MasonBuzz.com

The Mason High School Marching Band takes the field Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Bands of America Grand National Championships at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, Ohio. Provided photo

The Mason Marching Band was awarded the prestigious Sudler Shield award for outstanding band programs in a special awards ceremony and concert Tuesday evening.

The international award, administered by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation, recognizes high school and youth marching bands worldwide that demonstrate excellence in musical performance, execution, choreography and show design.

The Mason Marching Band finished tenth in the nation and was the top-placing Ohio band at Bands of America in November, 2011. Provided photo

“This international award is the highest honor a marching band program can receive,” said Mason band director Robert Bass.

• Mason band voted top Masonbuzz story of the year
• Mason band finishes tenth in nation at BOA
• Photos: Mason High School Marching Band

Sudler Shield Chairman W. Dale Warren, of the University of Arkansas, was special guest conductor and presenter of the award. Members of the marching band and the Mason Wind Symphony Orchestra performed.

The award was the latest accolade for the esteemed band, which finished tenth in the nation and was the top-placing Ohio band at the Bands of America Grand National finals held last fall in Indianapolis.

Ninety-two bands from across the nation competed Nov. 10-12, 2011, at Lucas Oil Field in what is considered to be the “Super Bowl” of competitions for high school marching bands.

“Everything we worked towards for four years came down to that moment,” said senior Paige Pfennig, a percussionist. “It was a perfect way to end my senior year of marching band.”

The national competition began with preliminary rounds Nov. 10-11, with the top 33 teams advancing to the semi-final competition on Nov. 12. Of the 33 semi-finalists, 12 bands earned the chance to perform in finals.

It was Mason’s first time making the cut.

“It’s the Mecca of the marching band world to get to finals,” said band booster Diane Pfennig. “Last year we were tenths of a point away from making finals. This year we really wanted to crack that top 12.”

Breaking through required months of dedication from the 260-member band, said band director Micah Ewing – and an army of parent-volunteers who built props, sewed uniforms and flags and ferried students to and from band practices.

“The kids are very hardworking and make a lot of sacrifices,” said Ewing. ” This show would not have been possible without our parents – their ingenuity and artisanship was amazing.”

Mason High School Marching Band drum majors (l-r) Andrew Swartz, Stuart Bowman, Dustin Goes and Jennifer Eidemiller show off the band's semi-finalist award Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Bands of America Grand National Championships at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, Ohio. Ninety-two bands performed in the national competition. Mason was one of 12 bands selected to compete in the Grand National finals. They finished in 10th place overall. Provided photo

School is barely out of session when band members begin the season with a weeklong mini-band camp session in June. In August, they attend a two-week band camp, followed by after-school practices four days a week, Friday night football game performances and Saturday competitions.

“It’s a tough lifestyle, but it’s really rewarding in the end,” said junior Mark O’Connor, who plays baritone.

The band’s arrangement, “A Winter Solstice,” proved to be a technically-challenging number for many members, said Ewing. It included the piece, “Winter” from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.”

“The show was very upbeat, kind of like that feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and there’s six inches of snow on the ground and everything is bright and white and you’re happy to get the call that school is cancelled,” he said.

Before that, the band placed top in their class at the Mid-States Band Association championship and was one of two bands selected to participate in The Best of the Midwest concert at New York City’s Carnegie Hall last year.

Mason’s Wind Symphony Orchestra received the Sudler Flag of Honor in 2008. Mason is now just one of 14 bands across the world and the only Ohio band to boast the honor of having received both the Sudler Flag and Shield, according to Bass.

To be eligible for the Sudler Shield, bands must submit a DVD of a performance from the current season, a résumé or fact sheet about the program and the band director must have served as director for the past five years.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: a winter solstice, award, awards ceremony, bands of america, diane pfennig, finalist, indianapolis, john phillip sousa foundation, marching band, mark o'connor, mason high school, mason wind symphony orchestra, micah ewing, mid-states band association, robert bass, sudler flag, sudler shield, the best of the midwest, university of arkansas, w. dale warren, william mason high school marching band

Joshua Vonderhaar, a Mason High School junior who plays trombone, has been selected for Music for All's National Honor Band. Photo provided

A Mason High School junior is among 100 musicians from across the nation selected to perform in Music for All’s National Honor Band of America.

Joshua Vonderhaar, who began playing trombone in the sixth grade, beat out hundreds of applicants from across the nation for membership in the prestigious national marching band.

As part of the ensemble, Vonderhaar has the opportunity to work under professional directors, take instrumental classes with renowned musicians, perform in the Honor Band of America concert and be eligible for a college scholarship.

He will also march in the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, Calif. in January.

Vonderhaar credits Mason High School band directors Robert Bass and Avious Jackson for helping him prepare for the competitive audition.

“I am so appreciative to Mr. Jackson and Mr. Bass for their guidance and support. They encouraged me to step outside and challenge myself, and I’m grateful that Mason allows our band program to flourish,” he said.

