Fall Band Concert

Bainbridge High School Theater | November 21st, 2024 @ 7PM

This is foreshadowing.

Hello Band Families!

Welcome to our Fall Band Concert!  Tonight should be a fun and very fast paced celebration of the whole heap of good work our students have been up to since this August!  Your attendance here is a testamant to the outstanding community we've worked so hard to create here at BHS over the years.  Thank YOU for showing up in support of our amazing student musicians!  I hope you enjoy the show!

This is an ambitious first concert of the year.  You'll hear authentic sounds straight from the Duke Ellington Orchestra, a world class high school percussion quartet, our Symphonic Band perform a challening arrangement of Nightmare Before Christmas, our Wind Ensemble absolutely FLY through the Henry Fillmore classic, "The Klaxon," which celebrates the automobile horn, and our award winning marching band reprise their fall competition show, "Lost at Sea," for one final indoor performance.  The emotional center of tonight's program is our Wind Ensemble's performance of Frank Ticheli's "An American Elegy," which is a timeless piece about hope and healing.  More on that later.

After tonight's program is over, please take a moment to fill out our concert props form.  It will only take you a minute or two, and your shoutouts mean a lot to our students.

Finally, our 10th annual Community Swing Dance is December 7th.  Get your tickets, and have a great time.

Cheers... see you on the other side...!

Chris Thomas

Director of BandsBainbridge High School

Beautiful Bainbridge Island | Land Acknowledgement 

We would like to begin by acknowleding that the land on which we gather is within the ancestral territory of the Suquamish people. Expert fisher peoples, canoe builders, basket weavers, and much more, they have lived in harmony with the lands and waterways along Washington's Central Salish Sea for thousands of years, as they promised in the Point Elliot Treaty of 1855. 

"Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove has been hallowed by some sad or happy event in days long vanished."

- Chief Sealth, 1854 

Student Recognition

Marching Band

I am so proud to report that our students had another amazing marching band season!  With 48 members this year, our band took home several awards.

For a full run down of results, please visit our Marching Band Awards Page.

Marching Band Acknowledgements

Staff

Chris Thomas, director

Lindsay Ogles, guard coach

Doug Treder, assistant director

Zac Clark, music & leadership

Kendall Donnely, guard assistant

Forrest Brennan, battery

Jack Ekstrand, battery assistant

Molly Montgomery, front ensemble

Liz Lacey, music & leadership

Terry Marsh, percussion supervisor

Student Leadership

Max Ramos, drum major

Lillian Jackson, drum major

Miles Wieland, leadership president

Cole Moomaw, percussion captain

Callie Wilkinson, guard captain

Dane Bowman, flugelhorn soloist

Bailey Kleiven, flute soloist

Claire Bremer, clarinet soloist

Miles Wieland, saxophone soloist 

Design

Gary P Gilroy, music

James Laymen, drill

Giada DiMarco, set design 

Booster Board

Nancy Treder, president

Cherry Jackson, secretary

Corey Jurcak, treasurer

Christa Hinchfliffe, marching band chair

Katie Wilson, uniforms

Lori Cox, uniforms 

Honor Bands

I'm proud to report an increase in the number of students participating in Honor Bands this year!  Huge congratulations to the following band members for being accepted into the following Honor Band Programs:

All-State / All-NW

All-NW Orchestra

All-NW Band

All-State Orchestra

All-State Concert Band

WIBC

Thunderbird & Firebird Bands

Pheonix & Sunbird Bands

UMT

BSU

PLU

Chamber Music

We have a long history of chamber music at BHS.  In fact, since 2022, BHS chamber musicians have earned 17 medals and 7 gold medals at our WMEA/WIAA State Chamber Music Contest, which includes all 400+ WIAA high schools.  Both medal counts are tops in the state.  ("We're #1!")  It's not all about winning, but it is about being interested, informed, and planning ahead from an early age.


The best way to have fun in Solo & Ensemble contest season is to participate as an underclassmen.  Prepare a piece, go to contest, observe all the best musicians in your category, and then reflect and envision yourself at a higher level next time.  Just being there is a jumpstart.  Few things are as rewarding as putting together a really nice performance as a soloist, or in a small ensemble.  You're in charge.


If you want to participate, and you haven't started yet, now is a great time to find a piece and start practicing it.  Mr Thomas can help you find something, if you need help.  Signups for our regional contest will be through a Google Form on the band website, and will take place online for most of January.  Please keep an eye out for more information after New Year's.


When the times comes, registration will happen here.

Percussion News

The Drummer's Den took four of our percussionists to Indianapolis this month for a national competition at the Percussive Arts Society Internatioal Convention (PASIC), which is a huge industry gathering of over 6,000 annual attendees.  This competition feaured 20 of the country's best high school percussion studios, and our fellas scored a 93.96, just outside the top three.  A huge congrats to:


...and Terry Marsh, who owns and opperates The Drummer's Den.  We are so proud of him and the guys.  Nice job, everyone!

