Service Through Music projects, page 2

On October 27, 2021, the Community Christian Academy Band of Paducah, Kentucky performed their SERVICE THROUGH MUSIC project as part of their annual Minister Appreciation Month. “We used this opportunity to play ‘Seventy-Six Trombones’ for our area ministers. October is Minister Appreciation Month and our school usually hosts an event to show area ministers our appreciation.” Kindergarten through Fifth Grade music classes also sang in the celebration.

Lyz Hornbeak is the director of the 18-member Community Christian Academy Band. Lyz is a member of The Band Directors Marching Band and will perform in the 2022 Rose Parade®.

Community Christian Academy was the first in the nation to complete a SERVICE THROUGH MUSIC project. Congratulations to Lyz Hornbeak and the Community Christian Academy Band!

On November 3, 2021, the Crimson Cliffs High School Band Department of Washington, Utah performed their SERVICE THROUGH MUSIC project at a Band Expo Night for the community.

Mike Winslow reports, “The event was held at the high school and included a petting zoo (run by the band students), step-up instruments from a local music business, and a donation drive for a local elementary schools music program. The night included performances from the high school jazz band and symphonic band. I was able to work with the band students and guest conduct 'Seventy-Six Trombones' with the symphonic band. I was allowed to talk a few minutes to discuss the importance of music education and the service project associated with the America's Band Directors Marching band. It was a great night for all involved.”

Mike is the Activities Director and Assistant Principal at Crimson Cliffs High School. He previously taught band in St. George, Utah. Mike is a member of The Band Directors Marching Band and will perform in the 2022 Rose Parade®. 

The band director at Crimson Cliffs High School is Chris Raybould. The Symphonic Band includes 100 students. Congratulations to the Crimson Cliffs High School Symphonic Band!

On November 11, 2021, the 106 members of The Louisburg High School Wildcat Band of Louisburg, Kansas performed their SERVICE THROUGH MUSIC project at the Louisburg Veterans Day Ceremony.

The Louisburg High School Wildcat Band is under the direction of Mr. Zebulon Tiedeman and assisted by Ms. Jessica Brummel. Louisburg High School has performed an annual Veterans Day ceremony for many years. This ceremony includes performances from the high school band, all levels of choir, and our elementary students. You can always count on witnessing the healing power of music at ceremonies such as these. We served our community through the gift of music and it is extra special when we are honoring our veterans.

The band performed a stirring rendition of ‘Taps’ and a military medley that honored veterans from each military branch. Lisa Galvin's arrangement of ‘Seventy-Six Trombones’ was performed as processional music. Mr. Tiedeman and Ms. Brummel will both march in the Band Directors Marching Band at the 2022 Rose Parade®.

The students had a special guest performing with them as well. Former director of 40 years, Mr. John Cisetti, sat in with the French horn section! Mr. Cisetti took the Louisburg Marching Wildcat Band to Pasadena in 2018 to perform in the Rose Parade. He will also be a part of the Band Directors Marching Band on New Year's Day, 2022.

On November 11, 2021, the 90 members of the Huntsville High School Band of Huntsville Alabama, used music to serve their community by marching in the Veterans Day Parade.

Holly Connell reports, “After a two year pause, the Huntsville High School band was thrilled to be able to support our community by participating in the Veterans Day Parade. The students love this event and love being able to share their love of music with the community. In preparation for the Rose Parade, I chose to join them as an honorary mellophone and marched along with my students!”

Holly is a member of The Band Directors Marching Band and will perform in the 2022 Rose Parade®. She is Associate Director of Bands for the Huntsville High School Band, which is directed by Stuart Tankesley. The Huntsville High School Band staff also includes Victoria Lewis, Logan Whitten, Stephen Lomax, and Darryl Ailor.

