BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL BAND CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE TWO TOP BANDS IN THE STATE OF OHIO

Each year the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA), the state of Ohio’s association for music teachers, chooses the two finest bands to perform a feature concert for the annual OMEA Professional Conference of all of Ohio’s music teachers. All of the state’s schools are invited to submit an audition recording of the band’s performances. In 2007, 175 schools submitted audition recordings. The recordings were screened through a blind audition process by a panel of professional musicians. This year Brunswick High School was one of the two high school bands selected. The band will travel to Cincinnati’s Duke Energy Convention Center to perform this feature concert on February 8, 2008. In addition to the one hour concert, the band has been specifically requested by Los Angeles composer Steve Hommel to perform his compositions as part of a clinic for teachers at the Conference.

The band will be performing a one hour feature concert at the conference which will include 6 major compositions for band. For a dynamic conclusion to the feature concert the Brunswick High School Wind Ensemble will be joined by members of the Ohio 122nd National Guard Band from Rickenbacker National Guard Base in Columbus. This great work requires two additional brass ensembles which will join the band and surround the audience in a performance of the Finale from Vasily Kalinnikov’s powerful Symphony No. 1 in G Minor. The 122nd National Guard Band is performing the two brass choirs.

In addition to the concert and clinic performed by the band, the students will get the opportunity to attend a concert performed by the Keith Brion and his New Sousa Band. On Thursday evening, February 7th in the Grand Ballroom of the Duke Energy Center, OMEA with the support of Elaine Ostrander of Colonial Music & Arts will present a concert by Keith Brion and his New Sousa Band. Narration will be provided by John Philip Sousa IV. With a level of performance of the highest caliber, this concert will be both entertaining and educational with a strong measure of patriotism too often missing in today's times. It will matter not if one is an instrumental, choral, or orchestral performer, a concert of this magnitude and quality will be inspirational. Additionally the students will be able to attend concerts by the Ohio All-State Band, the Ohio All-State Intercollegiate Jazz Band and a number of workshops with professional musicians.