Set List:

Jammin' with Charlie - Dean Sorenson & Bruce Pearson

You're Still a Young Man - Emilio Castillo & Stephen Kupka, arr. Mike Story

Hooked on a Feeling - Mark James, arr. Rick Stitzel

Celebration - Bell, Smith, Brown, Taylor, Mickens, Toon, Thomas, Beel, and Deodato, arr. Victor Lopez

Roster:

Flute: Bennet Harvat, Myla Hershey, Abhay Maranganti, Zoey Tolliver

Oboe: Leon Kirschner

Clarinet: Elijah Brownstein, Adam Levi, Alex Mayuga, Sanay Moghekar, Lucia Shao

Alto Sax: Hunter Greenberg, Emme Morrissey, Charlie Ringenbach, Leivi Sales

Tenor Sax: Michael Chiu, Alexis Occhionero, Christian Patillo, David Soroka

Baritone Sax: Adrian Taracilla

Trumpet: Aiden Reed, Luke Seaman, Adam Soroka

French Horn: Abbie Fishman, Mark Khramoy, Thalin Rao

Trombone: Abdullah Ashraf, Matthew Novik

Baritone: Sam Zack

Piano: Olivia Kim

Guitar: Elias Ruetzler

Bass: Nolan Martincic

Percussion: Dash Dye, Adiah Incledon, Jack Johnson, Matthew Kaufman-Dolesh, Gladimir Lobo, Sam Melvey, Henry Moody, Ben Morrissey, Olivia Schartman

School/Program Information:

The Brady Jazz Band is a non-auditioned group made up of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students from Brady Middle School in Pepper Pike, Ohio. Brady Middle School serves approximately 425 students in grades 6 through 8. Over 40% of the middle school is enrolled in our band program. The Brady Jazz Band begins rehearsing in early October, and practices through the end of the school year. The Brady Jazz Band rehearses once a week after school. In addition to performing at Brady middle school band concerts, the Jazz Band has also performed at community events, including performances for the Lander Circle Kiwanis Club and at the Quicken Loans Arena for the Cleveland Monsters hockey team.

Director Bio:

Jake Robinson is the associate band director and middle school general music teacher for the Orange City School District, and has been with the district since 2015. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music and his Master of Music Education degree from Kent State University. At Orange High School, Mr. Robinson is the associate director of the marching band in the fall, directs the Symphonic Band, and also directs the pit orchestra for the annual spring musical. Mr. Robinson teaches beginning band at Moreland Hills Elementary School and the Jazz Band at Brady Middle School. In addition to band, Mr. Robinson teaches the History of Rock and Roll course at the high school and general music courses at Brady Middle School, where students learn music history, music technology, guitar, and composition. 

Set List: 

It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing) - Duke Ellington and Irving Mills Arr. Frank Comstock

Moten Swing - Buster and Benny Moten Arr. Sammy Nestico

Lil’ Darlin - Neal Hefti Arr. Roy Phillippe

Backatown - Troy Andrews Arr. John Wasson

Roster:

Flute: Eva Zheng

Clarinet: Miriam Gilmore, So Eun Kang

Bassoon: Zara Craig

Alto Sax: Michael Karas, Arpith Prasad

Tenor Sax: Sumeet Chakravarti, Dirck Van Tassel

Bari Sax: Griffin Preisler, Elijah Ward

Trumpet: Eden Cohen, Lauren Nagy-Oleski

Trombone: Vega Craig, Mirica Woodley

Piano: Chengyu Li, Mattie Spaller

Guitar: Noah Isaacson

Bass: Artiom Tkachenko

Percussion: Mayer Bergman, Nirvana Bhusal, Alex Bravo, Theodore Johnson, Chengyu Li, Mattie Spaller, Sasha Wachsman

School/Program Information:

Beachwood City Schools, a distinguished suburban district in Cuyahoga County, serves approximately 1,500 students across five schools: Fairmount Early Childhood Center (PreK), Bryden Elementary (K-2), Hilltop Elementary (3-5), Beachwood Middle School (6-8), and Beachwood High School (9-12). Guided by the mission to “develop intellectual entrepreneurs with a social conscience,” the district has earned three U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards and the highest rating of "Excellent" from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Beachwood's dedication to arts education is nationally recognized, having been named among the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants for 18 consecutive years. Beachwood High School offers a comprehensive curriculum with 27 Advanced Placement and 20 Honors-level courses. The Class of 2023 boasted an average SAT score of 1236 with 80% of graduates pursuing higher education.

