By Anna Matson, staff writer
Kenosha Unified School District’s (KUSD) 59th annual Band-O-Rama took place at Indian Trail High School and Academy (ITHSA) on Saturday, Jan. 30, and Sunday, Jan. 31.
This year’s guest conductor was Quincy Hilliard, composer-in-residence and the Hey- mann Endowed Professor of Music at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL).
“I was impressed by the attendance of the parents. It looked like there wasn’t a spot left for anybody, which was very rewarding,” said Hilliard.
This event showcases KUSD’s bands through grade 5 to grade twelve, over 1,800 students.
“I’ve never done anything this size so it was quite exhilarating to see it all come together and go ‘oh my god, they’re all playing together’,” said Hilliard.
An event of this size does not happen overnight or without help of the whole community. “We start planning all this pretty heavily in October for a concert that happens at the end of January,” said Scott Plank, the coordinator of fine arts and master of ceremonies for this event.
Plank stated that with all of the band directors, warehouse operators, custodial staff here at Indian Trail, lots of different administrators, sound technicians, communications department, and printers to do all of the posters and programs the amount of people involved is close to a hundred people.
Many students had spent a lot of time preparing for this concert since the music chosen is at a high level.
“I try to practice an hour or two everyday to fully prepare my parts,” said senior bassoonist Emilia Jackson.
ITHSA had two students recruited to go to ULL, senior trumpeter Jason Svendsen and junior trombonist Eric Funderburgh. While Svendsen
ready been accepted to the school Funderburgh has to still audition, but they both are encouraged to come to the campus.
“I’m interested in ULL because I used to live in the area,” Svendsen said, “I have a lot of friends there. The area is really nice and they have my major: music education.” He decided on that major since he had class with ITHSA’s band director, Kenneth Wiele. Svendsen wants to love his job as much as Wiele does.
ITHSA’s band program left an impact on the guest conductor; Hilliard said he could tell the kids enjoy being in band, obviously love their director, and that Wiele is an awesome teacher.
“You seem like hard working kids and that’s what I will remember about you.”