Ames Bands News

Spring 2025

Volume 39, No. 2

In this issue:

Fifth Grade Band: concert and final rehearsals info
Middle School Band: spring performances and honors recap, new instruments, tips for success
High School Band: ISU joint performance, 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, Meeker, Sawyer Band & Orchestra Concert

Monday, April 14th at Ames Middle School Auditorium

Please drop off your student at 6:15pm

Concert begins at 7:00pm

Edwards, Mitchell Band & Orchestra Concert

Tuesday, April 15th at Ames Middle School Auditorium

Please drop off your student at 6:15pm

Concert begins at 7:00pm

Band Karate Gold Medals

Students earn band karate belts by passing songs in their lesson book (white, yellow, orange, green, purple, blue, red, brown, black). When they earn a belt, we attach that color of ribbon to their instrument case handle and they are emailed a certificate to celebrate the occasion. Once they've earned their black belt, they may earn the gold medal! All students will be recognized for the level of band karate they have received at the concert. Those who have earned the gold medal will wear their medal at the upcoming concert.

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.

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 Linus and Lucy from “Charlie Brown,” Do You Want To Build A Snowman from “Frozen”, and Ames Loyalty. Congratulations to our students on a successful performance!

Fundraiser and AMS Band supporters

ButterBraids Fundraiser

Year two for the AMS Band ButterBraids fundraiser was a success with great sales and a smoother process. Thanks to our students and families, we raised over $5600! Last year's funding was used to purchase instruments. This year, our profits will go toward new experiences for our band students, including an 8th Grade Band field trip.

PTO Funding

Additional funding has come from our AMS Parent-Teacher Organization. Because of their support, we were able to purchase supplies for a new percussion cart as well as two instruments we have never before had in our program: a piccolo (last summer) and an upright bass (recent)! These instruments will provide new sounds and opportunities for our students.

Custom Logo Stencil

Also, special thanks to the Dean family and Elmswick and Oak (http://elmswickandoak.com/) for providing a custom aluminum stencil. We used it for the percussion cart project and will use it to label our band room music stands. Thank you!

AMS Jazz Bands complete a successful season

On Tuesday, April 1, the AMS jazz bands performed on the AMS 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.

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, February 1, 2025. Students rehearsed in sectional and full-band settings in preparation for the concert in the evening.

Seventh grade students selected: Prisha Ghosh, flute; Jenna Lin, clarinet; Leo Miguez, trumpet; Hazel Buller, horn; Eighth grade students selected: Brecken Johnson, trumpet; Josiah Bennett, trombone; Rosalie White, percussion.

(Front row) Jenna Lin, Hazel Buller, Leo Miguez, Brecken Johnson, (back row) Rosalie White, Prisha Ghosh, and Josiah Bennett pictured before their Middles and Music Honor Band performance.

AMS Band Ensemble Festivals

Every January, all AMS band students start working with their lesson groups toward an ensemble performance. It's an opportunity to develop independence, balance, and musical expression in small groups. This year, over 350 AMS band students performed across two nights in early March. Judges for the festival included distinguished area music educators Christian Baughman, Arkay Brown, and Rich Thimmesch.

7th & 8th Grade Ensembles
Photo credit: Jennifer Baumgartner and Lisa Shen

6th Grade Ensembles
Photo credit: Lisa Frerichs and Susanne Johnson

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 Symphonic Band Joins Iowa State Wind Ensemble for Concert

On Monday, March 3, the Ames High Symphonic Band had the privilege of hosting the Iowa State University Wind Ensemble for a joint concert in the Wayne “Hank” Hansen Performing Arts Center. Both groups performed an outstanding concert. The ISU Wind Ensemble closed with an arrangement of Ames High Loyalty by ISU’s Wind Ensemble Director, Dr. Michael Golemo. Four Ames High graduates are members of the ISU Wind Ensemble. They include Carl Balvanz, clarinet; Sofiya Palasyuk, clarinet; Josephine Mowrer, bass clarinet; and Daniel Brumm, euphonium.

