Union Bands News
The Union Eighth Grade Band, under the direction of Mr. James Wilson, traveled to the University of North Texas in Denton on Friday, May 3, to perform at the Peak Music Festival. The group had the pleasure to play in the Murchison Performing Arts Center, a world-renowned performance hall known for its eye-stunning design as well as state-of-the-art acoustics. The Band earned Superior Ratings from all three of the festival’s adjudicators, resulting in a ‘Division One Rating’. As reward for their hard work and honors, the students will enjoy an evening at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, TX and a day of fun at Six Flags Over Texas. Congrats Eighth Graders!
Congratulations to the Union 8th Grade, JV, and Varsity winter guards for winning 1st place in their divisions at the 2013 WGPO Championships! Also congrats to Union Guard Director David Arvin and Jenks Guard Director Jara Wilson Clark (former Union guard member and Director) for winning the WGPO 2013 Outstanding Director Award!
WINTER GUARD FINALE PRESENTATION
The Union 7th Grade, 8th Grade, JV and Varsity winter guards will be performing their 2013 shows on Tuesday, April 9th, 8:00 p.m. in the UMAC arena. Admission is free. This performance will also serve as the Varsity guards nationals send-off performance.
On Friday, April 5, Union High School Percussionists performed several selections at the Oklahoma "Day of Percussion", an annual event held by the Oklahoma Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. See coverage by the Tulsa World
On Tuesday, April 2nd,16 Union students, grades 7-11, traveled to Stillwater, Oklahoma to perform with a mass horn choir comprised of over 70 horn students of all ages, from across the state. The event took place at the Seretean Center Concert Hall, on campus at Oklahoma State University. These students began the afternoon by observing a rehearsal of the Oklahoma State Wind Ensemble. Following the rehearsal, students attended a rehearsal of their own, directed by OSU professor of horn, Lanette Compton.
Professor Compton and the students of the mass horn choir prepared a concert in a little under two hours.The concert consisted of three tunes that students had never read together as an ensemble. In their rehearsal, these students learned about chamber playing and horn playing alike. It was an amazingly educational experience and an incredible opportunity to perform amongst their peers and college aged musicians from across Oklahoma.
The mass horn choir performance was followed by performances by the OSU Horn Choir and the American Horn Quartet. The OSU Horn Choir is one of the top collegiate chamber ensembles in the nation, performing at several different horn workshops and events nationwide. The American Horn Quartet is a professional chamber ensemble that performs worldwide and gives professional masterclasses to horn students of all capacities. Please visit http://www.hornquartet.com/home.htmlfor more information on this awe-inspiring group of musicians.
We are very proud of the Union students that performed and attended this educational event. Congratulations on a superior performance and for representing Union in such a high capacity.
March 19, 2013 — The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation recognizes Union Public Schools for its outstanding commitment to music education with a Best Communities for Music Education designation. Union joins 307 districts across the country to receive the prestigious distinction this year.
In its 14th year, Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) affirms school districts that have demonstrated exceptional efforts toward maintaining music education as part of the schools’ core curriculum.
The BCME survey requires districts to answer detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kansas, an affiliate of the University of Kansas.
“This honor is really exciting for us,” said Matthew McCready, assistant director of Fine Arts and band director for the Renegade Regiment. “Union has a strong music program throughout the district and it keeps getting bigger. We are pleased that our success is being recognized on a national level.”
The announcement of this year’s Best Communities for Music Education designation brings attention to the importance of keeping music education part of the core education and music’s vital role in student success in school.
The BCME designation is an important part of the NAMM Foundation’s efforts to advocate for school-based music education. Numerous studies have demonstrated that learning to play music can boost other academic and social skills, such as math and learning to cooperate in a group. The NAMM-funded Cost of Music Education study found that a comprehensive K–12 music education program cost an average of $187 per student per year in the sample district.
Congratulations to the students of the Union Seventh Grade Bands for earning Superior Ratings at OSSAA District Band Contest. The Seventh Grade 'Red' & 'Silver' Bands, conducted by Rod Mackey and Taylor Sitzman, respectively, traveled to Owasso High School on Thursday, March 14, and earned highest marks for their performances on the concert stage, as well as in the sight-reading portion of the event. 2013 marks the first time since 2007 that the Union Seventh Grade Bands have appeared at an OSSAA event, and they did truly excellent job!
The Fine Arts facilities addition at the Union 6th & 7th Grade Center is coming along very nicely, schedule for grand opening in August 2013. Check out this video clip to see some of the progress
The Union winter guards hosted the annual RENEGADE REVIEW winter guard & percussion championship this past Saturday, March 9th in the UMAC arena. 63 units from throughout Oklahoma and surrounding states competed in a day-long event, involving approximately 1000 student performers! Thanks to all of the volunteers who made this event a success, and to all of the patrons who came out to cheer on the talented performers!
Congratulations to Union 7th & 8th Grade Band Students who performed at the OSSAA District Solo & Ensemble Contest on Saturday, March 2!
> See 7th Grade Ratings Results
> See 8th Grade Ratings Results
SPONSOR NEWS
Neutrik, a Liechtenstien-based company and worldwide leader specializing in the design and manufacturing of high-quality audio and electrical connectors, has recently recognized Union Bands for its incorporation of technology in pageantry arts arenas. Union Bands has become an official Neutrik artist, dependent on Neutrik'shighly innovative products for arts and entertainment industries. Both strong innovators in technology and artistry, Union Bands and Neutrik make a great team!
Happy New Year from Union Bands! We congratulate our neighbors at Broken Arrow H.S. as they continue to prepare to perform in the 2013 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, and we recognize our own Ryan Davis and Kerstin Minton (Union H.S. Seniors) as they also appear in the Rose Parade, performing with the BOA Honor Band!