He is the son of Joseph and Thomasine Vonderhaar.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: anvious jackson, josh vonderhaar, joshua vonderhaar, mason high school, music for all, national honor band of america, pasadena, robert bass, tournament of roses parade

The William Mason High School Marching Band, shown here performing at the Bands of America Grand National Finals in November, has been named the recipient of the 2011 Sudler Shield. Photo provided

The Mason Marching Band has been awarded the prestigious Sudler Shield award for outstanding band programs.

The international award, administered by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation, recognizes high school and youth marching bands worldwide that demonstrate excellence in musical performance, execution, choreography and show design.

“This international award is the highest honor a marching band program can receive,” said Mason band director Robert Bass.

• Photos: Mason Marching Band performances

The band will be formally recognized at an awards ceremony and concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 22 at Mason High School.

Sudler Shield Chairman W. Dale Warren, of the University of Arkansas, will serve as special guest conductor and presenter of the award.  Members of the marching band and the Mason Wind Symphony Orchestra will perform.

The award is the latest accolade for the esteemed band, which finished tenth in the nation and was the top-placing Ohio band at the Bands of America Grand National finals held last fall in Indianapolis. 

Before that, the band placed top in their class at the Mid-States Band Association championship and was one of two bands selected to participate in The Best of the Midwest concert at New York City’s Carnegie Hall last year.

Mason’s Wind Symphony Orchestra received the Sudler Flag of Honor in 2008, becoming the first Ohio band to win the award.  Mason is now just one of 14 bands across the world and the only Ohio band to boast the honor of having received both the Sudler Flag and Shield, according to Bass.

To be eligible for the Sudler Shield, bands must submit a DVD of a performance from the current season, a resume or fact sheet about the program and the band director must have served as director for the past five years.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: marching band, mason high school, mason wind symphony orchestra, robert bass, sudler shield, william mason high school marching band

When Mason High School band director Robert Bass attended a college band’s performance at New York City’s Carnegie Hall four years ago, he knew he wanted his students to share the opportunity.

“I said, ‘Wow, this is a fantastic place.’ It just felt great. I thought it would be wonderful to have our kids there,” said Bass.

On Friday, Mason’s wind symphony and symphonic bands will have the chance to perform on one of music’s most grand stages.

The 124 performers in Mason’s bands will join an Illinois high school band to perform “The Best of the Midwest” at 8 p.m. The bands will be the feature performers in an evening show, a time that is usually set aside for college and professional bands.

• See photos of the band in rehearsal

An audience of at least 1,500 is expected, including about 350 family members and friends of Mason band members who are making the trip.

“We have a talented band, motivated directors and parents who wanted to make it happen,” said Diane Pfennig, president of the Mason Band Boosters. “We were really fortunate we have all those pieces coming together.”

But putting those pieces together took a concerted effort, trip organizers said. The band was selected to perform at Carnegie Hall last year, but Bass concluded that the costs would be too prohibitive for most band families.

Later, Bass met the band director of the John Hersey High School band, the Arlington Heights, Ill., band performing with Mason, and the two directors worked together to split costs.

The bands’ trip is entirely self-financed, said Bass. Students sold discount cards to local restaurants and supporters solicited donations for a scholarship fund, which will cover costs for at least six students who would otherwise be unable to afford the nearly $1,000 per student price tag.

Nationally renowned recognition is nothing new for Mason’s bands. In 2009, the John Phillip Sousa Foundation awarded its prestigious Sudler Flag of Honor to Mason’s marching band.

The wind symphony and symphonic bands regularly receive superior ratings at the district and state levels from the Ohio Music Education Association and have participated in national events like the National Concert Band Festival and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic.

Band members have been putting in 10-15 hours a week in personal and group rehearsals the past several months in preparation.

“I’ve played at Music Hall before,” said Chris Rueda, a junior clarinetist, who also plays with the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra. “Now multiply that by a thousand.”

The students will perform eight pieces, three by the symphonic band and five by the wind symphony band.

The symphonic band will perform Frank Ticheli’s “Fortress,” Larry D. Dahn’s “As Summer Was Just Beginning” and Claude T. Smith’s “Concert Variations.”

The wind symphony will perform Ron Nelson’s “Rocky Point Holiday,” Eric Whitacre’s “The Seal Lullaby,” Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Forza Del Destino Overture,” H. Owen Reed’s “La Fiesta Mexicana” and “3. Carnival” and John Astacio’s “Frenergy.”

On the trip, the students will also take a bite of the Big Apple, with a multi-cultural food tour and visits to popular tourist sites. They will also see a performance of “Wicked” on Broadway.

“It’s going to be the field trip of a lifetime,” said Herron Rueda, a band booster and parent chaperone.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: arts and music, band, carnegie hall, comets, john hersey high school, mason high school, new york city, robert bass, symphonic band, wind symphony band