Senior Highlights: Kaileigh Warren

Kaileigh Warren is one of two Drum Majors for the 2012-2013 school year.

My Experience in the SCHS Band
Kaileigh Warren

What made you decide to join the school band?
I have been playing clarinet since the 4th grade so when I came to high school I knew I wasn't ready to give it up.

St. Patrick's Day Parade 2013

What do you play in the band. Do you play any other instruments?
 I play clarinet and piano. 

What kind of music do you like (band music or other music). Do you ever play your instrument to music that isn’t necessarily meant for the band?
I like pop music, and I enjoy listening to classical music on occasion. I will play songs that are on the radio on my clarinet.

What do you plan to do after high school?

I plan on going to UD and majoring in pharmacy.

Will you continue playing your instrument? Where?  

Yes, I'm playing in the UD marching band.

Would you encourage other kids to be part of the school band?
Yes, band is the best family you can have in the school, youll meet so many people doing something you love.

What will you miss about the band?
What will I not miss is a better question. I'll miss everything. Band was amazing and so much fun.

What is your favorite memory about the band? 
Band camp. Every year band camp was just the best.

What would you like to see happen to improve the band.
I would like to see the band grow and have many more talented musicians come join.

Anything else you would like to say about your experience with the school band?
Thank you everyone.  You've made these last 4 years worth it. I'll miss everyone and everything. Thank you.

Kaileigh - First in first row.

Senior Highlights: Ashley Gillespie

My Experience in SCHS Band
Ashley Gillespie

Ashley - To right of Bass Drum

What made you decide to join the school band?
I joined band in the eleventh grade because of the director at the time, who had encouraged me to pick it back up, and I had many friends in the band at the time anyway, so I joined the family.

What do you play in the band. Do you play any other instruments?
I play the Clarinet. I play guitar (vaguely), fiddle on the piano, and I use my voice box.

What kind of music do you like (band music or other music). Do you ever play your instrument to music that isn’t necessarily meant for the band?
I love all types of music, all types of genres and such. I played Les Mis for fun once, just because it's my obsession.

Ashley - Second in First Row

What do you plan to do after high school?
I plan on becoming an actor, going to college, branching out.

Ashley is just coming into the picture.

Will you continue playing your instrument? Where?
I would like to, it all depends on what college I decide to go to.

Would you encourage other kids to be part of the school band?
Absolutely! It's one gigantic family, and definitely a rewarding experience during high school.

What will you miss about the band?
I think I will miss band itself the most.

Third from left.

What is your favorite memory about the band?
Jeez, there's so many memories in such a short time, but the memory I will always think about is the time at Band Camp 2011, when myself, Brittany, Kaileigh and Kourtney (the Clarinets) tried to fill up about 500 water balloons and we ended up getting kicked out of the school completely because somebody from the district had seen us 'roaming aimlessly'.



What would you like to see happen to improve the band.
I would love to see more younger students coming in and participating all four years. It would definitely build up the program and show people who might be afraid to join that it's okay, and that its tons and tons of fun.

Second from right.

Anything else you would like to say about your experience with the school band?
Marching band was one of the most exciting, fun, and rewarding experiences I had throughout my four years in high school. I will never forget all of the good tunes, the last minute cram-ins to learn drill and the music before the first performance, and the hours of laughter that Marching Band had brought me.

Senior Highlights: Wildo Mejia

 My Experience in SCHS Band

Wildo Mejia

Note:  Pictures will enlarge if you click on them.

Wildo - first person in back row

What made you decide to join the school band?

I joined the band because when I was a little kid I always thought the trumpet was a awesome instrument.  I guess that got my attention to join the band.

What do you play in the band. Do you play any other instruments?

In the band I play the trumpet, but over the years I have learned how to play the guitar and bass guitar, with a bit of drums.

 
What kind of music do you like (band music or other music). Do you ever play your instrument to music that isn’t necessarily meant for the band?

I like to listen to some Alternative Rock, Funk Rock and Christian music. I personally am looking for any given opportunity to perform, I also would perform at church.

What do you plan to do after high school?

I plan on going to college and work hard for a bachelors degree in architecture or in music.

Will you continue playing your instrument? Where?

I will always continue playing my instruments, I don't know where exactly, but I will always find a place to play, no matter what, music will always be right by my side.

What would you like to see happen to improve the band.

I would love to see more an more kids get interested in music and join the band.  I would want the band to grow.

 

Anything else you would like to say about your experience with the school band?

One of the best experiences of being in the band would be the time to perform, the feeling is like no other, just amazing!

 

Wildo - First on Left. 

Use of the Trumpet by Fine Young Cannibals

Here's a song for the trumpet players.

Remakes rarely do justice to the original, but in 1986, the band Fine Young Cannibals released an awesome remake of Elvis Presley's 1969 "Suspicious Minds".

