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Thirteen chosen for Centennial Band
Tahlequah High School Band Director Harvey Price is beginning to sound like a broken record.
“I know we keep saying ‘trip of a lifetime,’” said Price. “But this is the opportunity of a lifetime for these students.”
Price is referring to the fact that nine members of the THS Orange Express have been selected to participate in Oklahoma’s Centennial Band, which includes a trip to the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., in January 2007. Four alternates were also selected from Tahlequah.
Oklahoma’s All-Star Centennial Band was created by the Oklahoma Centennial Commission to provide high school musicians with an opportunity to not only serve as musical ambassadors for the state of Oklahoma, as it celebrates its centennial in 2007, but to also experience a musical educational experience of the highest standard.
According to Charles Jones II, producer of the project, after successfully completing the competitive audition process, those selected will have all of their expenses paid as they learn, grow and entertain hundreds of thousands of individuals during their tenure.
“The band consists of 150 members,” said Price. “Over 500 students statewide competed for slots, 21 from THS. To have nine selected and four alternates was fantastic. We couldn’t be more pleased.”
Price said alternates will be notified by mid-June as to whether a member has declined to participate.
THS students tapped for the band include Marc Wade and Blanche Sumner, snare drum; Brian Tschirhart and Evan Everett, bass drum; Anderson Daniel, mellophone (French horn); Tabitha Jackson, clarinet; Eric Warren, tenor drums; and Jordan Anderson and Daniel Dew, trumpet.
Alternates include Barak Tschirhart, mellophone; Emily Mitchell, flute; and Michael Jones and Dayne Dodson, tuba.
Auditions began in the spring, and rehearsals will follow later this summer, with a camp at the University of Oklahoma, July 24-28. Performances will be in fall 2006 and run throughout Oklahoma’s centennial year, 2007.
Blanche, a sophomore, wanted to try out for the elite band for a number of reasons.
“I figured it would be a great experience, and it would get my name out there,” she said. “After all, [the centennial] only happens every 100 years.”
Blanche’s future plans include attending college to become a music education major – thanks, in part, to band director Josh Allen.
“I plan on attending the University of Arkansas after graduation,” she said. “Mr. Allen helped me decide. He told me there are not enough teachers with a percussion background, and many times students just learn by doing. I figured I’d go out there and save them - teach them how to play percussion!”
Being part of the Oklahoma All-Star Centennial Band is proving beneficial in helping pay for members’ college, as well.
Dr. Jeff Bright, director of bands for Northeastern State University, recently announced the school would offer scholarship funds to any student who makes Oklahoma’s All-Star Centennial Band.
“Any student in the All-Star Band who attends Northeastern State will receive $500 per semester or $1,000 per year, provided they are accepted into our university,” said Bright. “And there would be the possibility that the amount could be increased, based on talent and need.”
NSU joins other universities in Oklahoma in providing financial incentives to the outstanding young musicians who will be part of the Centennial All-Star Band experience. Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford is offering a minimum of $500 per semester for band members; Southern Nazarene University in Bethany is offering $1,000 per academic year.
Marc Wade, also a THS sophomore percussionist chosen for the band, feels the direction of the staff helps prepare THS Orange Express students for success.
“We have an exceptional band here,” he said. “Other bands don’t really go to the competitions like we do. Mr. Price is always making calls and encourages us to participate competitively.”
Marc wasn’t deterred by the stiff competition, as not many percussionists participated in the tryout location he chose. Organizers held three separate tryouts in various places across the state.
“Surprisingly, we didn’t have that many tryout where I did,” he said. “I did get kind of nervous, though. The judges asked me to play a cadence and a bunch of rudiments I hadn’t done since marching season. But I made it.”
Paul Holman, president of the Tournament of Roses Parade, announced the Sstate of Oklahoma will be represented in the 2007 Tournament of Roses Parade with two floats and the 150-member All-Star Centennial Band. Plans are for the band to participate in the opening ceremonies, and it will be the first marching band to lead the parade on New Year’s Day.
Blanche was going to attend the parade last year with a relative, but plans fell through.
“I think it will be cool because, on New Year’s Day, you’ll turn on the TV and [the parade] will be what’s showing,” she said.
Price will attend all events of the All-Star Centennial Band, serving in a number of capacities.
“I’ll be working as a chaperone and assistant director of some sort,” said Price. “Of course, the highlight will be the Rose Parade, but we will have a number of other opportunities to perform throughout the year.”
According to Price, all members of the band will receive a uniform and new Yamaha instruments to play during their tenure, all of which are being funded by the state centennial commission.
On the Net
To learn more about Oklahoma’s Centennial, the All-Star Centennial Band and the commission created to celebrate Oklahoma’s first 100 years, go to www.OklahomaCentennial.com.