Jazz News

Jazz One just had a great workshop with Jim Sisco, who is a heavy hitter in the Seattle jazz scene and teaches the jazz program at Bellevue College.  They worked on prepparing our recording submissions for this year's Essentially Ellington competition.  Thank you to the Band Boosters for funding his visit.


Our 10th annual Community Swing Dance is Saturday, December 7th at the BI Rowing Center starting at 6:30pm.  Tickets and information can be found here.

Concert Program

Jazz One

Lady of the Lavendar Mist | Duke Ellington

Mullenium | Gerry Mulligan

Percussion Ensemble

Evanescence | Austin Keck

Cole Moomaw

Liam Jurcak

Ben Beckett

Quentin Faust

Symphonic Band

Rhythms & Riffs | Brian Balmages

Autumn from "From Four Seasons" | Antonio Vivaldi

Nightmare Before Christmas | Danny Elfman, arr Michael Brown

Wind Ensemble

Country Gardens | Percy Grainger

Concerto for Prince Johann | J.S. Bach

An American Elegy | Frank Ticheli

The Klaxon | Henry Fillmore

Marching Band

Lost at Sea | Gary Gilroy

Tonight's Composers

Composer Diversity StatementI acknowledge the composer pool for this concert isn't as diverse as I would like it to be.  While each of these composers has a unique and expressive voice of their own, it is a goal of mine to play a role in righting the 100+ years of privileges and systems that have largely failed to find, encourage, or publish the voices of women and people of color.  Now, it is more important than ever to support our schools and booster programs, so we have the resources needed to invest in new curriculum from new composers

Tonight's Musicians

Jazz One

REEDS

Claire Bremer (c)

Issiah Beyer (a1*)

Chloee Collier (a2)

Sebastian Ford (t1)

Finn Armstrong (t2/c)

Cascade Kaseler (b)

TRUMPETS

Stella Saleh (*)

Dane Bowman

Giada DiMarco

Caelan Fehrenbacher

Elijah Treder

TROMBONES

Lillian Jackson (*)

Atlas Montgomery

Sambela Aziz

RHYTHM

Henry Burruss (g)

Jack Zyskowski (g)

Miles Wieland (p*)

Andrew Domansky (b)

Cole Moomaw (d*)

Benjamin Beckett (v)


* Section Leader

Percussion Ensemble

SENIORS

Benjamin Beckett

Cole Moomaw

Henry Bergan

Kayla Holmberg

Liam Jurcak

Theo Oestreich

JUNIORS

Hannah Gallagher

Lillian Jackson

Matthew Borrevik

Quentin Faust

SOPHOMORES

Coral Marsh

Jackson Castillo

Julian Marsh

Meridian Benson

Vivian Flowers

FRESHMEN

Cade Heuertz

Gavin Dekker

George Vaughn Wynn

Gigi Puleo

James Bauer

Jasmine Burrows

Syriana Schaub

Symphonic Band

FLUTES

Alexis Peterson

Seneca Yates

OBOE

<vacant>

BASSOON

Thomas Bearden

CLARINETS

Adele Marshall

Amanda Herten

Ethan Meidell

James Blanco

Haven Rudnick

Olyvia Shepard

Riley Wert

BASS CLARINET

William Hughes

SAXOPHONES

Anna Peterson (b)

Jamie Moerchen (a)

Bryton Rombach (t)

Gray Judge (t)

Lauren Blakemore (a)

Morgan Herten (t)

TRUMPETS

Austin Williams

Jake Pentzer

Jason Arul

Paxton DeJong

Pigeon Gerlek

Simon Bremer

FRENCH HORN

Lillian Wilson

TROMBONE

Cayden Vander Karch

Luca LaRubbio

EUPHONIUM

Avie Bogdan

Hallam Baesman

TUBA

Zach DeFoe

Wind Ensemble

FLUTES

Bailey Kleiven

Fia Wetter

Nicole Stipe

Nolan Harui

Pebbles Featherston

Sage Matteson

OBOE

Callie Martin

BASSOON

<vacant>

CLARINETS

Aubrey Wilson

Ava Olinger

Cascade Matteson

Claire Bremer

Finn Armstrong

Lucy Kooistra

BASS CLARINET

Gavin Smit

Thomas Hensley

SAXOPHONES

Issiah Beyer (a)

Miles Wieland (b)

Sebastian Ford (t)

Cascade Kaseler (a)