Simple percussion, some good guitar picking, the trumpet, and the highly unusual voice of Roland Gift makes this song worth a listen.

Note:  The black and white shooting of the video, the shiny suits that appear during the bridge, and the colorizing of those suits toward the end of the song were done as a tribute to the late Elvis.

Incidentally, we didn't hear much from Roland Gift after Fine Young Cannibals.  Here is a single he released in 2009:

Keep an eye out for an interview with one of our own trumpet players.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade

The St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ocean City, MD was the last Marching Band event of the year.  The forecast called for a 50% chance of showers all morning.  We met at the school, loaded our equipment, and headed out at 9:00 in the capable bus driving hands of Miss Sharlene.

Arriving at the appointed time of 10:00, we had two hours before the start of the parade.  The students got snacks, and around 11:00 we dragged out the instruments and Mr. Greeson led the students in practice. 

A small amount of boredom set in, but the students found ways to pass the time.  A green dog created some interest, as it isn't every day you see a big green dog.  And there was the kid in the green spandex suit.  He was interesting as well.

At last we were given the signal to make our way onto the parade route behind the Ocean Pines Fire Trucks.  The route was packed with appreciative fans, all cheering on our behalf.  They especially like our Irish ballad,  "Star of the County Down".

The Band marched and played with pride, led by drum major  Kaileigh Warren and The Color Guard.

We finished up the route at the Convention Center with a mad rush to load the band trailer with the instruments.  By the time we got back to SCHS, we were one tired band. 

Thank you Cindi Susi and Breanna for contributing photos.  And thank you Lana Robb for retrieving the mallets.  You are the best.

Practice beforehand.

Practice beforehand.

One bored band student.

The drumline.

Woodwinds.

The Color Guard.

Lined up for final practice.

Jeff Robb and Ms. Snarsky

We had great weather.

On the route.

On the route.

On the route.

Rosemond Dorleans Receives Scholarship

This was reprinted directly from the Indian River District News.  This is quite an honor.  Rosemond plays the bass in our Marching Band.
 

Rosemond Dorleans Named National Scholar 

Rosemond Dorleans of Sussex Central High School received a National Horatio Alger Scholarship valued at $20,000, while Austin Roadarmel of Indian River High School was awarded a Delaware Horatio Alger Scholarship valued at $5,000. Dorleans was the only student from Delaware to be named a 2013 National Scholar.

The Horatio Alger Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to students who have exhibited integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity, and who aspire to pursue higher education. Each year, the Association awards more than 100 national scholarships of $20,000 each to high school seniors from across the United States. These winners are chosen from more than 40,000 applicants annually. Since its inception in 1984, the program has award nearly $90 million to more than 15,000 students nationwide.
Dorleans, who plans to attend MIT and study civil engineering, is the fifth Sussex Central student in the past 16 years to be named a national scholar. Other winners were Jonathan Gibson (1997), Michelle Brittingham Gutierrez (2002), Megan Seek (2005) and Cristie Happekotte (2007).

“Sussex Central High School was ecstatic to learn of Rosemond’s tremendous accomplishment,” Principal Jay Owens said. “He is very deserving of this honor. His conscientiousness and work ethic in the classroom are always apparent.”

Dorleans will attend the Horatio Alger National Scholars Conference in Washington, D.C. from April 1-7. At the event, he will meet the other 2013 National Scholars along with distinguished members of the Horatio Alger Association.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

The  St. Patrick's Day Parade  in Ocean City is scheduled for March 16.

There will be an evening rehearsal March 14, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  We have invited 8th graders and non-marching high school students to join us.

 

To see the Ocean City Parade Information site, click this link.


Details:

• We will meet at the school at 8:30 a.m., and depart by 9:00.
• If you have one of those big green hats, bring it, or anything else that suits the occasion.
• The band will be marching in their uniforms.   

Sussex County Band Performances

As we expected, the County Honors Bands performed spectacularly on Thursday evening.

Junior Band Guest Conductor:  Mr. Matt Fullerton

Senior Band Guest Conductor:  Patrick Hoffman, DMA

Junior Band Chair:  Mr. Christopher Reavis

Senior Band Chair:  Ms. Kayla O'Connor

Concert Host:  Mr. Mark Marvel

This quote from Plato, taken from the program, just about says it all:

“Education in music is most sovereign, because more than anything else rhythm and harmony find their way to the inmost soul and take strongest hold upon it, bringing with them and imparting grace, if one is rightly trained.”

We offer our sincere thanks to the students, parents, and educators for enriching our lives with music.

Mr. Reavis

Mr. Fullerton and the Junior Band

Mr. Marvel and the Senior Band

During the intermission, we were entertained by the Directors Jazz Ensemble, featuring the coolest rendition of "Sesame Street Theme" EVER.

Mr. Greeson and the Directors Jazz Ensemble