The Instrumental music program in the Beachwood City Schools includes students in grades 3 to 12.  Our program includes grade level ensembles from Grades 3 to 8 and one mixed grade level Concert Band at the High School.  Students in the Band Program at the High School level also participate in Marching Band during the fall and have the option of participating in our Jazz Band that meets once a week after school.  

The BHS Jazz Band performs at BHS Concerts, School and Community Events, and two years ago hosted The Dan Zola Orchestra as an Artist in Residence for an event titled “In Full Swing”.  We are excited this year to take a performance tour to Nashville, TN with a visit to the Smoky Mountains.

Director Bio:

David Luddington is the Band Director for grades 6 to 12 in the Beachwood City Schools.  He is in his 17th year as a music educator and 13th year with Beachwood.  His responsibilities with the Beachwood Schools include grade level ensembles at Beachwood Middle School and the Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Music Theory at the High School.  He is a brass specialist with trumpet as a primary instrument and he holds degrees from Ohio University and Cleveland State University.  Ensembles directed by Mr. Luddington have performed in Chicago, Nashville, Orlando, Memphis, and New Orleans.  Mr. Luddington is a member of the Ohio Music Education Association.

Set List:

Bringin' it On - L. Barton

When the Saints Come Swingin In - arr. Clark

Hit and Run - L. Barton

Roster:

Alto Sax: Emily Vieira, Janna Winningham, Emily Fousek, Bella Zaffiro

Tenor Sax: Jerry Frabotta, Gabby Ohlsen, Savannah Converse, Ada Noernberg, Eve Carty

Bari Sax: Brady Obratil, Evan Muhvic

Trumpet: Wolfi Mueller, Matthew Bailey, Nolan Long, John Jacobs, Trevor Grinstead, Julia Palecek

Trombone: Andrew Elias, Sam Taurasi, Owen McCall, Ryan Rainey, Stuart Lukacsko

Guitar: Joey Patton

Bass Guitar: Lauren Palecek

Drumset: Colin Janson, Zack Zebrowski, Ryan Berdis

Aux Rhythm Section: Elijah Moore, Parker Pacifico

School/Program Information:

West Geauga School District is located in Geauga County and encompasses the townships of Chester, Russell, and some sections of Munson. West Geauga High School is a four-year, comprehensive, public high school, with an enrollment of approximately 750 students. West Geauga was one of Newsweek’s National List of Top 500 Schools in 2016, and was included on the Washington Post’s List of America’s most challenging High Schools in 2017. 

The band program at West Geauga begins in 5th grade, and includes three middle school bands, as well as two high school concert bands. Students can also participate in marching band, middle school jazz band, and high school jazz band, as well as various pep bands and community performances throughout the year. 

The jazz band starts in mid-October, rehearses one day a week before school, and performs at all West Geauga band concerts. The jazz band also performs at a benefit concert in collaboration with our school’s Interact program. 

Director Bio:

Jason Branch is in his 15th year teaching at West Geauga. His duties include team-teaching all middle school bands, conducting the High School Symphonic Band, and high school music theory classes, as well as directing the marching band and jazz bands. Groups under his direction have performed at Ohio State University, Cleveland State University, Severance Hall, Disney World, and in Chicago. On January 1st, 2023, the WGMB marched in the New Years Day Parade in London, England. He has served OMEA as the District VII President from 2015-2017, and has worked with the OMEA All-State Ensembles for the past nine years. Mr. Branch holds  degrees from Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University. 

Set List:

Cabaret - John Kander, arr. Johnnie Warrington

Corner Pocket - Freddie Green, arr. Mark Taylor

Solitude - Duke Ellington, Art Dedrick

The Jazz Police - Gordon Goodwin

Roster:

Saxes: Sophia Gonzalez, Kai Jessop, Nick Peace, Luca Ratay, Trin Hinkle

Trombones: Noah Adkins, Desmond Crabtree, Savannah Baughman, Mason Edmunds

Trumpets: Kate McDaniels, Kylie Dean, Ian Nicodemus, Ryan Franks

Piano: Ayden Stevens 

Guitar: Kage Morehart 

Bass: Izzie Nettling

Drums: Jaxon Glover

School/Program Information:

The instrumental music program  in Cuyahoga Falls City Schools serves approximately 500 students each year in grades 6-12.  Students at CFHS  are enrolled in one of four concert bands and perform several concerts each year.  The ensembles all participate in Ohio Music Education Association adjudicated events and consistently earn Excellent and Superior ratings. In addition to the curricular ensembles, the department supports a variety of chamber music and extracurricular groups including numerous percussion ensembles, two jazz ensembles, marching band, pep band and pit orchestra. The Gold Tones is the premier jazz group at CFHS, made up of auditioned students in grades 9-12.  The group rehearses once to twice a week after school.  Each year, the Gold Tones attend multiple local jazz festivals, perform regularly at local venues, and host the annual Musical Horizons concert at CFHS.

