Spring 2024
Volume 38, No. 2
In this issue:
Fifth Grade Band: concert and final rehearsals info
Middle School Band: 8th Band honor performance, jazz recap, spring concert update
High School Band: Florida trip, jazz band recap, pep band, SCIBA, band clinic, and more
Fifth grade band members combine for year-end concerts
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 bands that perform in the concert at Ames Middle School. Please bring family and friends to support your student in this important event. This event is free and open to the public.
Concert Attire
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 sweats, shorts, and tennis shoes. Since we’ll be up on a stage, we suggest dress pants, long skirts, or long dresses.
Fellows and Meeker Combined Concert
Monday, April 15th at Ames Middle School Auditorium
Please drop off your student at 6:20 pm
Concert begins at 7:00 pm
Edwards, Mitchell, and Sawyer Combined Concert
Tuesday, April 16th at Ames Middle School Auditorium
Please drop off your student at 6:20 pm
Concert begins at 7:00 pm
Why should I be in 6th Grade Band?
1. Students have learned so much this year! In 6th grade they will continue to learn and build upon the skills needed to become independent musicians and responsible young adults. These are skills they can use their entire life.
2. There are more performance opportunities: two large band concerts and the chance to prepare and perform in a small group for Ensemble Festival.
3. FRIENDS! An instant social network for the transition to a new school. These are the friends that will continue to be in band together through their senior year of high school (and maybe beyond).
4. Opportunities to play exciting music in a large band. Better musicians can play more interesting music!
5. Be a part of a team where you NEVER sit on the bench! Every single musician is equally important! Band is the largest group project a student can be a part of.
6. The Ames Middle School band staff (Conner Tipping, Paul Tallman, and Peter Thompson) is top notch! They are amazing teachers and lots of fun, too!
Summer Band Lessons
Summer is a great time to keep playing your instrument! Find some fun music to play or work to get ahead in your lesson book. Get together with a friend to play duets or create your own music or band! Private lessons are a great way to excel on your instrument!
Contact your band teacher if you are interested in a list of private teachers.
Iowa Bandmasters selects Ames 8th Grade Band for conference performance
Photographer: Leslie Pease; photo editing: Chris Ewan
The Ames 8th Grade Concert Band has been selected to perform at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference. Each year, band programs from around Iowa submit recordings of their best performances to IBA. Our 8th grade concert band was the only middle school concert band to be selected this year. They will present a concert on Friday, May 10 at 1:00 pm at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown. The performance will be free and open to the public.
Previous Ames bands to perform at IBA include the 2016 and 2009 AHS Symphonic Bands, the 2007 AMS 6th Grade Band, and the 1973 AHS Concert Band. The 8th Grade Band last performed at IBA in 2000. Congratulations to our students on this honor!
6th Grade Band performs FUNdamentals concert
For many years in February, the 6th grade band has performed for their classmates in a special concert held during the school day. This “FUNdamentals” Concert gives our students the chance to learn music in a number of different styles. Selections this year included Tambora!, Snow Globe, and Louie, Louie. Congratulations to our students on a successful performance!
Photos from the AMS band room
Fundraiser goal exceeded
AMS Band students went above and beyond this February in asking everyone they met, "Do you like ButterBraids?" While that question became an inside joke around the band room, it's no joke that our students came through, raising over $6000 in our first ever ButterBraid sale. The funds were very welcome. Since the end of the fundraiser, not only are families all around Ames enjoying delicious, fresh-baked pastries, but we have already ordered, received, and put into service two very needed, brand new Yamaha tubas. We are also looking into planning new experiences that will allow the band to go places next year and beyond. Thank you to all our ButterBraid customers - see you next Feburary!
AMS Jazz Bands complete a successful season
On Tuesday, March 26 the AMS jazz bands performed on the 7/8 Jazz Bands & Select Choir Concert. This was the final concert for the 7th and 8th grade jazz bands for the year. Both ensembles prepared a variety of repertoire and featured several student soloists. This performance was a culmination of the work both ensembles did to gain a better understanding of different jazz styles and skills needed to be more successful improvisers.
