McCracken Middle School Band » 2005

Symphonic Band Clinic with Steve Peterson

As part of our preparation for our demonstration group performance at the Midwest Clinic we will be having a clinic with Steve Peterson on Friday morning from 7:20 - 9:30.

Dr. Peterson was director of the Northwestern University Marching Band during Northwestern’s remarkable Rose Bowl run in 1995. He is currently Director of Bands at Ithaca College and is in town to take part in the Northwestern Marching Band’s 10 year Rose Bowl reunion this weekend.

He is a terrific musician and a wonderful teacher. We’re really looking forward to his work with us!

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Posted: October 26, 2005 | PermaLink

Concert Band Rehearsal - October 31

Our usual Concert Band rehearsal on Monday, October 31 will be instead held on Wednesday, November 2.

I must be getting soft in my old age!

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Posted: October 26, 2005 | PermaLink

5th Grade Rehearsal Schedule

Concert time (Nov. 16) for the Concert Band and 5th Grade Band is coming very, VERY, quickly!!! To top is off we lose next Friday due ot the White Pines trip, and Friday, Nov. 11 to Veterans’ Day.

To make sure we’re prepared for our concert, the 5th Grade Band will have a slightly changed rehearsal schedule the next several weeks:

Friday, Oct. 28 No rehearsal

Wednesday, Nov. 2 REHEARSAL
Friday, Nov. 4 Regular Rehearsal
Wednesday, Nov. 9 REHEARSAL
Friday, Nov. 11 No rehearsal
Wednesday, Nov. 16 CONCERT!!!!
Friday, Nov. 18 Regular Rehearsal

After Thanksgiving we should be back to normal, although I can tell you that there will be no rehearsal after school on December 16th due to a trip that the Symphonic Band will be taking that day.

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Posted: October 21, 2005 | PermaLink

Chippewa Falls High School Band Tragedy

With the national coverage it’s received, most have probably heard about the terrible accident that occured this past weekend involving the Chippewa Falls High School Band from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Our thoughts and prayers are with the students and community affected by this tragedy.

The Chippewa Herald has printed several moving tributes to those who lost their lives in the accident.

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Posted: October 17, 2005 | PermaLink

Symphonic Band Fall Concert

The McCracken Middle School Fall Symphonic Band will be presenting their annual Fall Concert on Thursday, October 6 at 7:00 PM in the McCracken Gym. The Symphonic Band will be performing:

- The Star Spangled Banner - Francis Scott Key, arranged by
  John Kinyon (Luverne Publications)
- Ascend - Samuel Hazo (Hal Leonard)
- Pinnacle - Rob Grice (Grand Mesa Music)
- Ere the World Began to Be - Jack Stamp (Daehn Publications)
- Japanese Festival - Quincy Hilliard (Carl Fischer)
- Prominade and Great Gate of Kiev - Modest Mussorgsky, arranged by
  James Ployhar (Wynn Music)

Symphonic Band members should be seated in the music room, ready to warm-up, no later than 6:30 PM.

Our students have been working very hard to prepare this performance in a mere four weeks. Hope to see you there!

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Posted: October 1, 2005 | PermaLink

Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic Repertoire

We continue to be very excited about our participation as a demonstration group at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Gary Barton and I have selected what we believe to be outstanding repertoire for this session.

Grand and State Ballrooms
Palmer House
Chicago, Illinois
December 16, 2005, 11:00 AM

Symphonic Band
- Warmup Material: Superior Band in Sixteen Weeks - Quincy Hilliard (FJH Music Company, Inc.)
- Prepared Selection An Irish Rhapsody - Clare Grundman (Boosey & Hawkes)
- Sightreading Selection: Song for the Winter Moon - Walter Cummings (Grand Mesa Music)
- Prepared Selection: A Sailor’s Odyssey - David Bobrowitz (Grand Mesa Music

We are very grateful to FJH Music Company for providing 50 copies of Superior Band in Sixteen Weeks and to Grand Mesa Music for providing A Sailor’s Odyssey. We look forward to sharing these works with the Midwest Audience.

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