"Our community is distinguished by its award winning school band programs and we celebrate them in performance this Friday night at KSU. The Frankfort community is invited to hear the stirring music of the FCHS, WHHS and KSU Bands at Bradford Hall with a curtain at 7:30 p.m.," said Kalomo Bailey, Kentucky State University Director of Bands.

This event is part of the Frankfort Arts Foundation's season series Dinner & The Arts, Frankfort Arts & Community Engagement, Be involved in The Arts, Be involved in Life.

AT&T and Logan and Gaines are the corporate sponsors for this event.

Here's a look at each of the participating groups.

FCHS Band

Without a doubt, the Franklin County High School Band is actively involved in all aspects of the school, community and state. The students enthusiastically participate in a variety of seasonal performances.

"During the course of the school year, we will have about 30 different performances at football games, community parades and formal and informal concerts. We, occasionally, travel out of state to a band festival," said Ed Wasson, FCHS Director of Bands.

The band program at Franklin County High School includes 136 students in grades 9-12. The brass and woodwinds are divided into three different bands: The Wind Ensemble, The Symphonic Band and The Concert Band. Percussion members meet as a separate group.

The marching band is a combination of all groups with the percussion section.
FCHS also has a jazz ensemble, which features students playing saxophones, trumpets, trombones and rhythm instruments.

The bands will combine into one band for the performance on May 9. The students will perform Prelude in Fugue in D Minor by J. S. Bach; The King Across The Water, an Irish Folk Setting and Amazing Grace, arranged by Frank Techeli.

Wasson teaches four separate band classes during day, along with a jazz ensemble class. Students take this course as an additional class.

"It is a performance-driven curriculum. That's why we work on scale passages, etudes, technical facility, chorales and purposeful listening in order to better prepare ourselves as distinguished performers. That's why we do what we do," said Wasson.

"Also, Charles Weitkamp (Elkhorn Middle School Band director) prepares these kids in a tremendously successful manner. Without that preparation, we wouldn't have a band of significant size and proficiency. I cannot underestimate how significant he is to our band program."

Wasson is very proud that an above average percentage of FCHS band members go on and continue their studies in music with goals of becoming music teachers and professional performers.

"Our students excel in their instrumental studies in spite of the fact that they have very little outside assistance or private tutoring. The students are wonderful and they work really hard. They are a pleasure to teach.

"Also, I would like to say that our band booster organization has done a tremendous job of providing the excellent support that a band program needs in order to function. Donnie and Karen Brown, co-presidents, have been instrumental in organizing the rest of our fantastic boosters."

Wasson is retiring this year, having been the band director at Franklin County High School for 21 years. He taught 3 years at Henry Clay High School in Fayette County and eight years in Ohio County. He also taught in Texas.

Wasson is a graduate of the University of Kentucky where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees in music and the University of Illinois (Rank I). He has been a member of various professional organizations including the Kentucky Music Educators Association, Texas Music Education Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Music Educators National Conference, National Band Association, Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association and Phi Mu Alpha (National Music Fraternity).

WHHS Band

Since Western Hills High School was built in 1980, the arts have always been an important part of the cultural experience for the students. Both the band and choir programs have shown vitality and growth and have consistently received proficient and distinguished ratings as well as receiving many honors during their travels. There are 86 students in the band program.

Stephanie Wallace is the Director of Bands of the Western Hills High School Wolverine Band.

"The Western Hills band program prides itself on strength of musicianship, variety of ensembles offered and enabling the students who participate in it to have an enriched and fulfilling musical experience," Wallace said.

"The students involved in the band program are offered multiple outlets for which to express their musicianship and are encouraged to participate in musical endeavors both in and out of school. Students graduate from the Western Hills band program having had a fun, memorable band experience, with a lifetime of memories and friends.

"There are many ensembles and activities including concert ensemble, pep band, marching band (all students participate), jazz band (approximately 25 students), saxophone ensemble (14 students), clarinet ensemble (14 students), percussion ensemble (eight students), tuba/euphonium ensemble (eight students), majorettes (five students) and music theory class (eight students)," said Wallace.

The WHHS full band will perform Rikudim by Jan Van der Roost. This is a suite in four movements based on Jewish dances. The band will also play Loch Lomond, arranged by Frank Ticheli.

The WHHS Percussion Ensemble will play Lids by Ed Argenziano. The WHHS Tuba / Euphonium Ensemble will perform The Pink Panther arranged by Jay Krush. The WHHS Clarinet Ensemble will play a traditional polka, Clarinet Ensemble by Eric Osterling. The WHHS Saxophone Ensemble will play Yakety Sax, arranged by Larry Norred.