Students celebrate hard work at Solo/Ensemble Contest

The Ames High Music Department hosted their annual Solo and Ensemble Contest on Saturday, March 8. Students who participated in the event worked to prepare solos and small group pieces to perform for adjudicator comments and a divisional rating. Thank you to everyone for challenging yourself and improving your musical skills. The following students/groups received Division I (Superior) and Division II (Excellent) ratings. No Division III, IV, or V ratings were earned.

Division I (Superior) Ratings

Flute Solo: Rebekah Buchwald, Uliana Markutsya, Sabrina Scott

Oboe Solo: Eleanore Castellano

Bassoon Solo: Julia Gray

Clarinet Solo: Carissa Andorf, Chloe Lu, Noah Shin, Matthias Roettger, Sunney Que, Mick Wu

Saxophone Solo: Bowen Flemming, Claire Lu, Danylo Palusyuk, Nathan Poag, Tate Terpstra, Miki Yakobson

Trumpet Solo: Evan Buller, Nolan Castleberry, Kate Reisinger

Horn Solo: Zoey Johnson

Trombone Solo: Elias Thompson

Snare Solo: Helen Mao

Marching Tenor Drum Solo: Philip Stoytchev

Marimba Solo: Helen Mao

Flute Trio: Rebekah Buchwald, Samantha Palmer, & Sophia Schneider

Clarinet Duet: Sunney Que & Mick Wu

Clarinet Quartet: Matthias Roettger, Noah Shin, Sunney Que, & Mick Wu

(Division I continued)

Saxophone Quartet: Bowen Flemming, David Kaminski, Nathan Poag, & Elio Viatori

Snare Duet: Apo Plastina & Michaela West

Concert Band Percussion Ensemble: Riley Becker, Sela Castleberry, Erin Church, Ian Crespi, RJ Glotfelty, Inara Hageman, Cohen Johnston, Sawyer Larson, Zachary Loecke, Evan Nelson, Logan Ostrem, & Will Stevens

Symphonic Band Percussion Ensemble: Erik Anderson, Jakson Bell, Joelle Bennett, Christian Gallt, Helen Mao, & Dawson Peterson

Division II (Excellent) Ratings

Trombone Solo: Abigail Johnson

Tuba Solo: Adam Baker

Flute Duet: Helena Appau & Izzy Smelser

Ames High Band Students Selected for Honor Bands

On Thursday, December 5, fourteen Ames High Band students traveled to Des Moines Roosevelt High School and auditioned for the 2025 South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor Band. Ten students were selected for the SCIBA Honor Band and spent the day on January 11 at Ankeny High School for rehearsals and a concert that evening. The honor bands were directed by Dr. Andrea Brown and Dr. Vince Kenney. The following Ames High Band students were selected:

9-10 SCIBA Honor Band

Natalie Patterson – Flute – 1st Chair

Uliana Markutsya – Flute – 9th Chair

Eleanore Castellano – Oboe – 2nd Chair

Julia Gray – Bassoon – 1st Chair

Chloe Lu – Clarinet – 1st Chair

Zoey Johnson – French Horn – 2nd Chair

Joelle Bennett – Percussion – 4th Chair

11-12 SCIBA Honor Band

Abigail Johnson – Trombone – 7th Chair

ISU Cyclone Honor Band

Five Ames High Band students were selected to and participated in the 2025 Iowa State Honor Band. Students participated in rehearsals on the Iowa State campus on Friday, February 7 and Saturday, February 8 and performed a concert that afternoon in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium. Students worked with Iowa State Wind Ensemble director Dr. Michael Golemo and guest directors Dr. Wesley Broadnax and Mrs. Linda Huck. Students selected:

Carissa Andorf – Clarinet – 1st Chair

Anika Shrotriya – Oboe – 2nd Chair

Nathan Poag – Alto Saxophone – 2nd Chair

Zane Wickencamp – Trombone – 4th Chair

Sarah Yao – Percussion – 4th Chair

Pep Band Rocks the Gym

The Ames High Pep Band helped to cheer on the basketball teams at several home games as well as traveling to support the team at Wells Fargo Arena for the Boys State Tournament. They had a “blast” playing traditional pep band tunes and Ames High Loyalty. Thank you Pep Band for rocking out in the gym!

