VOL. XVII, NO. 3
OCTOBER 24, 1975
Summer Band Wins Trophy
At State Fair
At State Fair
Maine West's summer band bolstered its already fine statewide reputation by winning the Best of Class trophy at the State Fair in Springfield this August.
The competition involved a week of playing by bands from all over the state. Each band was judged on its technical playing ability and the audience appeal of its half‑hour performance. The band was then compared with other groups in the contest and rated accordingly.
On the program for Maine West was a medley of "Jazz Me Blues," "Ballin' the Jack," and "Original Dixieland Onestep" called "Original Dixieland Concerto" by John Warrington featuring the Maine West Dixie group with Bill Kopp '77 on trombone, Bill Lindberg '77 on tenor sax, Dave Geist '77 on trumpet, Mark Shekerjian '76 on clarinet, Mike Maday '77 on the tuba, and Arvid Casler '76 on percussion.
Also featured was "Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Phillip Sousa, with piccolo soloists Beth McCarthy '76 and Jean Shillmoeller '76.
Other numbers on the program included "Monterey March" by Karl King; "A Welsh Rhapsody," an arrangement of Welsh folk tunes by Clare Grudman; "Lassus Trombone" by Henry Fillmore; "Overture in B Flat," an arrangement for symphonic band by Victor Giovanni; and "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," a well‑known spiritual number.
The competition involved a week of playing by bands from all over the state. Each band was judged on its technical playing ability and the audience appeal of its half‑hour performance. The band was then compared with other groups in the contest and rated accordingly.
On the program for Maine West was a medley of "Jazz Me Blues," "Ballin' the Jack," and "Original Dixieland Onestep" called "Original Dixieland Concerto" by John Warrington featuring the Maine West Dixie group with Bill Kopp '77 on trombone, Bill Lindberg '77 on tenor sax, Dave Geist '77 on trumpet, Mark Shekerjian '76 on clarinet, Mike Maday '77 on the tuba, and Arvid Casler '76 on percussion.
Also featured was "Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Phillip Sousa, with piccolo soloists Beth McCarthy '76 and Jean Shillmoeller '76.
Other numbers on the program included "Monterey March" by Karl King; "A Welsh Rhapsody," an arrangement of Welsh folk tunes by Clare Grudman; "Lassus Trombone" by Henry Fillmore; "Overture in B Flat," an arrangement for symphonic band by Victor Giovanni; and "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," a well‑known spiritual number.
The director of the summer band, Mr. Paul Magnusson, was very proud of the way the band performed in the contest. "I was extremely pleased with the summer band's performance," he said. "This particular competition involves bands from all over the state, and our band represented our city and school with the very best musical standard of excellence."
Mr. Magnusson, who has just received his master's degree from Northwestern University, is in his fourth year at Maine West, during which time the band has won the Best of Class trophy twice.
Drum major Tom Fischer '76 thought the band deserved the award. "The band deserved it because they worked hard all summer, and this work showed in their performance." Tom, in his fourth year as a member of Concert Band, is now drum major of the Marching Band and musical director of the Concert Band.
The summer band, made up of students from the Beginning, Intermediate, Cadet, and Concert Bands, was both surprised and pleased when they found out about the award. As Tom put it, "We were glad to hear that we won it and that our long hours of practice paid off."
Mr. Magnusson, who has just received his master's degree from Northwestern University, is in his fourth year at Maine West, during which time the band has won the Best of Class trophy twice.
Drum major Tom Fischer '76 thought the band deserved the award. "The band deserved it because they worked hard all summer, and this work showed in their performance." Tom, in his fourth year as a member of Concert Band, is now drum major of the Marching Band and musical director of the Concert Band.
The summer band, made up of students from the Beginning, Intermediate, Cadet, and Concert Bands, was both surprised and pleased when they found out about the award. As Tom put it, "We were glad to hear that we won it and that our long hours of practice paid off."