The WHHS Jazz Ensemble will play Hog-Squealin', Rip-Snortin', Belly-Achin' Blues by Michael Sweeny.

"This blues arrangement gives the jazz ensemble a chance to get "down and dirty' with an intense, demanding melody. It features Barbara Gooding on trumpet and Augie Phillips on alto saxophone," said Wallace.

During her 11 years of teaching, students have nominated Wallace numerous times for Who's Who Among American High School Teachers, Who's Who Among American Women and National Honor Roll's Outstanding American Teachers. She has been an All-Academic Teacher several times.

Wallace has served as an adjudicator for solos and ensembles, district and state level auditions and marching band competitions throughout the state. Her professional affiliations include past and present memberships in the International Association of Jazz Educators, Conductor's Guild, Kentucky Music Educator's Association, Music Educator's National Conference, Franklin County Education Association and Delta Omicron.

KSU Band

"The Kentucky State University Band Program serves as the most visible performance ambassadors for the KSU community. The band has performed and entertained the great Commonwealth of Kentucky for decades.

"Throughout its rich history, which began in 1910, the KSU Band has maintained a standard of performance excellence which is rooted within the principles of discipline, pride, respect and showmanship," said Bailey, Director of Kentucky State University Bands.

"The current band program is made up of several performance ensembles which cater from the connoisseurs of fine classical music to the individuals in love to the heart pounding rhythmic pageantry displayed during halftime," said Bailey.

The KSU Mighty Marching Thorobred Band represents the marching component of the program. The 150-member band performs at all home football games and several away games during the fall semester, selected parades and marching band festivals. The band has performed in several classics, including the St. Louis Gateway Classic in St. Louis, Missouri; Heritage Classic in Columbus, Ohio; and the Lexington Heritage Classic.

The Marching Band has participated in the Honda All Star Battle of the Bands and received a $1,000 scholarship. This past April, members of the Mighty Marching Thorobreds choreographed and conducted a dance routine which will be used by the Jefferson County Public Schools All-Star Band marching in the 2008 Kentucky Derby Parade.

"I was really excited to work with the Louisville students, they were excited to work and learn from Kentucky State," says senior Drum Major Ron Atkins.

The Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble are comprised of a top select group of music majors and non-majors. The Symphonic Band performs instrumental literature composed for large and small woodwind, brass, wind and percussion ensembles. The Symphonic Band has a broad repertoire including original works for wind band, as well as, transcriptions of works. The Wind Ensemble is the heart of the band program and continues a tradition of high-level performances.

The Frankfort Arts Foundation Award Winning Bands concert will feature members of the KSU Wind Ensemble. This ensemble includes 58 musicians. They will perform the following selections: Chester Overture by William Schumann, Childhood Hymn by David Holsinger, Tuba Concerto by Edward Gregson and Vientos y Tangos by Micheal Gandolfi.
"It is always a thrill to perform for the community in the Frankfort Arts Foundation's season series. The Foundation has provided KSU and Frankfort with a strong support system that is needed in the Arts community. I thank FAF for its continued support and success," said Bailey.

Bailey, Assistant Professor of Music, serves as the Director of the Kentucky State University Band Program. He directs the KSU Symphonic Band, Thorobred Spirit Pep Band and Mighty Marching Thorobred Band. He also teaches Conducting I, Conducting II and the Instrumental Methods classes.

Bailey is the faculty advisor for Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority and Collegiate Music Educators National Conference.

Performance
INFORMATION

Performances by our community's bands will be held 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 9, in Bradford Hall on the Kentucky State University campus.

FAF season tickets will be honored and general admission tickets for this performance cost $10/adult and $5/students and children. KSU students are admitted free. Children under 6 are admitted free. Tickets will be sold beginning at 6:30 in the foyer of Bradford Hall.

Call 330-2773, 875-4ART, or e-mail faf@dcr.net There will be continuous shuttle service picking up at 6:30 p.m. at Rite Aid in Franklin Square to KSU Bradford Hall and return.

Frankfort Arts Foundation season ticket holders receive 20 percent off event night meals in participating restaurants including Adelia's Bakery & Caf, Casa Fiesta, Graviss McDonald's of Frankfort and Versailles, Kentucky Coffeetree Caf, Kentucky State University (KSU) Dining, Longhorn Steakhouse, Miguel's, O'Charley's, Office Pub & Deli, Panera Bread, Pizza Inn, Shoney's, The Terrace at Capital Plaza Hotel and The Honey Baked Ham Company & Caf.

The mission of the Frankfort Arts Foundation is to promote cultural enrichment through artistic and educational endeavors.