Director Bio:

Jim Lang has been directing bands in Cuyahoga Falls City School District since 2013. His current responsibilities include directing 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands at Bolich Middle School and Roberts Middle School as well as extracurricular jazz ensembles at both Middle Schools and the CFHS Gold Tones.  As a woodwind specialist, he is an active performer and can be seen playing regularly with local big bands and in the pit orchestras of several local theater companies.   

Set List: 

Sesame Street - Hart & Raposo, arr. Murtha

Autumn Leaves - Mercer, Prevert, Kosma, arr. Blair

Just a Closer Walk with Thee - Traditional, arr. M. Collins-Dowden

The Incredibles - Giacchino, arr. Bulla

Roster:

Alto Sax: Max Levinson, Miriam Patton, Caleb Seaman, Audrey Kaim

Tenor Sax: Markos McCrackin, Jesse Vaytsman

Bari Sax: Atreya Bhatt

Trumpet: Nash Cook, Thomas Przybycin, Joseph Siegel, Dominic Shotwell, Henry Price, John Schmidt, Tessa Kemelhar, Naashon Calliens, Max Lenzo, Andris Karman

Trombone: Adam Schmotzer, Asher Beachler, Rian Xiong, Lucas Thompson

Piano: Zachary Schwarz

Guitar: Ava Garcia, Ryder Schwarz

Bass: Taryn Michener, Lex Stearns

Drum Set: Matthew Arnold, Simon Keating

Vibes/Percussion: Armaan Chepyala, Will Russo

School/Program Information:

The Orange City School District is a suburban district in eastern Cuyahoga County and serves students from the communities of Hunting Valley, Moreland Hills, Orange Village, Pepper Pike, and Woodmere. Approximately 2100 students are educated in three schools: Moreland Hills Elementary (K-5), Brady Middle (6-8), and Orange High School (9-12). Orange High School serves approximately 575 students in grades 9-12 and offers over 20 Advanced Placement courses. 98% of the Orange HS Class of 2017 matriculated to college and had an average SAT Score of 1235 and ACT Score of 24.9.

Instrumental music instruction begins in 5th grade. 5th grade band students receive one 30-minute lesson per week and a full band experience for one hour each week in May. The middle school bands (6, 7, 8) each meet daily for a 40-minute class period. All middle school students are required to take band, choir, orchestra, or general music. The Brady middle school Jazz Band meets once per week for 90 minutes, and is open to all 7th and 8th grade students. At Orange HS, band meets daily for a 50-minute period. During the 1st grading period all OHS band students are in the Lion Marching Band. The 2nd through 4th grading periods have band students placed into auditioned concert bands, the Orange Symphonic Band and Orange Wind Ensemble. Both of these groups regularly attend OMEA Large Group Adjudicated Events. Jazz Band meets two days per week, after school, from early November through late April.

The bands at Orange have received numerous awards and accolades over the years. Recently, the Orange Wind Ensemble performed at the University of Akron, Kent State University, Capital University, and Severance Hall. Recently, the Marching Band has performed in the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade, on Fox 8 News, and at the New Orleans Sugar Bowl and Parade. The jazz band has performed at STEM CON in Cleveland, the Lakeland Jazz Festival, and is an annual participant in the Tri-C Jazz Fest.

Director Bio:

Brandon DuVall is currently in his 10th year teaching Instrumental Music in the Orange City Schools. DuVall holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Educational Administration with Principal Licensure from Kent State University. Brandon previously taught band in the Cuyahoga Falls City School District from 2001 - 2015. At Orange, Mr. DuVall is the District Music Coordinator. His teaching assignment includes 5th grade band, 6th/7th/8th grade middle school bands, marching band, OHS Jazz Band, and the Orange Wind Ensemble. DuVall’s professional memberships include Phi Beta Mu, Delta Omicron, American School Band Director’s Association, and life membership in Kappa Kappa Psi. Brandon plays saxophone in the NEO Jazz Orchestra, an Akron-area big band. He recently completed a 2-year term on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Music Education Association.