Thank you for Leslie Pease for the AMS Band photos!
AMS students perform with the Middles and Music Honor Band
Several Ames Middle School students were selected to participate in the Middles and Music Honor Band this year at South Hamilton High School in Jewell. The honor band took place on Saturday, January 27, 2024. Students rehearsed in sectional and full-band settings in preparation for the concert that evening.
Seventh grade students selected: Anna DeBoest, trumpet; Masha Kovnir, trumpet; Brecken Johnson, trumpet. Eighth grade students selected: Sabrina Scott, flute; Cece Appleton, oboe; Carolyn Worrel, clarinet; and Nolan Castleberry, trumpet.
Sabrina Scott, Carolyn Worrel, Anna DeBoest, Masha Kovnir, and Nolan Castleberry pictured before their Middles and Music Honor Band performance.
Time change for AMS Spring Band Concert
Thursday, May 2
6:00 pm: 8th Grade Spring Band Concert/IBA Preview
7:30 pm: 6th and 7th Grade Spring Band Concert
The middle school spring band concert will be a little different this year, with the 8th grade hosting their own performance at 6:00 pm and the 6th and 7th grade bands following at 7:30 pm.
The separate concerts will allow the 8th grade band to perform their full set of tunes ahead of their IBA performance. The format should also make parking and seating a little less congested, although we are still expecting a large crowd for each performance.
Those wishing to attend both concerts are welcome to do so. Admission is good for both concerts (just pay once), and is $5 for adults with a max of $10 per family. Students are admitted free. We are looking forward to a phenomenal night of music!
How AMS Band students can prepare for next fall
As 6th graders work toward next year, the most important thing for continued improvement is to simply keep playing your instrument. The more days you play, the more you will improve by building your range and endurance. This will help support your ability to play with better tone quality, and you’ll feel more confident on your instrument - which leads to greater levels of enjoyment!
If you really want to make the best use of your practice time, play through the components on your instrument’s assignment page. This includes your instrument routine, major scales, chromatic scale and music from your lesson book. Practicing consistently throughout the summer will maintain your skills, so you will be prepared for the fall.
7th grade students considering honor band auditions should join the 8th Honor Band Google Classroom, start diligently practicing the etudes and scales, and consider taking private lessons.
For 8th graders going into high school, preparation for marching band is key. Watch for an email from AHS with the marching band music. You may also need to obtain a lyre for holding your music as you march. Any practicing you do over the summer will help you feel more confident as you begin fall band rehearsals.
Ames High Marching Band has a magical time in Florida
Over Spring Break, members of the AHS marching band traveled to Florida to perform at Walt Disney World. The first stop of the trip was at Ron Jon Surf Shop and Cocoa Beach. Students visited Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom throughout the rest of the week and ended the trip at Universal Orlando. At Magic Kingdom, students performed in a parade across the park performing “National Emblem.” The band members also had an indoor clinic with a guest clinician and rehearsed music to the movies Moana and Tarzan. They even recorded some of the music to the scenes from the movies!
Jazz 1 & 2 finish out the season swingin’
This winter, both jazz bands at Ames High had multiple opportunities to perform and showcase their abilities. On February 10, both bands traveled to the Southeast Polk Jazz Festival at SEP High School. Both bands had great performances and learned a lot from their guest clinicians and judges’ comments. Jazz 2 received second place, while Jazz 1 received first place and awards for outstanding saxophone and trombone sections. A few days later, both bands performed again at the Jazz Encounters concert at Ames High.
AHS Jazz and Pep Band photos: Akshay Sarda
AHS Pep Band rocks the stands!
The Ames High Pep Band had a successful season performing for five home crowds at the Girls & Boys Basketball teams’ games. The band brought a lot of energy and sounded great on all the music they played. Thanks for a great season!
