EASTON – Superintendent Lisha Cabral, Principal Kelly Cavanaugh and Music Department Chair Jeffrey Benson are pleased to share the recent activities of student musicians this year.
In November, the Oliver Ames High School Marching Band won the Division IV Championship at the New England Scholastic Band Association (NESBA) fall Championship finals. This was the third consecutive year that OAMB won the Championship. The event, which took place in Lawrence, was the culminating performance of the Marching Band’s season.
The band also won the high caption awards for Best Overall Effect, Best Visuals, Best Music, Best Color Guard and Best Percussion in Division IV.
The OAHS performance was “The Music of Bill Chase.” Members played music by Bill Chase, arranged by Scott Boerma. Bill Chase was a well-known jazz/rock trumpet player who was very active in the 1960s, and in 1971 founded and led his own band, Chase. Bill Chase was born in Quincy and passed away in a plane crash in 1974 at the age of 39.
In preparation for its season, the OA Marching Band began rehearsals with a two-week camp at the end of August. Competitions began at the end of September and continued through the New England Championships in November.
“I couldn’t be more proud of these kids. For us, it isn’t the end result that motivates us, it’s the work. We strive to control what we can control, namely, ourselves and our work ethic. We don’t worry about what anyone else is doing and simply strive to get better every time we pick up our instruments or flags,” Director Benson said. “When you are detail-oriented and process-driven, the big picture takes care of itself and the results speak. OAMB has a long and proud legacy and this group is no different.”
Added Madison Barr, OAMB Quartermaster, “Being part of the OA Marching Band these past five years has given me not only a community but a family of people who strive to be better every time they perform. I’m so incredibly proud of the team for our great season!”
“I’ve been in OAMB since 8th grade and it has given me numerous chances to improve myself, and improve with others who I have become so close to. I’m so proud of everyone’s hard work this season,” said Reagan George, Co-Drum Major.
Also in November, the Easton Tri-M Music Honor Society inducted new members and band members marched in Easton’s Veterans Day Parade. Additionally, 22 OA student musicians were accepted into the Southeastern District Festivals for the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA). Eleven of the students also received All-State Recommendations.
In December, the OAHS Winter Concert was held, featuring the Concert Choir, Concert Band and Orchestra.
“Congratulations to all of our student musicians on a successful first half of the school year,” Principal Cavanaugh said. “They spend significant time practicing and it’s great to see all of their hard work come to fruition at each performance.”
Upcoming music events include the Oliver Ames Show Choir’s first competition of the season, The Mill City Classic at Lowell High School on Jan. 13; the Easton Middle School Grade 6 Winter Concert on Jan. 18; the T.E.M.P.O. (The Easton Music Parents Organization) Winter Pops Concert featuring all middle school and high school extra-curricular ensembles at OAHS on Feb. 2; and the OA Jazz Band’s first competition of the year, the Massachusetts Association for Jazz Education (MAJE) festival at OAHS on Feb. 29.
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