The Miami Trace band programs have been growing more active in the community by not only providing the students with a great deal of unique and valuable experiences, but also giving back to the supporters through music.
Recently, jazz ensemble band members performed for the residents of Courthouse Manor and Miami Trace Elementary School students. These “run-out” concerts are very important to the new philosophy of the Miami Trace Band Department and they will continue to grow this new presence within the community.
The students also worked with professor Jim Masters on Jan. 25. Masters currently is on the faculty of The Ohio State University as jazz trombone instructor and lecturer, a position he has been in for 13 years and taught for two years as vocal jazz instructor at Capital University. He spends his free time performing with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, and has performed and toured the US and Japan with the Buddy Rich Band and the Widespread Jazz Orchestra, and with the bands of Tito Puente, Mel Lewis, Clem DeRosa, Dave and Ralph Lalama, Roy Gerson, Lew Anderson, and John Fedchock/Maria Schneider. This was a unique experience for the students to have such an experienced and knowledgeable living jazz musician sharing his craft.
“The Miami Trace Band Department includes these experiences and guest clinicians to provide our students with once-in-a-lifetime moments to make music,” director Ken Hoffman said. “Our band program is really changing in many ways. Upcoming events, include a visit by Dennis Wollam (former Washington City Schools band director) on Feb. 18, and guest clinician Dr. David Hedgecoth from OSU (formerly the University of Oregon and Florida State University).”
On March 1, the program will hold a pre-contest concert at 7 p.m. in the Miami Trace High School auditorium. They will also host the OMEA District 16 Large Group Adjudicated Event on March 4 and 5 – in which, the school will have 1,500 visiting students and directors performing for a three-judge panel.
Additionally, the Miami Trace Band Boosters have recently begun seeking corporate sponsorship from the community and there is a new, exclusive apparel website for Miami Trace gear at www.companycasuals.com/mtbb. Items like T-shirts for all ages and genders, bags, scarves, blankets, hats and much more are in available in a variety of sizes
The boosters can also be found on AmazonSmile, in which a percentage of all sold merchandise returns to the boosters to benefit the students.
