In this issue:

• 5th grade year-end information
• Interview with the new Ames Middle School principal
• AHS band tour to Florida

5th Grade Band News

As we begin to wrap up a successful year, it’s time to make arrangements for our year-end concerts. As we have done in the past, the five elementary school bands will combine into two larger groups. The two combined bands will perform in the Ames Middle School Auditorium. Each band will have two combined rehearsals before their performance.

The combined rehearsals are vital to the success of our concert performance. Attendance at our combined rehearsals is mandatory if students want to perform in the combined concert. Please view rehearsal and concert information below, including drop-off, start, and end times. Please drop off your students at the main entrance of the middle school before the combined rehearsals and concert. Drop-off times have been set to allow band students plenty of time to assemble instruments and find their seats in the combined setup. If students are getting a ride from their elementary school, they need to be at their elementary building by 7:15am. At the first combined rehearsal a designated parent will be present in the hallway at Ames Middle School, directing students to the auditorium. After rehearsal, students will be bussed back to their respective elementary school buildings.

Students should wear nice clothes for the concert. Clothes that are appropriate for a wedding or religious service would be good for the concert. Please avoid jeans, shorts, and tennis shoes. Since we’ll be up on a stage, we suggest dress pants, long skirts or long dresses for ladies.

5th grade: Combined Rehearsals and Concert Schedule - Edwards, Mitchell, Sawyer

5th grade: Combined Rehearsals and Concert Schedule - Fellows & Meeker

5th grade: Final Rehearsals, matinee performances and final lesson dates for each school

We will have a matinee performance at each school in the gym as listed below. On the day of the matinee, our rehearsal will be in the gym. Students can wear normal school clothes for the matinee. The matinee is free and open to all to attend.

Administrator Profile: Mr. Dan Fox

Mr. Dan Fox is serving his first year as Ames Middle School principal. He was previously principal at Southeast Vally Junior High School in Burnside. He and his wife live in Ames with their three children. We asked him a few questions for this edition of the newsletter.

What have been your life experiences with music?

Music was always on in my house and my grandparents house. I played the trumpet in middle school and my freshman year of high school. I played in the concert and jazz bands.

In what ways do you still enjoy music now?

I enjoy listening to a wide variety of music. My Pandora and iHeartRadio stations are a very eclectic mix. I find music to be very helpful in getting things done. I always turn on something whether I'm working around the house or in my office. My wife and I take our kids to Bandshell park frequently for the Ames Municipal Band, Ames on the Half Shell, and Music on Main Street.

In your mind, what makes band and fine arts viable parts of the school curriculum?

I think Band and Fine Arts are great ways for students to express themselves. There are many lifelong skills that can be learned through the arts. The process of learning to play an instrument or perfecting your voice takes dedication, persistence, and lots of hard work. It is also a lifelong skill that students can continue their whole life.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy the outdoors. Hunting and fly fishing are two of my favorites. I also enjoy getting the whole family out on our bikes and riding on the area trails.

Many thanks to Mr. Fox for taking time to share with us and serving as a great principal!

Ames Middle School students shine in ensemble festival

More than 320 Ames Middle School band students performed in the school's Ensemble Festival on Tuesday, March 6. Judges John Gosnell, Heather Conley, and David Brown, all of Ankeny, listened to fifty-six entries from grades six through eight. Each lesson group performed, then heard immediate feedback from the center judge. Each ensemble also received written feedback and a rating. Thirty-four ensembles earned a I+ rating (highly superior), eighteen more earned a I rating (excellent), and four received a I- rating (good). No II ratings were designated.

The event was greatly helped by several parent volunteers. AMS band directors also thank the many parents and family members who attended to support their students!

Middle school students perform in Orpheus Honor Band

Ames High: Florida band tour highlights

The AHS Band traveled by bus to Orlando, Florida over spring break. While in Florida, the band performed at Disney World's Magic Kingdom and participated in an educational clinic with the Disney staff, where they recorded music from Disney-owned films such as Star Wars and Lion King. In addition, the students had the opportunity to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, spend many hours in the Disney Parks, enjoy Cocoa Beach, and have a private dinner at Epcot.

The band's public performance in the Festival of Fantasy Parade through Disney World's Magic Kingdom was a point of pride. The huge crowd along the parade route showed its appreciation with rolling applause as the band performed "National Emblem" by John Philip Sousa.

Thank you to all of the students and chaperones who were able to be a part of such a wonderful experience!

Jazz I invited to compete at Iowa Jazz Championships for the first time in AHS history

The annual state championship event invites the top 15 jazz ensembles from each class 1A-4A (60 bands total), bringing together many of Iowa’s finest young jazz musicians to compete in one of the largest one day festivals in the nation. Jazz Bands qualify for the Iowa Jazz Championships through district and independent qualifying festivals. Each jazz ensemble performs a twenty-minute set before a panel of three judges during the morning and afternoon competition. The top two performing jazz bands from each class will then compete that evening in Stephens Auditorium for the Iowa Jazz Championship state titles.

