Just because it was summer, didn't mean that our music students put away their instruments. Many used the summer for specialized study at Arts and Music Camps around the country. At Interlochen Music Camp, Elizabeth Adams (10) viola, studied at the Advanced String Quartet Institute and Traven LaBortz (10) viola, took Jazz Improv, Music lessons and sculpture. Suzanna Barnes (11) violin, participated in the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Workshop. And Colin Lambert (10) cello studied at Northern Kentucky University's Piano Institute and participated in the Norse Festival. Also at work during the summer break was the 2003-'04 Marching Band. Rookies and the Color Guard started training the last week of July. The rest of the band joined in August with a week away at band camp and daily practices at school. All of that hard work began to pay off when the Band received its first award from the Harvest Home Parade judges, who-named them "Best Band." They have also been competing in area competitions since early September. Audiences at every competition have been impressed with their show. The band is marching to "Gloria" by John Rutter. They received a superior rating early in the season at the Amelia competition, qualifying them to compete at the 2003 Ohio Music Educators Association (OMEA) State Competition at the end of the season. Here is a summary of their awards to date:
* At Homecoming we hosted our bi-annual Alumni Band Night. Every other year, Marching Band alumni return for an evening of "Dinner on the Commons" and the opportunity to play on the field with current Marching Band students. * The Jazz Combo has been busy performing for some WHHS alumni groups and performed at this year's Golden Galaxy Awards Oct. 23 at the Cintas Center. * The Senior Choir performed with the Vocal Arts Ensemble in their fall concerts. With Lisa Peters conducting, the choir performed solo works as well as performing with the Ensemble. * As always, many of our talented Walnut Hills students are per forming in community theater productions or are members of city- or state-wide music groups. All of them had to make it through very competitive auditions to earn their spots. They include: * Joe Sofranko (11) is appearing in Clear Stage Cincinnati's pro duction of "The Return of the King" - the third part of The Lord of The Rings trilogy. He will be playing the part of "Frodo." * Michael Carr (9) performed the role of Huck Finn in the Children's Theater production of "Tom Sawyer," which was per formed during this year's Tall Stacks. * Spencer Viator (8) is performing in Cincinnati Music Theater's November productions of "Ragtime." He has the role of the "Little Boy" (Edgar). * Christian Smith (8) was presented the Outstanding Achievement Award on Percussion at the Interlochen Arts Camp this past summer. He played first chair percussion in the Intermediate Concert and Symphony Orchestras in Session A. © 2003, Walnut Hills High School Association Newsletter, Fall Issue, 2003 |