On November 18, 2021, the North Jefferson Middle School Concert Band of Kimberly, Alabama performed their SERVICE THROUGH MUSIC project as part of their annual recruitment tour to the largest elementary school in their community. They brought high energy and excitement to all 4th and 5th grade classes (233 students, plus faculty and staff). They showed them the different instrument families, performed different types of music to showcase the band program for recruitment, and involved the elementary students in the music making... making it FUN!

The 74 members of the North Jefferson Concert Band are led by Jen Walsh. Jen is a member of The Band Directors Marching Band and will perform in the 2022 Rose Parade®. 

The Mountain Range High School Marching Band performed on Saturday, December 4 in the Denver Parade of Lights. Well over 100,000 people lined the streets of downtown Denver to see the parade, and more than one million watch it on television each year. The students were overjoyed to see so many happy children and families along the parade route, out to enjoy the holiday season. Many of our students (and directors!) can remember seeing their first band in a parade and saying, "I'm going to do that."

The 60 members of the Mountain Range High School Marching Band are led by David Evans. David is a member of The Band Directors Marching Band and will perform in the 2022 Rose Parade®.  The Mountain Range band staff also includes Dan Gustad, Vic Stauffenberg, Brooke Farris, and Katt Craig.

On Friday December 10, 2021, the Ramona High School Dynasty Band under the direction of Brian Gallagher held their annual "Ugly Sweater" Concert. The program featured many standard holiday dance and music selections in addition to Lisa Galvin's exciting arrangement of "Seventy-Six Trombones." This was programed so Mr. Gallagher could share a part of the Rose Parade experience with his students. 

As a SERVICE THROUGH MUSIC PROJECT in lieu of an admission fee for the concerts, the band students collected non-perishable food items to donate to Feeding America and new unwrapped toys to donate to Toys for Tots this holiday season. It was a chance for the students and families to give back to the local community in a meaningful way. We serve our community through the gift of music and it is extra special when we are helping those in need during tough times. "To help someone with food or a gift this holiday season makes a huge difference, no act of kindness or service to others is too small," said director Brian Gallagher.

The Ramona High School Dynasty Band & Color Guard of Riverside, California includes 120 members. Mr. Gallagher will perform in the 2022 Rose Parade® as a member of The Band Directors Marching Band.

The Bella Musica Conservatory is located in the City of Burbank, California. The instructional program includes a Corps of Drums which was mainly developed as a ceremonial unit. For their Service Through Music Project, students enthusiastically agreed to develop a simple ceremony at a local Veteran’s Memorial, where no organized event would take place.

They chose to perform at the Larry L. Maxam Memorial Park, in Burbank. Larry L. Maxam, USMC, a Burbank resident, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam on February 2, 1968. The Conservatory felt his service deserved attention, believing there weren’t enough events to honor the country’s veterans. Larger events were held in other areas, so this was their opportunity to try to make a difference and foster a sense of service in their students.

Their performance attempted to make a patriotic impact in the immediate community by having families become more aware of what the day means to those who have served in our country’s armed forces. That was their objective and contribution. From the first Bugle Call, neighborhood families came to the park to see what was going on. Students played with great enthusiasm. The performance transformed a very quiet Veterans Day in a Burbank neighborhood into quite a memorable one. After playing Taps, the Unit left the field with a great sense of pride. It had been a good way to honor veterans of our country’s Armed Forces.

The twelve members of the Bella Musica Conservatory  Drum Corps are led by Walter Salvari. Mr. Salvari will perform in the 2022 Rose Parade® as a member of The Band Directors Marching Band.

The Philip Barbour High School Band of Philippi, West Virginia hosted a free holiday concert for the community, and played "Seventy-Six Trombones" as part of the concert material. In conjunction with the concert, and to celebrate Victor Iapalucci's Rose Parade performance, "The Pride of Barbour County" also hosted a children's book drive to benefit the Philippi and Belington Public libraries in Barbour County. Children's books were collected and will be delivered to each public library just in time for Christmas.

The 87 members of “The Pride of Barbour County” are led by Victor Iapalucci who will perform in the 2022 Rose Parade® as a member of The Band Directors Marching Band.