This past year, two area high school bands were selected as Honor Bands by an out-of-state panel of adjudicators. The Ozark High School Band was selected as the 4A Honor Band and the Van Buren High School Symphonic Winds was selected as the 6A/7A Honor Band. Twenty-three junior high and high school ensembles submitted recordings in April 2019. Out of those ensembles, two junior high bands and two senior high bands were selected to perform at the 2020 Arkansas Music Conference on February 19-22 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The Ozark High School Band is under the direction of Brandon Hanlon. Mr. Hanlon is in his second year as director at Ozark High School. He is assisted by Mike Mankins and his wife Lori Hanlon. Mr. Hanlon is from Lake Hamilton, Arkansas and a graduate of Arkansas Tech University. Before coming to Ozark, Mr. Hanlon spent one year as the music teacher at Mulberry/Pleasant View in Arkansas.
The Ozark Band has a long history of excellence under former directors Ramey Herron, Kevin Hume, and Jeff Marlow. In the past two years, Hanlon has continued that excellence by being selected as the first Honor Band in Ozark Band history. When asked why he chose to submit a recording for Honor Band, Hanlon stated, "We (Ozark) have nothing to lose. We have a great band here in Ozark, so why not give it a try." Hanlon said that when he received the email that Ozark had been selected he could not believe it. He told his wife, the principle who were just as excited as he. The band has been practicing since October after completing Region Marching Assessment. Ozark Band members have been have been hard at work practicing during rehearsal time, after school, and holding daily sectionals during lunch time.
When I asked Hanlon about about the pieces he chose for his band to perform at the Arkansas Music Conference, he gave me a list of five amazing pieces that will truly show the musicianship of the Ozark Band.
Honor Roll March by Ken Harris, The Bonsai Tree by Julie Giroux, Shattered by Chris M. Bernotas, Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Robert W. Smith, and La Vie Parisienne by Jacques Offenbach arr. Kenneth Singleton.
Hanlon described to me why he chose each of these pieces for his band. He wanted a diverse set of music that would not only showcase his band but educate the audience. Shattered by Chris M. Bernotas, is a fast and loud piece that will engage the audience. La Vie Parisienne by Jacques Offenbach arr. Kenneth Singleton, is a beautiful romantic classical with a lot of character and pieces of Oprah. Hanlon chose Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Robert W. Smith to pay tribute to the origin of music. He said, "Without the church's influence on music, we would not be where we are today." The Ozark Band will perform a community performance of their honor band music on Thursday February 13th at 6:30pm at the Ozark High School Performing Art Center.
The Van Buren High School Symphony Winds is conducted by Ron Smith, Director of Bands at Van Buren High School. Smith has been with the Van Buren Band since 2001. He is assisted by a group of hard working individuals that work throughout the Van Buren School District at the middle school and high school level: Dustin Chambers, Brent Evans, Julie Konzelman, Ron Lewis, Brad Reeves, and Crystal Reeves. Smith said, "At Van Buren, it is a team effort, from the students working hard to the directors staying afterwards to work with the students. Success is not a one person accomplishment, it takes a team."
To add to that team effort, the band as a rare asset in the music world, A strong community support system. For the staff at Van Buren to the Superintendent along with many members in the community. The Band Program at Van Buren is supported throughout the school district and the city.
The Van Buren Band has a strong history of an excellent marching band program. Having competed in several BOA competitions to winning back to back Arkansas State Championships, Van Buren Band has become known for its marching band. But of those people, few know that Van Buren is also excelling in Concert Band. Their students are working hard every day to compete at All-Region and All-State and to perform an incredible concert. They spend just as just time during the week practicing for concert season as they do for marching season. Smith stated, "These students are committed. Yes they have school, work, friends, and family outside of band, but they work hard and allow us to push them to be the best that they can be."
And to continue pushing his student toward excellence, Smith decided to submit recordings of the band for a chance to be selected as the 6A/7A Honor Band. This is also the first time in Van Buren Band history that one of their ensembles has been selected as an honor band. But along with the honor, comes the hours of hard work on the three pieces that Smith selected.
Fantasia in G by Timothy Mahr, Equus by Eric Whitacre, and Light Cavalry Overture by Franz Von Suppé
Work on these pieces began right after Thanksgiving and will go up until the performance at Hot Springs. The Symphony Wind Ensemble has practiced before school carrying over into their band period and after school til 5:30pm some nights. Each of these are a 3-5 level band piece. Smith selected these not only to push his students but to hit the check mark of a great band. The performance will start with an attention-getter by Fantasia in G by Timothy Mahr, which features a theme from Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Smith chose Equus by Eric Whitacre, to allow his students to be exposed to new musical literature. The students really do enjoy this contemporary piece. And to close the concert, Light Cavalry Overture by Franz Von Suppé, is a light classical warhorse of a wind band selection. Smith hopes that this honor will showcase the Van Buren Band program is not just a top tier marching program. But an award winning band program overall that is at the top in the state of Arkansas.
The Honor Bands will perform at the Arkansas Music Conference on February 20th at the Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Ozark Band will perform at 8am and the Van Buren Symphony Winds will perform at 8:30am.
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