WHS marching band earns second superior rating

The Wilmington High School marching band performed at their final Local Contest sanctioned by the Ohio Music Education Association at Bloom-Carroll High School Saturday.

WHS Marching Band to head to State Finals

“Each week you get closer to state, the standard gets higher. We use these adjudicated events to help the students find what it takes to be their best, our goal will be to keep a superior rating for the rest of the season. Qualifying early in the season is verification of the students’ commitment to excellence in performance,” said Matthew Spradlin.

The Wilmington High School Marching Band has qualified for the Ohio Music Education Association State Marching Band Finals.

The Marching Band participated in their first seasonal contest at Logan Elm High School on Sept. 20. The band performed their 2008 Show, “A Day in New York City,” for a packed stadium and a panel of 10 judges.

The judges scored them in areas of music, visual performance, visual effect, general effect, percussion and guard. The scores are averaged together to compile the final ratings. Bands that receive a final rating of a “I,” or superior, qualifies them to perform on the state level in late October. The band has two more local contests before state.

The Wilmington High School Wind Ensemble performed May 4 at Bellefontaine High School in the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) State Contest.

The ensemble was awarded the privilege to perform on the state level after receiving a Superior rating at the District contest in March. The wind ensemble performed for three judges on their stage performance and another judge for their sight-reading performance. The final rating for the group was another superior rating. OMEA offers the adjudicated events opportunities to help students and directors further their musical development.

The students and directors receive written and taped comments on their performance. One of the most impressive comments they received was in sight-reading. The adjudicator said, "Once in every five years you get a group that you just know will do an excellent job by their character when they come in the room, and the way they conduct themselves. I knew it was going to be good, but I had no idea it was going to be this great ... thank you for playing, it was inspiring."

Matthew Spradlin, WHS director of bands, said, "This is truly one of my proudest moments for the students, I couldn't be happier to share in their success. These students are continually striving to give the highest-quality performances." The ensemble is an audition group that meets as a class at WHS comprising of the finest instrumental musicians in the high school. The next concert will be shared with the high school symphonic band at 8 p.m. Thursday in the high school auditeria.

The concert will be part of the annual Wilmington City School's Fine Arts Fair.

from the "Wilmington News Journal" May 11, 2007

The Wilmington High School Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble performed at the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) District 13 Contest on March 9 hosted by Madison High School near Middletown. Each band performed three selections of music. One of the pieces had to be chosen from a list of music published by OMEA.

Four judges give the bands a rating of 1-5, with 1 as the top rating. The students and directors receive written and recorded comments about the performance.

The symphonic band received an overall rating of 2 - "Excellent" and the wind ensemble received a 1 - "Superior" rating from each of the four judges, which qualifies them to perform at the state concert held the first weekend of May.

This is the wind ensemble's fourth consecutive appearance at the state contest. They received many accolades from the judges, one of whom said ..."one of the finest performances of the evening."

Wilmington News Journal   -  Thursday, April 5, 2007