Piccolo/Flute: Jenny Park, Julia Bennett, Sophia Schneider, Jesse Yates, Eleanor Regenwether, Isabel Smelser
Clarinet: Josie Mowrer, Brianna Byrne, Karina Scott, Claire Wang, Alex Eichhorn, Lucy Johnson, Abi Stearns
Alto Sax: Maxim Kovalenko, Garrett Galvin, Gregg Reisinger, Miki Yakobson, Jack Sailsbury
Trumpet: Evan Buller, Kate Reisinger, Maggie Webber, Joseph Payton, Will Geisler, Caleb Sheldon, James Haila, Jackson Diekmann, Eli Johnson, Lucas Haila, Bella Crain
Mellophone: Micaela Sulc, Lucy Stegemöller, Jessie Ask, Mya Frisk, Lillian Ostermeier, Jonah Smith, Ellian Jones
Trombone: Elias Thompson, Zane Wickencamp, Will Williams, Jackson Reiter, Abigail Johnson, Elijah Sheldon, Rayla Madsen, Caden Olsen, Caleb Vis, Avie Niemi, Aidan Krueger
Baritone: Liesl Snyder, Samuel Johnson
Sousaphone: Johanna Sulc, Miles Peterson, Cade Taylor, Adam Baker, Carter Woodcock, Christian Humphrey
Electric Bass: Sawyer Chopskie
Drum Set: Davison Juhnke, Jakson Bell
Guitar: Simon Marshall-Gilbert
Thompson selected to perform with the 4A All-State Jazz Band in May
Elias Thompson, a junior trombone player at Ames High, was recently selected to perform with the class 4A All-State Jazz Band. Students wanting to be selected for this ensemble had to submit recordings of themselves performing a jazz etude with a pre-recorded rhythm section as well as a recording demonstrating their improvisation skills. Those recordings were then sent as blind auditions.
The concert will take place at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference on Thursday, May 9 at the Marriott Hotel in Des Moines. The 4A All-State Jazz Band will be under the direction of Dr. Colleen Clark from the University of South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Clark, click here.
AHS students earn spots in select honor bands
Eight AHS band students successfully auditioned for spots in the 2024 South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor Band. Auditions were held on Thursday, November 30 at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. Students rehearsed at Ankeny High School on Saturday, January 6, with a concert that evening. Guest directors for the honor band were Dr. Myron Peterson & Mr. DaJuan Brooks. The following students were selected:
9-10 SCIBA Honor Band
Rebekah Buchwald - Flute 2 - 3rd Chair
Claire Lu - Alto Saxophone 1 - 1st Chair
Miki Yakobson - Alto Saxophone 1 - 2nd Chair
Hezekiah Johnson - Trombone 1 - 3rd Chair
Sarah Yao - Percussion - 1st Chair
Joelle Bennett - Percussion - 3rd Chair
11-12 SCIBA Honor Band
Jenny Park - Flute 2 - 4th Chair
Christian Gallt - Percussion - 7th Chair
Ames High students were also selected for the honor bands below. Congrats!
ISU Cyclone Honor Band - February 2-3
Anika Shrotriya - Oboe
Sophia Kyveryga - Bassoon
Karina Scott - Clarinet
Brianna Byrne - Clarinet
Carissa Andorf - Clarinet
Nathan Poag - Alto Sax
Anleah Walker - Horn
Zane Wickenkamp - Trombone
Helen Mao - Percussion
Sarah Yao - Percussion
University of Iowa Honor Band - February 17
Elias Thompson - Trombone
Central College Honor Band - February 22
Anika Shrotriya - Oboe
Sophia Kyveryga - Bassoon
AHS concert bands clinic day with college professor
On April 17, Dr. Kevin Kessler from South Dakota State University will come and work with all three concert bands at Ames High. Dr. Kessler will have 40 minutes to work with each band on the music they will be performing for their spring concert.
To learn more about Dr. Kessler, click here.
