Band History

The Mighty Falcon Marching Band is a show style band performing songs of all types from all time periods. The band has performed from The Phantom of the Opera to the Rolling Stones and treats every show as if it will be the most entertaining show that they can produce!

Current Directors:

Mr. Wiley-

Dustin Wiley has been teaching music for over 22 years in public schools in Ohio and New Mexico. He currently teaches in the Firelands Local School District in Oberlin, Ohio where he has taught elementary beginning band, high school jazz, marching band, concert band, music technology, music theory and music history for the past 12 years. Prior to teaching in the Firelands Local School District. Dustin has also served as director of bands at Lorain Admiral King high school in the Lorain city school district, and also at Tohatchi high school in Tohatchi, New Mexico. Dustin’s bands have consistently earned Superior ratings at district and state Adjudicated Events.

Dustin received his Bachelors of Music Education from Kent State University in 2001, a Masters in Educational Administration from the University of Phoenix in 2006, and a Masters in Music Education from Kent State University in 2014. Dustin has served as the Northwest New Mexico Music Educators Association Band Chair from 2004-2006, twice served as the OMEA District 4 President from 2013-2015 and also 2016-17, and is currently serving as the State Chair for the American School Band Directors Association. Dustin has also served as the district 4 Middle School Large Group Chair, coordinated county solo and ensemble events, and organized District 4 professional development opportunities during his presidency.

Among his honors, Dustin has been named a quarterfinalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award, a Gallup-McKinley County Schools Teacher of the Month, and also the Gallup Independent Newspaper teacher of the week. Dustin has presented at the Ohio Music Education Association Conference in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Dustin has presented on the importance of parental involvement in our music programs and his music support groups have received the OMEA Outstanding Music Support groups in 2010 with Lorain Admiral King High School and in 2022 with Firelands High School.

Firelands High School Fight Song

O come on Firelands "fite" for Victory

O come on Falcons you're the team for me

Fight for victory, "fite" for Fame and glory

"Fite" for Falcons Red and White.

We're with you now and every game you play, boys

Whether it's home or far away

So come on Red and White

Show us your Firelands "fite"

O come on Firelands Falcons - "Fite"!

Firelands High School Fight Song

MP3

History of the Mighty Falcons

What we currently know:

Director 1954-1960

Mr. Edward Smith

Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Dana School of music, Youngstown College, B.S.-Instrumental Music Education

1954-1955: Membership 42

May 6th, 1955 Parade of Bands

1955-1956: Membership 42

1956-1957: Membership 50

1957-1958: Membership 42

1958-1959: Membership 47

1959-1960: Membership 38

Director 1960-1961

Mr. Robert Martin

1960-1961- Membership 32

Director 1961- 1965

Eugene Tipton

B.S. and M.A. Instrumental Music Ohio Sate University

1961-1962: Membership 42

1962-1963: Membership 70

1963-1964: Membership 70

1964-1965: Membership 71

Director 1965- 1967

Mr. Ralph J. Ward

Oberlin College, Bachelor of Music Education; Kent State University M.E.

1965-1966: Membership 76

1966-1967: Membership 78

-Superior Rating at LGAE District-Excellent Rating @ LGAE State

Director 1967- 1968

Mr. Curtis Bravine

Oberlin College, Bachelor of Music Education

1967-1968: Membership 62

Director 1968-1971

Mr. Mike Elias

Morehead State College BA Instrumental Music

1968-1969: Membership 57

1969-1970: Membership 74- Mr. Elias

1970-1971: Membership 74- Mr. Elias

1971-1972: Membership 57- Mr. Smarsch

1972-1973: Membership

1973-1974: Membership

1974-1975: Membership ___- Mr. Lovell

1975-1976: Membership

1976-1977: Membership 53 -Mrs. Sigmund

1977-1978: Membership 57 - Mrs. Sigmund

1978-1979: Membership

1979-1980: Membership 56- Ms. English

1980-1981: Membership 60- Ms. English

1981-1982: Membership __- Ms. English

1982-1983: Membership___-Ms. English

- Class C “Superior” Rating at LGAE District-”Excellent” Rating @ LGAE State

1983-1984: Membership

1984-1985: Membership

1985-1986: Membership

1986-1987: Membership

1987-1988: Membership

1988-1989: Membership___-Mr. Bradford

1989-1990: Membership___-Mr. Bradford

1990-1991: Membership___-Craig Blackiston

1991-1992: Membership 32 -Mr. Brawley

1992-1993: Membership 43 -Mr. Brawley

1993-1994: Membership 45 -Mr. Brawley

-Class C “Excellent” Rating at LGAE District

1994-1995: Membership 50 -Mr. Brawley

- Class C “Excellent Rating at LGAE District

1995-1996: Membership 55 -Mr. Brawley

- The Band took a trip to Chicago!

1996-1997: Membership 65 -Mr. Brawley

- Class “Superior” Rating at LGAE District- “Excellent” Rating at LGAE State

1997-1998: Membership___-Mr. Brawley

1998-1999: Membership 70 -Mr. Brawley

-Class B “Excellent” Rating at LGAE District

1999-2000: Membership 80 -Mr. Brawley

-The Marching Band participated in contest for class B and received an “Excellent” Rating. Later that year the Band took a trip to Disney World in Florida

2000-2001: Membership___-Mr. Thomas

2001-2002: Membership___-Mr. Thomas

2002-2003: Membership___-Mr. Thomas

2003-2004: Membership___-Mr. Thomas

2004-2005: Membership: 55-Director: Mr. Brunger.

The Band took a trip to New York City.

2005-2006: Membership 60 -Director: Mr. Brunger.

2006-2007: Membership 65 -Director: Mr. Brunger.

The Concert Band went to OMEA District 4 Large group in Class C for the first time in a long time and received an “Excellent” rating. And later, the Band went to Disney World in Florida.

2007-2008: Membership 75 -Director: Mr. Brunger.

-In Jan of 2008 the Band Boosters purchased new uniforms!

2008-2009: Membership 80 -Director: Mr. Brunger.

-The Symphonic Band went to OMEA District 4 Large Group Adjudicated Event again in Class C and received a “Superior” rating, granting them the right to perform at the State Adjudicated Event, which resulted in an “Excellent” rating!

2009-2010: Membership 85 -Director: Mr. Brunger

-In June the Band Boosters purchased new Raincoats. The Symphonic Band received a “Superior” rating in Class B. (This feat had never been accomplished at Firelands before.) This spring the Band went to Williamsburg VA, and received first place in their category and best musical group for the weekend.