28th Annual Lakewood Band Festival Set For September 13th

Lakewood Ranger Marching Band Director Clinton Steinbrunner, Flag Advisor Sarah Miller, Asst. Director John Blasko, Rangerette Advisor Kristen Tellaisha. Not pictured: Percussion Advisor Tim Hampton (photo by Jim Harmon)

Lakewood High School students are one week into the school year, but members of the Lakewood Ranger Marching Band have been hard at work since August 4th preparing for the 28th Annual Lakewood High School Marching Band Festival and the 2014 marching band season.

Members of the largest Lakewood Ranger Marching Band in recent years – 110 musicians and 24 Flags and Rangerettes – have been honing their marching skills and learning new music for the upcoming season under the leadership of new LHS Band Director Clinton Steinbrunner.

Mr. Steinbrunner joined the high school music staff this summer after teaching for three years at Benjamin Logan Local Schools in Bellefontaine, OH. Clinton is a graduate of the College of Wooster where he majored in music education and minored in German Language studies. Directly after college, he spent a year teaching English as a Fulbright assistant in Saarbrücken, Germany. This was followed by a music teaching position at Castleknock College Secondary School in Dublin, Ireland. In addition to his primary instruments of flute and piano, Clinton has performed as a tenor in various choirs, including the Columbus Symphony Chorus. With only a few short weeks to prepare for the season, Mr. Steinbrunner has hit the ground running. "After only four weeks in Lakewood, I have not only been amazed at the dedication of students to their musical endeavors, but also at the support of their parents, the administration and the community as a whole. I look forward to a great year of music making and getting to know the Lakewood community even better."

Assisting Mr. Steinbrunner is Lakewood Ranger Marching Band Assistant Director John Blasko (B. Mus. Ed. Case Western Reserve University, 2008; M.Mus. Ed. The Ohio State University, 2013). John is beginning his second year as the band teacher at Harding Middle School and also shares elementary band teaching responsibilities with Garfield Middle School band teacher Julie Tabaj. Also returning to the Lakewood Ranger Marching Band are advisors Tim Hampton (Percussion), Sarah Miller (Flag Corps), and Kristen Tellaisha (Rangerettes).

In addition to getting ready for football season performances, the Lakewood Ranger Marching Band is preparing to host the band’s largest fundraising event, the annual Lakewood Marching Band Festival on Saturday, September 13th.  Hundreds of high school musicians from nine area high schools – along with their families and friends – will gather in Lakewood for an evening of memorable performances under the lights at First Federal Lakewood Stadium. Participating bands include: Olmsted Falls, Mayfield, Willoughby South, Eastlake North, Fairview Park, Garfield Heights, West Geauga, Port Clinton, and Lakewood. The evening begins with the Parade of Bands at 6 p.m., followed by on-the-field performances by each high school band.

"This year's band festival will mark the 28th consecutive year that the festival has taken place” said Steinbrunner. “As a newcomer to the event, I am thrilled to see such a wide variety of bands attending. For anyone who looks forward to the half time show at football games, this year's festival will be a night to remember!"

Do not miss this opportunity to see nine marching bands of different sizes and styles in one evening, and to show your support for the Lakewood Ranger Marching Band.

For more information regarding the Lakewood Marching Band Festival and upcoming Lakewood Ranger Marching Band performances, ‘Like’ the Band on Facebook (facebook.com/LakewoodRMB) or visit lakewoodrmb.wix.com/lrmb.

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Volume 10, Issue 18, Posted 4:26 PM, 09.02.2014