Piccolo/Flute: Rebekah Buchwald, Sophia Schneider, Eleanor Regenwether, Isabel Smelser, Skylar Calhoun

Clarinet: Brianna Byrne, Claire Wang, Lucy Johnson

Alto Sax: David Kaminski

Trumpet: Evan Buller, Kate Reisinger, Maggie Webber, Ivy Alquist, Nolan Castleberry, Andrew Kaminski, Jackson Diekmann, Stella Klocke, Lucas Haila

Mellophone: Micaela Sulc, Zoey Johnson, Lucy Stegemöller, Jessie Ask, Lillian Ostermeier, Jonah Smith

Trombone: Elias Thompson, Zane Wickencamp, Abigail Johnson, Elijah Sheldon, Caden Olsen, Caleb Vis, Avie Niemi

Baritone: Liesl Snyder, Thomas Bouffard, Vivian Gassman, Samuel Johnson

Sousaphone: Miles Peterson, Adam Baker, Marin Knight, Grant Wellington, Carter Woodcock, Jonathan Ryken

Electric Bass: Gabe Thompson

Drum Set: Jakson Bell, Helen Mao

Ames High Jazz Bands Conclude Seasons

The Ames High Jazz Bands 2024-2025 season has come to a close. Both Jazz 1 and Jazz 2 performed at the Ames High Night of Jazz and Jazz Encounters concerts. Jazz 2 finished their season performing at St. Cecilia Catholic School on March 25. Jazz 1 began the year with a performance at Noce in Des Moines and traveled to Fort Dodge to perform at the Triton Jazz Festival. The winter weather threw some curveballs at Jazz 2 this year with the cancellation of the Southeast Polk Jazz Festival and postponement of the SCIBA Jazz Festival. Jazz 1 was able to travel and perform at the rescheduled SCIBA Jazz Festival. Thank you to all of the jazz students for their hard work and dedication this year.

AHS Bands to work with Guest Clinicians

On Wednesday, April 23, Dr. Cory Near from Luther College will work with both the 9th Grade Band and Concert Band. Dr. Near will rehearse with the 9th Grade Band from 7:40am-8:20am. He will work with the Concert Band during 2nd Period from 8:30am-9:50am. The clinics will focus on preparing music for the upcoming Spring Concert. To read more about Dr. Near, click here.

Also on Wednesday, April 23, the Symphonic Band will have the opportunity to work with Mr. Robert Meunier from Drake University. He will rehearse the Symphonic Band during 2nd Period from 8:30am-9:50 am. Mr. Meunier will work with the band on their music for the upcoming Spring Concert. To read more about Mr. Meunier, click here.

Ames 9th Grade Band to Host 9th Grade Band From Minneapolis, MN

On Thursday, April 24, the Ames High 9th Grade Band will participate in an exchange concert with the 9th Grade Band from Washburn High School in Minneapolis, MN. The Washburn High School Band is under the direction of Tim Martin and will be stopping through Ames, where the bands will perform for each other. Mr. Conner Tipping will lead the AHS 9th Grade Band in performing selections for their upcoming Spring Concert.

AHS Bands Prepare for Spring and Pops Concerts

The Ames High Concert Bands and Percussion Techniques are busy preparing for their final concerts of the school year. The Spring Concert will be held on Monday, April 28 at 6:30pm in the Wayne “Hank” Hansen Performing Arts Center. The Pops Concert will feature ensembles from band, choir, and orchestra and will be on Monday, May 19 at 7:30pm in the Harrison Barnes Gymnasium at Ames High. Please come out to support the students and all the hard work they have put in through the year.

Students, continue your musical growth this summer

Click here for a list of summer music camp opportunities.

Marching Band Camp Dates

Summer Drumline Workshop: June 30-July 3: 10am-12pm; 4th of July Parade; August 7-8, August 12: 9am-12pm

Leadership Meeting: August 11: 9am-3pm

9th Grade Parent Meeting: August 11: 6pm

Marching Band Workshop: August 13-15, August 18-19: 1-3pm

Ames Band Staff

Andrew Buttermore, Ames High School

Levi Dressler, 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

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