Our music department has had a busy start to the second semester. Over half of our high school band and choir members will be representing Mogadore at the Ohio Music Education Association’s Solo and Ensemble competition at Springfield High School in January.

In addition, our High School Concert Band and Choir are preparing for their performances at the OMEA District Large Group Adjudicated Event in early March.

At O.H. Somers, our elementary band members are continuing to work on increasing their level of mastery on their instruments and our fourth graders are gearing up for their “Link Up: The Orchestra Sings” concert in March.

I am so proud of all of the instrumentalists in our district! Keep working hard and representing Mogadore so well! Go Wildcats!!

-Stephanie Bonitz, Director of Bands

The Mogadore Music Boosters will be having their monthly meeting Thursday, February 13 2020 at 7:00 PM in the MHS Community Room.

We will be discussing some of our upcoming events and volunteer opportunities! If you are music department parent of students in grades 5-12 and would like to get involved, please let us know!

See you there!

The Music Boosters have set up a remind account for parents to get some more assistance for our events, chaperoning, and volunteer activities. This group is open to any music department parent in grades 5-12! Normal text messaging rates may apply.

We are still in need of some assistance for our Basketball Concessions for the 2020 season. As a reminder, your parent assistance earns you trip credit for our future (2021) trips!

Are still in need of volunteers for the following games (set up may be a bit earlier than start times listed):

Wednesday, February 12th 7:00 PM- Girls Basketball

Saturday, February 15th 1:00 PM-Girls Basketball

Tuesday, February 18th 7:00 PM- Boys Basketball

A big shout out to Mr. Knapp who supplied our Pep Band with food for our first February pep game! Thank you to all of the volunteers who made it out and thank you, Mr. Knapp!

The High School Band students had a fantastic showing at this year's Solo and Ensemble Competition held at Springfield High School Saturday, January 25. Keep up the great work and way to represent!

Superior Rating:

Mogadore Brass Quartet- Class C- Coral Carnes, Chrystaline Curry, Zoe Gaetjens, Anora Willison

Mogadore Saxophone Quartet- Nikko Baird, Chip DeWolf, Brendan Ebner, Gabe Funk

Nathan Archibald- Alto Saxophone Solo, Class C

Andrew Cahill- Snare Solo, Class B

Gabe Funk-Alto Saxophone Solo, Class A

Kesa Lowe-Flute Solo, Class B

Ethan Steele-Trombone Solo, Class B

Excellent Rating:

Mogadore Saxophone Trio- Nathan Archibald, Eleanor Foltz, Landon Wicks

Nathan Bennett- Snare Drum Solo, Class C

Jonathan Cumberlidge- Bb Clarinet Solo, Class C

Chrystaline Curry- Trombone Solo, Class C

Andrew DeWolf-Tenor Saxophone Solo, Class B

Zoe Gaetjens- Trumpet Solo, Class C

Congratulations to Nathan Archibald, Zoe Gaetjens, and Ethan Steele for their fantastic job representing Mogadore at the Kent State All-Star Band Concert in January. Both ensembles performed fantastically! Bravo!

Upcoming Pep Band Events:

Tuesday, February 11

Mogadore vs. Waterloo

Report time: 6:00 PM

Saturday, February 15

Mogadore vs. Windham

Report time: 6:00 PM

Tuesday, February 18

Mogadore vs. Ravenna

Report time: 6:00 PM

Friday, February 21

Mogadore vs. Lake Center Christian

Report time: 6:00 PM

Our High School Band (Grades 8-12) and High School Choir students will be participating in the Ohio Music Education Association Large Group Contest on March 6 or March 7, 2020. The event locations and dates are still to be determined but could possibly be at either Nordonia, Firestone, Cuyahoga Falls, or Medina, to be announced in coming weeks. We will be using this competition to gain feedback on how we can continue improving and creating even better musical experiences! We will email out the specific dates and times for the event as we get closer!

Students in grades 7 and 8 are now eligible to participate in the Ohio Music Education Association’s Junior High Solo and Ensemble event held at Stanton Middle School in Kent on Saturday, April 18, 2020. Solo and Ensemble provides band students the opportunity to work beyond what we do in the classroom by preparing select pieces of music. Students participating are judged based on their performance of the piece.

In short, students are competing against themselves to perform to their highest potential. I encourage all students to participate if interested because the process truly enhances their performance ability and musicianship in a very short period of time. In addition, it has a lot of non-musical benefits such as self-regulation, working towards a goal, and public performance.

Students have already started lessons for this event, if you are interested in your student participating--please contact Mrs. Bonitz!

Tuesday, February 11- Pep Band- Report time 6:00 PM

Saturday, February 15- Pep Band- Report time 6:00 PM

Tuesday, February 18- Pep Band-Report time 6:00 PM

Friday, February 21- Pep Band-Report time 6:00 PM

Sunday, March 1- HS Band and Choir Pre-Contest Concert, MHS Commons- Report time 1:15 PM; Performance 2:00 PM

Saturday, March 7- OMEA Large Group Contest- Site TBA

As we get into the next semester, students will need a copy of the Standard of Excellence Book 1 by Bruce Pearson for their in class work. If your student does not have a copy of this book, books can be obtained at Taylor Band and Orchestra.

Fifth Grade Band Members will resume their section schedule through the month of February:

Monday- Woodwinds, Percussion

Wednesdays- Brass, Percussion

Friday- Full Band

In March we will begin full rehearsals Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays in preparation for our spring concert in May!

This school year, Mogadore’s fourth grade students have been participating in a new program entitled Link Up - The Orchestra Sings with the Akron Symphony. The symphony is one of more than 90 national and international organizations selected to participate in this program in partnership with Carnegie Hall. The program pairs orchestras with local schools in the community. While participating in the program, our students have learned about different orchestral repertoire and additionally, learned a variety of songs to be performed with this music. This collaboration will culminate in our fourth grade students performing at the Akron Civic Theatre on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 11:15 AM. This concert will provide students the opportunity to sing and play the recorder along with the Akron Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Assistant Conductor, Eric Benjamin.

Informational letters were sent home with students. Please complete the permission form for your student’s attendance and send it back to school! If you need an additional, please contact Mrs. Bonitz

Email: mo_bonitz@mogadore.net
Website: https://mogadoremusic.webstarts.com
Location: 130 South Cleveland Avenue, Mogadore, OH, USA
Phone: (330) 628-9943
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mogadore.bandboosters
Twitter: @mogadorebands