The old saying “Practice Makes Perfect” rings true for students in Sapulpa’s Instrumental Music Program. April winds down a year that has been marked with Superior ratings for every form of band music from marching to jazz to solos and includes even the youngest musicians. This year has been nothing less than stellar in every aspect of the Instrumental Music Department.
The last few weeks, beginning on April 16 with 7th and 8th grade bands competing at the Heartland Music Festival in Oklahoma City, have been a flurry of Superior ratings for individuals and groups throughout the program. The 7th grade band received a Superior rating in concert and sight reading earning the OSSAA Outstanding Achievement. This is the highest honor that a middle school can earn. The 7th grade band won the earned a superior rating and the sweepstakes award, which means they received the highest score at their performance on that day. The 8th grade band earned a superior rating in sight reading and also received a superior rating for their performance at the Heartland Music Festival in Oklahoma City.
Senior high students traveled to OSSAA State Solo & Ensemble contest in Stillwater on April 21 and brought home 51 Superior medals with solos and ensembles.
Congratulations to the following students in receiving a Superior Rating on their solo at State Contest:
- Sarah Bartlett
- Nicole Legendre
- Christina Shomaker
- Katie Yahola
Congratulations to the following ensembles on receiving a Superior Rating at State Contest:
- Sax Quartet 2:
- Sean Diaz
- Kyle Fisher
- Korey Luster
- Sheridan Mackey
Clarinet Quintet:
- Aubrey Dillahunty
- Logan Klaassen
- Makaylah Ledbetter
- Kayci Owen
- Liliana Sanchez
Woodwind Quintet:
- Sarah Bartlett
- Shelby Howerton
- Nicole Legendre
- Korey Luster
- Hannah Walblay
Wind Ensemble Clarinets:
- Haley Barnes
- Nicole Legendre
- Erynn McCabe
- Kayci Owen
- Vinny Ryker
- Christina Shomaker
- Emily Tanner
- Katie Yahola
Brass Quintet:
- Leon Graham
- Jett Kroening
- Korey Luster
- Kean Murphy
- Dylan Wilson
Wind Ensemble Trumpets:
- Nathaniel Adamson
- Ehlana Klonecki
- Korey Luster
- Kean Murphy
- Dalton Newport
- Dylan Wilson
Ceremonium:
- Jordan Baxter
- Blake Hilligoss
- Dakota Hillhouse
- Gabe Jackson
- Andrew Johnston
- Denton McKee
- Marisol Valverde
- Ezra Walblay
Mosaics:
- Caleb Baxter
- Jordan Baxter
- Luke Cosby
- Blake Hilligoss
- Kyle McCallum
- Denton McKee
The day after solo and ensemble competition high school students loaded the bus at sunrise for Kansas City and the national World’s of Fun competition. They made a “Pitt” stop at Pittsburg State University to participate in clinics with Dr. Craig Fuchs, Dr. Todd Hastings, Sapulpa Alumnus, Dr. Jim Clanton. Class of 2015 Sapulpa Alumnus, Jack Milzarek stopped in to greet the band and give them a tour of the campus. After the tours it was back on the bus and off to compete. Both bands earned Superior on their performance and the Wind Ensemble brought home 2nd overall at the Worlds of Fun competition.
April 27 brought yet another OSSAA event where the High School Jazz Combo earned Superior making a run of straight Superiors in every event for the Sapulpa High School Instrumental Music Department. The combo also placed fourth for their performance in the jazz combo.
Directors Craig Amendt, Michelle Barnes and Kevin Mozarko (Sapulpa band alum) finished up the month of April with the beginning band at the Bristow Band Bonanza and more superior ratings for the band and soloists.
Beginning band soloists on receiving a Superior rating on their solo:
- Natalie Bundy
- Taylor Edmonson
- Brianna Fernandez
- John Kiehne
- Elliana Klonecki
- Madison Miller
- Aubrey Myers
- Scott Mulvihill
- Hailey Sisco-Isaak
- Alicia Warrington
The Varsity and Junior Varsity Winter Guard groups were hard at work as well. Congratulations are in order for Varsity 9th place at state competition and JV 7th place. Instructed by Sapulpa alums Meryl McDonald and Lindsey Dennison, these students practice after school to keep their skills sharp. Hours of tossing rifles and flags leave bruised arms and hands, but the work pays off for them come time to show what they’ve learned.
Somewhere between all the OSSAA competitions and trip to Kansas City band students and directors managed to squeeze in interviews, auditions, clinics and tryouts for leadership and drum major positions for next year’s band. The competition was tough and there were many great leaders to choose from.
Congratulations to the 2016 Drum Majors:
- Sarah Bartlett
- Anna Davis
- Kayci Owen
Congratulations to the 2016 Leadership Team:
- Nathaniel Adamson
- Ashley Brunner
- Antonia Crowl
- Kyle Fisher
- Douglas Harnish
- Megan Howerton
- Gabe Jackson
- Andrew Johnston
- Sheridan Mackey
- Kean Murphy
- Jimmy Reinier
- Emily Tanner
- Dylan Wilson
These students put in countless hours of planning and preparation to lead the rest of the band during marching season and the rest of the year.
Directors and students look forward to the upcoming season that will begin in early June with camps at the University of Arkansas and The University of Tulsa, camps here in Sapulpa to learn music and marching for the 2016-2017 school year and begin working on NCDA Honor Band music.
You can support your Chieftain Bands through the Sapulpa Band Boosters, a 501(c)3 charitable entity. The Boosters sponsor a golf tournament, sell homecoming corsages, and host a bingo night to raise funds for the band program. We appreciate the overwhelming support of the community to help us provide these students what they need to be SUPERIOR!
