Indoor Drumline Soars to a State Championship & Represents Well in Dayton; Dwyer Recognized

The Union H.S. Indoor Drumline’s 2025 competitive season ended with great success. On April 5 the ensemble earned a State Championship in WGPO Open Classification, and concluded its season last week at the WGI World Championship, held in Dayton, Ohio. The performers and crowd adored the artistic program entitled “Learning to Fly”, which featured elaborate costuming, standard-setting scenic & aesthetic elements, and music composed with sophisticated, technically-demanding, and emotionally charged components. Contending in WGI’s most competitive classification amidst a field of nearly 60 units, the Union Indoor Drumline performed resiliently, with upward movement of 7 places during the course of the championship weekend. Earning 14th place in the preliminary round, reaching up to 9th place in the semifinals, and achieving 7th place in the finals, the ensemble represented Union with professionalism, character, ingenuity, and class.

In related news, Garett Dwyer, Union’s Director of Percussion, was recently recognized by his peers as the WGPO Percussion Director of the Year. Mr. Dwyer’s work ethic, artistry, positivity, and inspirational approach to education make him an ideal recipient of this award. Congrats to Mr. Dwyer!

PICTURED: (right) Union Director of Percussion Garett Dwyer, (left) WGPO Contest Director Kyle Myers

UHS Bands March 31 Update

Spring has sprung! 

• Applications for the 2025 Union Renegade Regiment Student Leadership Team close for submission tonight (Mon Mar 31) at midnight!  LINK TO APPLICATION: https://www.cognitoforms.com/UnionBands/_202526UHSBandGuardStudentLeadershipApplication

• On Fri Mar 28 our very own Owen Grass and Ellie Thralls were named Mr. & Miss Union for 2025!  See article here 
  
  

• VOLUNTEERS are NEEDED (yes, YOU!) for hosting the 2025 WGPO State Championship event at the Union Freshman Academy on Sat Apr 12!   Find more info and sign up here now: https://www.cognitoforms.com/UnionBands/UBPCVolunteerForm2025WGPOStateChampionship 

PICTURED: (center left) 2025 Miss Union Ellie Thralls and (center right) Mr. Union Owen Grass, joined by Mr. Pisarra (left) and Mr. Dwyer (right)

Grass & Thralls Crowned Mr. & Miss Union

2025 UHS Mr. & Miss Union Owen Grass and Ellie Thralls (center), and royalty finalists.

On Fri Mar 28 our very own Owen Grass and Ellie Thralls were named Mr. & Miss Union for 2025!   Based on teacher recommendation, academic excellence, school spirit & involvement, faculty feedback, input from the student body, and advancing from a field of 10+ semifinalists and 5 finalists, being named Mr. or Miss Union is considered the highest honor that a Union student can attain. 

We are particularly proud of Owen & Ellie and how they have represented the Union Bands in the context of the bigger picture of the Union community, as 2025 marks the first year since 2019 that the band program has "swept" the Mr./Miss Union crowns!  

Among numerous other honors and achievements, Owen and Ellie are both perennial members of the NBDA District Honor Band, multi-year members of the Union HS Wind Ensemble, multi-year earners of Superior ratings at the State level music solo contest, multi-year performers with the highly-regarded Union HS Indoor Drumline, and have served on the Renegade Regiment's Executive Student Leadership Team, a small group of highly influential leaders. 

The Union Bands community is overjoyed that Owen & Ellie were selected as this year's Mr. & Miss Union; we are admittedly biased, but seeing them both chosen for this honor was a "no-brainer"!   

Owen is the son of Timothy & Briane Grass, and Elli is the daughter of Raymond & Abby Thralls.

CONGRATS AGAIN TO OWEN & ELLIE and their families! 

PICTURED: (center left) 2025 Miss Union Ellie Thralls and (center right) Mr. Union Owen Grass, joined by Mr. Pisarra (left) and Mr. Dwyer (right)