MSHSL Large Group February 26th, 2019

Stillwater Wind Ensemble – Superior Rating, Second Suite in F Major, Gustav Holst

Stillwater Wind Symphony – Superior Rating (119 points!), Give Us This Day, David Maslanka

MSHSL Solo Ensemble

33 Superior Ratings, 10 Excellent Ratings

MSHSL Solo Ensemble Best of Site

Levi Greg, Flute Solo

Wind Ensemble Saxophone Quartet

ALL CONFERENCE MUSICIANS 2018-2019

Paula Burgos, Senior Bassoonist, SEC Honor Orchestra

John Franklin, Junior Percussionist, SEC Honor Band

Eleanor Grace, Sophomore Trumpet, SEC Honor Band

Maria Kratz, Senior Flautist, SEC Honor Band

Amy Longtin, Senior Flutist, SEC Honor Orchestra

Jessica Matteson, Senior Flutist, SEC Honor Orchestra

Katlyn Matteson, Senior Clarinetist, SEC Honor Band

Thomas Meyer, Senior Oboist, SEC Honor Orchestra

Sherilyn Patterson, Sophomore Oboist, SEC Honor Orchestra

Cecelia Romportl, Senior Clarinetist, SEC Honor Orchestra

John Schaeffer, Sophomore Trumpet, SEC Honor Orchestra

Allison Shaw, Senior Flutist, SEC Honor Band

Joe Weckwerth, Senior Trombone, SEC Honor Band

ALL STATE MUSICIANS 2018-19

Amy Longtin, Senior Flutist, All State Orchestra

Thomas Meyer, Senior Oboist, All State Orchestra

Cece Romportl, Senior Clarinetist, All State Concert Band

Hannah Sween, Senior Flutist, All State Symphonic Band

ALL STATE MUSICIANS 2019-20

Ella Grace, Trumpet, All State Jazz Band

Peter Grace, Tenor Saxophone, All State Jazz Band

Nicholas Hong, Bass Clarinet, All State Symphonic Band

Vincent Phan , Tenor Saxophone, All State Symphonic Band

Director Awards

2019 Hugo Frey Outstanding Freshman – Michael May, Katie Kangas     

2018 winners: Sherilyn Patterson, Ella Grace

2019 William Bastien Outstanding Sophomore – Vincent Phan, Evan Roddy

2018 winners: Sawyer Sawotin, Sam Johnson

2019 George Regis Outstanding Junior   – Nicholas Hong, Peter Grace

2018 winners: Emily Fjestad, Alison Shaw, Maria Kratz

2019 Wayne Feller Leadership and Dedication Award – Josh Framke, Jacob Jackson

2018 winners: Hunter Wiehe, Grace Zimmer

Outstanding Wind Symphony Section

2019: Oboes

2018:  French Horns

Student Awards

Outstanding Senior Band Musician(s) 

2019:  Erin Bloom, Levi Greg

2018: Cat Clements, Maya Yokanovich

Outstanding Senior Jazz Band Musician(s) 

2019:  Erin Bloom

2018: Christian Colburn and Gunnar Lindquist

Looking back at the Fall of 2018

It is hard to believe that we are now heading into February.  A lot has happened in the last five months. All told, over 30+ performances by our musicians! Let us review.

Pony Pep Band

The Pony Pep Band is always our first ensemble out of the gate in the fall.  This years ensemble, lead by Seniors Erin Bloom, Evan Dybvig, and Anna Novalany led the Fight Song at Freshman orientation, supported the Ponies at home football games, collaborated with the Stillwater AM Rotary and Boutwell’s Landing for the Halloween Parade and followed the Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer and Girls Volleyball teams to the state tourney.  This winter, they have played for Girls Basketball, Girls Hockey and Boys Hockey. To date, we have played 20 different times for Pony Activities! The first Boys Basketball game comes up soon if the polar vortex lets anyone out of their house again! Way to go Pep Band!

Jazz Xtets and Jazz Bands

The jazz bands began rehearsal in mid September and have traveled to the Lawrence jazz festival for clinics in early November and were followed by performances with college ensembles from the University of Northern Illinois and University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. The Jazz Band and Stillwater Combo closed out the annual Winter Concert.  Recently, the Stillwater Jazz Band (before school) began rehearsal on Thursdays before school. We are gearing up for the Retired Teachers Sweetheart Ball on February 9th and the Stillwater Jazz Festival on February 12th.

Kaleidoscope Concerts

The Stillwater Bands opened our performance year with two wonderful (and sold out) concerts!  Thank you to everyone who made these first concerts a success. VIVA LA VIDA!!

Stillwater Band Festival

The Wind Symphony performed with all the 5th grade and 8th grade band students at the Stillwater Band Festival on November 6.  Many thanks to Eric Van Scoy, Principal of Stillwater Middle School, and former band director, for serving as our narrator for the 5th graders “First Performance”! We look forward to seeing them at SAHS in four years!

Veteran’s Day

Thank you to Emily Fjestad, Tyler Clark, Josh Framke, Nick Eischens, Andrew Craft, Josh Dupree and  Jack Wallace who provided the ceremonial music for the Veteran’s Day Ceremony on November 11th at the Stillwater Veterans Memorial.  We always love to honor the sacrifice our our community’s veterans who have served in our armed forces.

Holiday Band Concerts and Winter Concerts

The Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble performed two holiday concerts on December 2nd. Wonderful performances by all groups culminated in a giant performance of the Brazilian Bell Carol!

The Stillwater Wind Symphony opened the annual SAHS Winter Concert with a fantastic performance of Alfred Reed’s Russian Christmas Music. The Jazz Ensemble then closed out the concert with 4 holiday favorites.  Three wonderful concerts featuring our top ensembles atSAHS.

Orchestral Winds

Our Orchestral Winds (made up of musicians from the Stillwater Wind Symphony) joined our Concert Orchestra performing Overture to “Ruslan and Ludmilla”  by Glinka. They are awesome. They followed that up with a wonderful performance of Bizet’s Carmen, and Anderson’s Sleigh Ride at the Winter Concert

Chamber Music Final

Students in the Wind Ensemble performed in chamber ensembles for their final exam this year. Each student worked together to prepare a piece of music with their section (and minimal teacher help) to perform for their peers at the final. Students were also tasked with creating their own program notes for the performance. Good preparation led to fine performances from all!

Solo Festival

We have completed our annual SAHS Bands Solo Festival! Students worked to prepare their own solo and perform for a music judge for a score and rating. For many of our 9th graders it was the first time they had performed a solo! Our top 9th graders will be invited to perform at our Freshman Honors Recital on February 24th at 3:00  and 4:00 PM. Our top 10th, 11th and 12th graders have been  invited to perform at the MSHSL Solo and Ensemble Contest on April 13th (note this event was rescheduled within the last two weeks). Way to go everyone!