Spring Band Concert

Bainbridge High School Theater | March 13th, 2025 @ 7PM

Tonight's central composition,

Julie Giroux's "The Speed of Heat"

...was comissioned by the US Air Force Academy Band in 2019.  It takes a first person look at what it's like to fly an F-22 fighter jet.  The title of the piece is pilot slang for "very, very fast."  We hope you enjoy the ride!!

Hello BHS Band Family!

Welcome to our Spring Band Concert!  This concert is the artistic center of our curricular year.  It features the most challenging and artistically sophisticated music we can tackle in a given academic year.  The students have been hard at work for a few months preparing for tonight's concert, and even with losing a full week of recent instruction due to icy roads and power outages, they have made tremendous progress, and are excited to bring a vibrant and engaging show to you tonight!

Uncommon for us, we have a bit of a concert theme tonight!  Many of today's pieces deal with the weightless anxiety of flight!  From Percussion Ensemble's "Gravity (Falling)," which depicts the heart pounding fear in stepping up to the edge and jump out of an airplane, to Symphonic Band's "With Each Sunset" and "Among the Clouds," which explores airborn lucid dreaming, to Wind Ensemble's "The Speed of Heat," which uses fighter jet pilot slang to tell the story of what it's like to risk your life while breaking the sound barrier, we explore concrete ideas of being airborn in different ways, as well as more metaphorical ideas of suspension, anxiety, fear, uncertainty, thrill, anticipation, and risking it all for something you love.

I am very proud and excited to share our Spring Band Concert with you tonight!  I know you will enjoy it!

Before we get started, I wanted to give a shout out to every family who was involved in this winter's OMEA Regional Solo & Ensemble Competition.  As always, Bainbridge Bands were extremely well represented.  This year, we had 56 registered entries, of which 44 earned Superior Ratings, which is the most difficult rating to acheive.  Of those, we had 31 entries place in the top three of their divisions, and of those, we had 13 winning performances out of the 22 categories that pertain to band.  It was a wonderful day celebrating the hard work and vulnerability of so many of our students.  The winners, and perhaps a few alternates, will head to Ellensburg in late april to compete for State Championships!  I will highlight the winning performers individually later tonight.

For now, please give a hearty round of applause for all our band members, please ensure your seat belts are fastened, your seatbacks and tray tables are in their full upright and locked position, and that all carry-on items are stowed securely in the overhead bins or under the seat in front of you.  Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy. Thank you for flying with the bands tonight!

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.

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

PLU

UMT & BSU

University of Montana

Boise State University

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.


This year, we have 13 winners and perhaps a few alternates heading to State in late April.  This numbr ties a school record previously set in 2023.  Please visit the band website for more information on preparing for State if you are heading that way.

