Variety show, Honors Band, raffle and bingo on the horizon

We are so glad to have this opportunity to update our community on the “happenings” in the Indian River High School Music Department. We depend on and appreciate your continued support.

Please mark your calendars and be sure to attend the IR Variety Show on Friday, March 16, or Saturday, March 17. The students are working very hard preparing for this event, and you can expect to see a multitude of talent from about 40 acts. Both performances begin at 6:30 p.m. but be sure to arrive early, as there are usually very large audiences for both shows.

Tickets cost $7 and are available at the door only. We hope to see even more community members attend, for a night of great entertainment and support to our local school.

The IR Music Department was well-represented at the Delaware All-State Senior Chorus Concert. Indian River had 14 students successfully audition for the Delaware All-State Choruses in November 2011. The festival was at Mount Pleasant High School for three days, Feb. 9-11, 2012, culminating with an incredible performance on Saturday evening.

The world-renowned guest conductor for the Women’s Chorus was Sun Min Lee from Rider University’s Westminster Choir College and, for the Mixed Chorus, the guest conductor was Dr. Steven Sametz of Lehigh University. The two ensembles combined for a 240-voice choir to sing a Kenyan praise song titled “Wana Baraka.”

Indian River All-State Women’s Chorus students were: Soprano 1 member Taylor Reeves and Alto 2 members Rachel Jackson, Hanna Hattier and Olivia Crass. Indian River All-State Mixed Chorus students were: Soprano 1 member Bethany Walter; Alto 2 members Paige Parker and Gwen Bunting; Tenor 1 members Sara Cramer and Katie Carpenter; Tenor 2 members Trey Williams (who placed first in the state in his section); Bass 1 members Kyle Marvel and Jake Butch; Bass 2 members Austin Roadarmel (who placed second in the state in his section) and Jung Son.

Schyler Adkins will be representing IRHS and performing with the Delaware All-State Band in Dover on March 10. He recently returned from his performance at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 12. Schyler has certainly had a memorable year after also marching in the Macy’s Great American Band Thanksgiving Day. We are proud to have him representing IRHS!

Another proud moment for the IRHS band members is to announce the following 34 students who successfully auditioned and will be performing in the Sussex County Honors Band on Thursday, March 1, at 7 p.m. at Cape Henlopen High School:

• Indian River High School Senior County Band (10th through 12th grades): Schyler Adkins, Brian Baull, Katie Bird, Ray Brown, Chris Chapdelaine, Hanna Hattier, Bradlee Hitch, Michaiah Hook, Rachel Jackson, Kristin Kneller, Taylor Littlefield, Kyle Marvel, Will McCabe, Natalie Nitz, Kelsey Oli, Jackie Pavik, Taylor Reeves, Jacob Rickards, Maggie Saylor, Richard Scrivani, Dylan Simpson, Ryan Staib, Rebecca Webb, Brandon Williams and Trey Williams.

• Indian River High School Junior County Band (ninth grade): Farris Hauck, Alison Jennings, Thomas Litchfield, Ciera Morris, Seung Son, Joshua Souder, Jewel Tomlinson, Kenly Velasquez and Phoebe Walls.

We congratulate all of the students and look forward to a great concert on March 1! Again: “IR Pride!”

Have you purchased your raffle tickets for the Puerto Rico Getaway Raffle for a seven-day/six-night stay in Isabela, Puerto Rico? This is an oceanfront condo (housing up to eight people) and includes a $250 shopping spree from Pineapple Princess Swim & Resortwear and a $200 Visa gift card. The raffle prize is valued at $1,450. Tickets cost $5 each or $10 for three, and are available from any IRHS Band Booster or by calling IRBB President Brian Baull at (302) 321-9020. The drawing will be held at our 4th Annual Bingo on March 30.

Speaking of bingo – you can now purchase your tickets for the 4th Annual Bingo Fundraiser featuring Longaberger, Vera Bradley and cash prizes for 20 games. We have one of the largest bingo events in the area and offer lots of door prizes, silent and ticket auctions, raffles and special bingo games.

Food will be available, including the famous pit beef sandwiches from the Mills family, so plan to bring your friends and enjoy dinner before the games. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and games begin at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20 in advance (from any booster) or $25 at the door. For more information, call (302) 732-3518.

Proceeds from the bingo are used to support the music department and to supplement the annual band trip which this year is to Boston, Mass., April 20-23. The band will be performing in an adjudicated concert being judged and critiqued by professional musicians (some college professors), usually from the Boston area.

The band is rated on a scale from Superior to Fair. Although not competing against other ensembles, they are competing against music standards that the judges are looking for. The band will also participate in a workshop with the judges after the performance.

The fun part of the trip will include seeing the Blue Man Group (Woohoo! I would love to see that!) and visiting Historic Salem. The students are looking forward to Boston.

On a final note, class scheduling for incoming freshman from Southern Delaware School of the Arts and Selbyville Middle School (current eighth-graders) will soon take place, and if anyone is having difficulty fitting band or chorus into their schedules, please feel free to contact (IR Band Director Mark Marvel.

I happen to know that it is possible to include band or chorus for all four years at IR and still meet or exceed the requirements for any college path/major. Many parents seem to think the “music pathway” at IR is only for those students planning to be music majors, and that is so untrue. We currently have 109 musicians in the band and the vast majority of them are not going to be music majors when they leave IR.

Inclusion of the music program at IR is an important part of the “well-rounded applicants” colleges are looking for and a positive addition to any scholarship application. Please feel free to contact Mark Marvel with any questions, at the school at (302) 732-1500.

Ruth Ann Marvel is the publicity chairperson for the IRHS Band Boosters.