The jazz bands at AHS have had a successful schedule this winter competing in several festivals. Jazz I placed 6th in their class and Jazz II placed 5th in their class in December at the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association Jazz Festival. In January, Jazz I placed 1st at the Bluffs Jazz Festival in Council Bluffs. Both bands participated in the Urbandale Jazz Colloquium in early February. These festivals provide students an opportunity to receive taped critiques by professional jazz auditors, to participate in clinics following their performance and to hear bands from other schools. Locally, both bands performed several times in Ames including at our home jazz concert "Jazz Encounters" in February. Mitchell and Fellows elementary schools had the opportunity to hear Jazz II.

Professor to share his expertise with the AHS Bands

18 AHS Students Selected for SCIBA Honor Band

Congratulations to eighteen Ames high band members who successfully auditioned for the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association District Honor Band that was held on January 6 at Ankeny High School. The guest directors for the honor band were Dr. Curran Prendergast of Truman State University and Steve Stickney of Mount Mercy University.

The following Ames High students were selected:

Pep Band Entertains!

The 2017-2018 AHS Pep Band made appearances at several home basketball games and a swim meet. A wide variety of up-tempo, spirited music makes this a popular organization at Ames High.

2017-2018 Pep Band personnel

Solo and Ensemble Contest provides additional opportunity for growth

The Ames High School Music Department participated in the Ames Solo and Ensemble Contest on Saturday, March 3 at Ames High School. A special commendation to each student who prepared music for contest and who improved their own personal performance skills. The following students/groups received Division I (Superior), Division II (Excellent) and Division III (Good) ratings. No Division IV or V ratings were earned.

The judges for the festival were Paul Brizzi, Retired Director of Bands at Ankeny High School and Jeff Kirkpatrick, Director of Bands at Osage High School.

Division I (Superior) Ratings

Flute Solo: Laura Emery, Amber Mohmand, Eileen Murray, Tianxin Xu

Bb Clarinet Solo: Lauren Cassaidy, Grace Lee, Benjamin Moats, Lillian Montabon, Alyssa Romp

Alto Sax Solo: Julia White

Tenor Sax Solo: Sam Packard

Trumpet Solo: Arthur Lubberstedt, Nathan Paskach, Emma Todey

Horn Solo: Anna Cullinan

Trombone Solo: Channing Che , Adam Eichhorn

Tuba Solo: Nitzan Friedberg, Peter Jaynes, Evan Uhlmeyer, William Van Voorhis

Snare Solo: Carter White

Marimba Solo: Aidan Diggins-Kennedy, Dominik McDonald

Flute Duet: Eileen Murray & Tianxin Xu

Eb Clarinet Duet: Benjamin Moats & Lillian Montabon

Flute/Clarinet Duet: Amber Mohmand & Grace Lee

Tuba Duet: Peter Jaynes & Nitzan Friedberg, William Van Voorhis & Evan Uhlmeyer

Flute/Harp Duet: Tianxin Xu & Chloe Barry

Flute/Tuba Duet: Gillian Groomes & William Van Voorhis, Tianxin Xu & Nitzan Friedberg

Clarinet Trio: Benjamin Moats, Alyssa Romp & Lauren Cassaidy

Saxophone Trio: Julia White, Liv Lauber & Lydia Linch

Percussion Quartet: Garrett Cooper, Dominik McDonald, Aidan Diggins-Kennedy, Nick Sulzberger

Clarinet Choir: Carl Balvanz, Lauren Cassaidy, Andres Cordoba, Moriah Conner, Kayley Helmer, Grace Lee, Ben Moats, Lillian Montabon, Sofiya, Palasyuk, Emily Peters, Alyssa Romp, Arie Sirotiak, Sarah Song

Division II (Excellent) Ratings

Flute Solo: Corinne Colburn, Lyd Grawe, Emily Helmer, Sarah Rundall

Clarinet Solo: Carl Balvanz, Moriah Conner, Andres Cordoba, Kayley Helmer, Sofiya Palasyuk, Sarah Song

Alto Sax Solo: Liv Lauber, Zac Mueterthies

Tenor Sax Solo: Noah Kohut-Jackson

Trumpet Solo: Jasper Shogren-Knaack,

Horn Solo: Owen Murphy

Trombone Solo: William Brumm, Ryan Lin

Percussion Trio: Nick Grandgenett, Kayla Fincham, Ella Chopskie

Division III (Good) Ratings

Flute Solo: Mia Facio

Alto Sax Solo: Erik Nelson

AHS Band Calendar

For the full calendar, click here.

Ames Band Staff

Andrew Buttermore, Ames High School

Chris Ewan, Ames High School

Ron Ferneau, Ames Middle School, 8th grade

Deb Fritcher, Ames Middle School, 7th grade

Tascha Hauber, Ames Elementary

Paul Tallman, Ames Elementary

Peter Thompson, 6th grade and Ames High School