Regional Winners

Clarinet - Finn Armstrong

Bass Clarinet - Finn Armstrong

Trumpet - Stella Saleh

French Horn - Lillian Jackson

Mallets - Liam Jurcak

Snare - Cole Moomaw

Timpani - Cole Moomaw

Multiple Percussion - Liam Jurcak

Small Woodwind Ensemble - Bainbridge Clarinet Duet

Finnigan Armstrong, Clarinet

Claire Bremer, Clarinet

Small Brass Ensemble - Hornucopia

Henry Burress, Horn

Collin Fehrenbacher, Horn

Lillian Jackson, Horn

Large Brass Ensemble - BBQ

Lillian Jackson, Euphonium

Atlas Montgomery, Trombone

Mahalie Stackpole, Trombone

Sambela Azis, Tuba

Zachary DeFoe, Tuba

Small Percussion Ensemble - Bainbridge Small Percussion Ensemble

Cole Moomaw, Marimba

Ben Beckett, Marimba

Liam Jurcak, Marimba

Quentin Faust, Marimba

Large Percussion Ensemble - Bainbridge Large Percussion Ensemble

Kayla Holmberg, mallets

Coral Marsh, mallets

Antonio Zaballa, mallets

Vivian Flowers, mallets

Meridian Benson, mallets

Hannah Gallagher, mallets

Henry Bergan, mallets

Cole Moomaw, mallets

Benjamin Beckett, mallets

Theodore Oestreich, mallets

Quentin Faust, mallets

Liam Jurcak, mallets

Julian Marsh, piano

Lillian Jackson, multiple percussion

Jackson Castillo, multiple percussion

Syriana Schaub, multiple percussion

Gigi Puleo, multiple percussion 

Regional Alternates

FIRST ALTERNATES

Clarinet - Claire Bremer

Bass Clarinet - Claire Bremer

Low Sax - Isaiah Beyer

Trumpet - Dane Bowman

Mallets - Cole Moomaw

Snare - Liam Jurcak

Timpani - Liam Jurcak

Multiple Percussion - Quentin Faust

Small Woodwind Ensemble - Bainbridge Sax Duet

Isaiah Beyer, Soprano Sax

Sebastian Ford, Alto Sax

Large Woodwind Ensemble - Clarinet Regret

Finnegan Armstrong, Clarinet

Claire Bremer, Clarinet

Aubrey Wilson, Clarinet

Lucy Kooistra, Clarinet

Ava Olinger, Clarinet

Small Brass Ensemble - B.I. Drumpets

Giada DiMarco, Trumpet

Stella Saleh, Trumpet

SECOND ALTERNATES

High Sax - Isaiah Beyer

Low Sax - Cascade Kaseler

Trumpet - Giada DiMarco

Horn - Henry Burruss

Piano - Miles Wieland

Snare - Vivian Fowers

Violin - Coral Marsh


*Picked up for State

Special 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

We had an amazing Swing Dance back on December 7th, bringing in over $9,000 for the band through the BHS Band Boosters, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  Thank you to everyone who attended the event (all 200 of you!)  Well, done students and all our committee members and booster members.  So fun.


Jazz One got wonderful feedback from our 2nd ever Essentially Ellington submission.  We are looking forward to next year's contest!


Our big Puget Sounds Jazz Festival is coming up on March 29th!  Keep an eye out for details!  It's going to be huge!!

Enrollment Information

Music education is often seen as supplementary, yet research highlights its essential role in cognitive and social development. Studies show that students engaged in music programs consistently outperform their peers academically.

A study in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that students in music programs score higher on standardized tests in reading and math. Additionally, research from the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute shows that music training enhances neural processing and executive function, supporting broader learning skills.

Beyond academics, data from the National Association for Music Education indicates that music students develop greater self-discipline, teamwork, and perseverance—traits vital for lifelong success. Playing in ensembles teaches students the value of working hard with peers to create something greater than themselves. Whether in a choir, orchestra, or band, collaboration fosters accountability, patience, and a deep sense of shared accomplishment.

Despite its benefits, music education often faces budget cuts and uncertainty during the course registration process.  However, given its strong correlation with student belonging and achievement, it should be recognized as a crucial component of a well-rounded education. The data is clear: music education is not a luxury but a necessity for intellectual and personal growth.  In my entire career teaching, I have never seen a four year band member lose out on opportunities becuase they didn't take that extra AP course, and similarly, I have never met an adult who wished they had quit music earlier, to the contrary, most people wish they would have kept up with their music studies longer, and most music students have something powerful to write about in their college admission essays that can speak to a variety of skill sets needed in any intended major.  Colleges want good people on their campuses, and ensemble music is about developing the whole human.

Thank you for continuing to support these students and our program so future students can participate in the wonderful things we can only do together.

Concert Program

Jazz9

Our top small jazz group, Jazz9, will perform a set as the doors open at 6:30.  They'll finish with  a final number as the concert starts at 7pm.

Percussion Ensemble

Gravity (Falling) | Clif Walker

Chamber Music

24 Trios for Horn, nos. 22 & 9 | Anton Reicha

Hornucopia

Collin Fehrenbacher, Lillian Jackson, & Henry Burruss, French Horns


Sonata for 2 Clarinets | Francis Poulenc

Bainbridge Clarinet Duet

Finnegan Armstrong & Claire Bremer, clarinets

`

The Times | Hiroki Takahashi

BBQ

Atlas Montgomery & Mahalie Stackpole, trombones.  Lillian Jackson, euphonium.  Sambela Asiz & Zachary DeFoe, tubas

Symphonic Band

Heritage West | Carol M Butts

With Each Sunset | Richard Saucedo

Among the Clouds | Brian Balmages

Wind Ensemble

Symphonic Dance no. 3 'Fiesta' | Clifton Williams

The Speed of Heat | Julie Giroux

Zirkus Humberto | Jiří Volf

Cole Moomaw, Ben Beckett, & Theo Oestreich, xylophones

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

Jazz9

Issiah Beyer (as)

Cascade Kaseler (as)

Sebastian Ford (ts)

Stella Saleh (tpt)

Miles Wieland (p)

Andrew Domansky (b)

Cole Moomaw (d)

Benjamin Beckett (v)

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

*Bailey Kleiven

OBOE

*Callie Martin

Haven Rudnick

BASSOON

Thomas Bearden

CLARINETS

Adele Marshall

Amanda Herten

Ethan Meidell

James Blanco

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

*Henry Burruss

*Lillian Jackson

TROMBONE

Cayden Vander Karch

Luca LaRubbio

EUPHONIUM

Avie Bogdan

Hallam Baesman

TUBA

Zach DeFoe


* From Wind Ensemble

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 (a)

Sebastian Ford (t)

Cascade Kaseler (b)

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

TUBA

Sambela Aziz

DOUBLE BASS

Kayla Holmberg

Tonight's Conductors

The horn section to Backstreet Jellyroll

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 & BISD 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!