Students celebrate hard work at Solo/Ensemble Contest
The Ames High School Band, Orchestra, and Vocal Departments participated in the Ames Solo/ Ensemble Contest on Saturday, March 2, at Ames High School. We give a special commendation to each student who prepared music for the contest and who improved their own personal performance skills. The following students/groups received Division I (Superior), and Division II (Excellent). No Division III, IV, or V ratings were earned.
Division I (Superior) Ratings
Clarinet Solo: Hannah Song, Brianna Byrne, Carissa Andorf, Josie Mowrer, Sunney Que, Mick Wu, Karina Scott, Matthias Roettger
Clarinet Duet: Matthias Roettg & Sunney Que
Alto Sax Solo: Bowen Flemming, Claire Lu, Maxim Kovalenko, Nathan Poag
Oboe Solo: Anika Shrotriya, Sailesh Srinath
Bassoon Solo: Sophia Kyveryga
Flute/Clarinet Duet: Jenny Park & Claire Wang
Saxophone Duet: Bowen Flemming & Nathan Poag
Saxophone Quartet: Nathan Poag, Bowen Flemming, Elio Viatori, David Kaminski
Mixed Ensemble: Sunney Que, Sailesh Srinath, Sean Li, Michael Lee, Lee Wang
Trumpet Solo: Evan Buller, Kate Reisinger
Horn Solo: Anleah Walker, Emily Kibbe
Horn Duet: Anleah Walker & Emily Kibbe
Trombone Solo: Elias Thompson
Snare Drum Solo: Helen Mao, Sarah Yao
Marching Snare Drum Solo: Christian Gallt
Marimba Solo: Helen Mao, Sarah Yao
Concert Band Percussion Ensemble: Dawson Peterson, Logan Ostrem, Erik Anderson, Jakson Bell, Erin Church, RJ Glotfelty, Evan Nelson, Sela Castleberry, Will Stevens
Symphonic Band Percussion Ensemble: Helen Mao, Sawyer Chopskie, Davison Juhnke, Noah Williamson, Akshay Sarda, Sarah Yao, Christian Gallt
Division II (Excellent) Ratings
Flute Solo: Rebekah Buchwald
Flute Duet: Jenny Park & Kritika Sharma
Flute Trio: Izzy Smelser, Helena Appau & Preslei Pflug
Horn Duet: Kora Britten & Lucy Stegemoller
Horn Quartet: Anleah Walker, Emily Kibbe, Micaela Sulc & Jessie Ask
Euphonium Solo: Marin Knight
Tuba Solo: Johanna Sulc
Timpani Solo: RJ Glotfelty
University of Iowa Symphony Band performs for AHS Band students
The University of Iowa Symphony Band was in the house! Or, more accurately, in the room - the AHS Bandroom, that is. On Friday, March 29 our students had the unique privilege of a private concert by the most advanced concert band in the state of Iowa. Ames High graduates Kailyn Thompson (Horn) and Ava Chopskie (Percussion) are members of the band, and the group performed some fantastic repertoire - see photos and the program (right). Thanks to the U of I Band Program for offering this amazing experience to our musicians!
AHS concert bands prepare for Spring Concert and Pops Concert
Ames High concert bands are working hard to prepare for their final concerts of the year. The Spring Concert will be held on Monday, April 29 at 6:30 pm.
On May 20, the band, choir, and orchestra will share their Pops Concert performance. The concert starts at 7:30 pm and will be in the Harrison Barnes Gymnasium. Come on out and support all these students' hard work.
Students, continue your musical growth this summer
Marching Band Camp Dates
August Drumline Workshop: TBD
Leadership Meeting: Wednesday, August 13: 9 am-3 pm
Marching Band Workshop: August 14-16, 19-20: 1 pm-3 pm
Ames Band Staff
Andrew Buttermore, Ames High School
Nick Gardner, Ames High School
Tascha Hauber, Ames Elementary
Paul Tallman, Ames Middle School (7th grade)
Peter Thompson, Ames Middle School (8th grade)
Conner Tipping, Ames Middle School (6th grade) and Ames High School
Cheryl Todey, Ames Elementary