Concert Bands
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 four ensembles that meet during the school day at NHS: Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. A total of 100+ 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 concert bands based on their audition results. The most advanced ensemble, the Symphonic Band, performs music on the class A level. The Concert Band performs music on the class C level. All percussion students are in the Percussion Ensemble. 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 90% 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 mid-October.
The concert bands present their first program at the annual Holiday Concert with the choirs and orchestras 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. The final concert of the year is our Spring Concert in May.
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; and Dr. Don Ryder – University of Tennessee. 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 and Leon Spencer – baritone.
ALL BAND MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO AUDITION EVERY YEAR…the members are then placed in one of the two concert bands based on their audition results. The most advanced ensemble, the Symphonic Band, performs music on the class A level. The Concert Band performs music on the class C level. All percussion students are in the Percussion Ensemble. 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 90% 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 mid-October.
The concert bands present their first program at the annual Holiday Concert with the choirs and orchestras 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. The final concert of the year is our Spring Concert in May.
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; and Dr. Don Ryder – University of Tennessee. 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 and Leon Spencer – baritone.