Band Rehearsals Begin July 23, Growing ALHS Group Plans Busy Year

Sure it might seem like the dead of summer, but for the Avon Lake High School band, the new school year begins next week. 

To get the marching band ready for their first performances of the school year, music rehearsals begin next Tuesday, July 23 at 1 p.m. in the Avon Lake High School Band Room. Plenty of upcoming events are also scheduled. 

Band director David Eddleman said marching band is growing.

"It is good to see the marching band grow every year for each of the past several years,” Eddleman said. “The marching band is so much more than performing on Friday nights on the football field. Students are learning lessons in life including respect, teamwork, responsibility, leadership and creative problem solving."

Eddleman said he is impressed by the enthusiasm and teamwork shown by band members, despite the age differences represented by four grades.

“Even though we have all four grade levels of students, and with that comes many levels of musicianship, each of our band members makes an important contribution to the success of our performances,” he said. “We're a bit different than a sports team; every member of the band is a first string player, so they're all in the game all of the time."

The 2013-14 drum major is senior Kellen Henry. Kellen was drum major last year too and he plays the saxophone in the Symphonic Band. The senior field commander is Riley Jantz, who is also a saxophone player in Symphonic Band, and the junior field commander is Nicole Ziemba, a flute player in the Symphonic Band.

The band’s activites extend beyond the field.

Members are preparing a contest show this year titled "Birdland." The show includes "Birdland" as performed by the jazz fusion band Weather Report, Blackbird by the Beatles, When Doves Cry by Prince, and Freebird, the 1970s rock anthem by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

In the past, the marching band has performed in Ohio State University’s stadium, Cleveland Browns Stadium and in the Champs Bowl (Citrus Bowl) in Orlando. The band has made it to OMEA state finals four times.

The Avon Lake Marching Band has been a stepping stone for numerous students after high school.

"If you asked me today how many of our students are currently playing in a college band, I would have to say nearly too many to name,” Eddleman said. “We have Ryan Flynn (2010) who is drum major this year for the BGSU Falcons Marching Band, for example. Our students go on to make significant contributions in college music programs and assume leadership roles. This is gratifying since one of our goals at ALHS is to create in our students a lifelong desire to participate in and patronize quality music."

And of course, several Shoremen have been drum majors at Ohio State.

"If we are fortunate enough, we will see three of our former ALHS Marching Band drum majors who also were drum majors for the OSU Marching Band, appear with the Buckeye All-Star Band on Aug. 3 at our Shoremen Brass Classic,” Eddleman said. “The all-star band is conducted by OSU Marching Band Director Jonathan Waters. The drum majors are Scott Sommer, Eric Sommer, and Jason Stuckert. This is such a cool relationship that we have with the OSU band program."

The band's summer calendar can be found at http://www.avonlakecityschools.org/highschool/band/calendar. The ALHS Band Director, DavidEddleman, can be reached at 440-933-6290, extension 1503 or david.eddleman@avonlakecityschools.org.

 Band-A-Rama, Shoremen Brass Classic (DCI)        

The Avon Lake Band will sponsor several exciting events this summer and fall, including the 2nd Annual Shoremen Brass Classic (Drum Corps International) on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. in the ALHS Memorial Stadium. Information and tickets can be found at www.shoremenbrassclassic.com. The band performs a free "preview" on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 7:30 PM in the ALHS Memorial Stadium.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate for the 49th Annual Avon Lake Band-A-Rama featuring nine area marching bands on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.