010 Bandquet was a great success. Several parents and students chipped in to decorate and deliver an awesome “Luau” theme. The event was catered with some great food, and the band family had a great night watching each other get some awards and having a great time. Check out some pictures below!!!

OHS has several students graduating who will be playing at various collegiate institutions next year. Trumpet player Ken Citro and clarinetist Erin Doty will be playing at Augustana. Bass trombonist Justin Smith, floutist Kevi Stredde, and euphonium player Brandon Ramsey will be playing at Northern Illinois University. Clarinetist Megan Gailey will be playing in the Marching Redbirds of Illinois State. Trombonist Ken Christy will be playing at Drake University, and Joe Kulick will be playing at Kansas State. Dan Arnold, trombonist at large, will be playing at Calvin College, and Ryan Adorjan closes out a very strong low brass section by playing trombone at North Central College. Congrats to all of all seniors, and good luck to you in your future musical endeavors!!!!!

Two special events occurred last week, honoring OHS Band students for their excellence, in and out of the band room.

This is the first year that OHS has had a chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. To be a part of Tri-M, students need a minimum GPA, show excellence on their instrument, leadership and exemplary conduct, and be recommended by a teacher. This year’s inaugural Tri-M class from band are:
Ryan Adorjan, Jake Berry, Andrew Bockus, Ken Christy, Joey Corbino, Brad Donati, Erin Doty, Courtney Friesen, Megan Gailey, Hannah Kaitschuk, Mark Hansen, Tom Hopkins, Jenna Kaleel, Joe Kulick, Kayla Lee, Melanie Lloyd, Amanda Muscato, Eric Novak, Jessie Parkhurst, Brandon Ramsey, Bridget Rodino, Jessie Runyon, Mike Scaramelli, Erin Smith, Caitlin Strange, Kevi Stredde, Mike Supej, Alex Takacs, Amanda Watts, Rebecca Webber, Ben Wooley, and Ryan Zerna.

Every year, OHS sends students to participate in the Fox Valley Honor Band. These students rehearse for two days with the best students our area has to offer, and puts on an amazing concert. This years guest conductor was Dale Lonis, conductor of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. The OHS students who participated this year were Matt Adams, Andrew Bockus, Collin Bradley, Brad Donati, Emily Ericson, Josh Fornek, Courtney Friesen, Cassie Johnson, Hannah Kaitschuk, Melanie Lloyd, John Norris, and Mary Watson.

Within one week in mid-April, two outstanding college wind ensembles visited OHS to perform and do clinics with our groups. First off, on Wednesday, April 14th, Thomas Bough and the NIU Wind Ensemble paid a visit to our auditorium and performed an outstanding concert for our entire band program, with our own Wind Symphony opening up for them. One of the pieces they performed featured Mark Ponzo, Professor of Trumpet, and our group was among the first people ever to hear this brand new song. Dr. Bough came in the previous week a did a clinic with the Wind Symphony, working with them on their festival songs.

The next week, on Monday, April 19th, the North Central College Wind Ensemble under the direction of Lawrence Van Oyen came in and did a performance and clinic session with our top freshman group, the Chamber Winds. Because the stage was set up for the play, we had to do the entire session in the band room, which made for a very cramped but cozy atmosphere. After an excellent and varied concert, our students were able to sit amongst the collegiates and play and learn with them. Dr. Van Oyen has a great way of working with young people, and our students got a lot out of the session.