TRUMPETS

Dane Bowman

Elijah Treder

Giada DiMarco

Oliver Smith

Stella Saleh

Stone Dewey

Timothy Riggs

FRENCH HORNS

Caelan Fehrenbacher

Dolly Courtway

Gretchen Johnston

Henry Burruss

Lillian Jackson

TROMBONES

Atlas Montgomery

Mahalie Stackpole

EUPHONIUMS

Gail Corns

Max Ramos

TUBA

Sambela Aziz

DOUBLE BASS

Kayla Holmberg

Marching Band

Drum Majors

Lillian Jackson

Max Ramos

FLUTES

Bailey Kleiven

Callie Martin

Fia Wetter

Nicole Stipe

Sage Matteson

CLARINETS

Adele Marshall

Aubrey Wilson

Ava Olinger

Claire Bremer

Ethan Meidell

James Blanco

Lucy Kooistra

Riley Wert

SAXOPHONES

Chloee Collier

Jamie Moerchen

Miles Wieland

Gray Judge

Cascade Kaseler

TRUMPETS

Dane Bowman

Elijah Treder

Giada DiMarco

Jake Pentzer

Jason Arul

Lillian Wilson

Pigeon Gerlek

Simon Bremer

Timothy Riggs

MELLOPHONES

Caelan Fehrenbacher

Gretchen Johnston

Henry Burruss

TROMBONES

Atlas Montgomery

Cayden Vander Karch

Gabby Tebo

Hallam Baesman

Luca LaRubbio

Mahalie Stackpole

SOUSAPHONES

Sambela Aziz

Zach DeFoe

BATTERY

Benjamin Beckett (s)

Cole Moomaw (s)

Henry Bergan (s)

Quentin Faust (t)

Liam Jurcak (t)

Hannah Gallagher (b1)

Julian Marsh (b2)

Vivian Flowers (b3)

Meridian Benson (b4)

Kayla Holmberg (b5)

FRONT ENSEMBLE

Coral Marsh

Gigi Puleo

Io Zaballa

Jack Castillo

James Bauer

Jasmine Burrows

Matthew Borrevik

Syriana Schaub

Theo Oestreich

COLOR GOARD

Ash Clark

Callie Wilkinson

Jasper Gustafson

Saoirse Brown-Storey

Steph Cuthbert

Tonight's Conductors

Dr Drakopulos, Eleanora, and Mr T.

Chris Thomas has been the band director at Bainbridge High School since the 2012-2013 school year. Since then, every area of the program has won multiple awards for excellence. 

Mr Thomas prides himself in being a well rounded musician who enjoys the time he gets to spend with his bandmates.  As an educator, he works to show each of his students the joys of inspired performances and deep band friendships.  He loves this program, and wants it to inspire generations of kind and ambitious young people from Bainbridge Island.

While at BHS, he founded our Community Swing Dance, State Honors Recital, and the Puget Sounds Jazz Festival, the only festival dedicated to improvization and the joyful, spontanious interactions between young jazz musicians.  Mr Thomas has also served on multiple schedule and hiring committees while at BHS, and has served on the Board of Directors for our regional music teachers' association in multiple roles, including president and webmaster.

Off campus, he plays trumpet with Backstreet Jellyroll (an 11 piece professional Van Morrison cover band), TMB Brass Band (Seattle's first call for second line), and Bud's Brass Quintet (a casual classical ensemble of mostly retired musicians and educators). He served as principal trumpet in the Bainbridge Symphony for five years before retiring from that ensemble in 2018, and previously performed with the Missoula Symphony.  While finishing his Masters Degree, Chris was a featured soloist with the Missoula City Band during their televised July 4th performances.  Mr Thomas played lead trumpet with the Kitsap Jazz Orchestra, and in the top jazz ensembles at Central Washington University and the University of Montana.  Chris was a lead trumpet and soloist with the Seattle Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps in 2001 and 2002, and with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 2003 and 2004.

Before coming to BHS, Mr Thomas taught music classes for the Bellingham School District, Sedro-Woolley High School, the West Valley School District in Yakima, and The University of Montana.  Mr Thomas also was on the instructional staff of The Seattle Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps from 2009 to 2012.

Mr Thomas holds a Masters Degree in Music from The University of Montana (2010), a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Central Washington University (2007, with endorsements in instrumental music, vocal music, and general music), and an Associates of Arts and Sciences Degree from Shoreline Community College.  Chris was inspired to continue studying music as a potential career path while taking a few elective classes as a freshman at Whatcom Community College.

Mr Thomas is married to Dr. Lauren Drakopulos, and together they are renovating a 1901 schoolhouse and trying their best to explore the great NW and beyond whenever they have a rare spare minute. This August, they welcomed their first child, Nora, to the world, and adopted a dear friend's 7 year old havanese-poodle mix, Gaia!  Life is crazy all of a sudden...!

Mr T has a soft spot in his heart for the Seattle Mariners, frisbees in parks, bouldering gyms, and the bands at BHS.  Go Spartans!  <3 <3

Give Some Concert Props!!

The bands LOVE to hear how you like their performances. Please take a short moment to drop them some encouragement. Click this URL and give some props. It's fast, easy, and it's free. 

Here's some ideas for you to start with.  :)

Thank You!

A huge thank you to the BHS administrative and custodial crews, our theater faculty and staff, the rest of our district's music teachers (especially Mr Meehan!), our entire facilities and maintenance staff, our beloved BHS Band Booster Parents, and my wonderful family!