After receiving a Gold rating at the qualifications April 28, BHSN's top concert band qualified to compete against fifteen of the state's best bands at the ISSMA State Finals on May 5. The band has competed at the state level nearly every year since the early 1980's. They did a superb job this year, placing second in the state, but actually tying for first place based on raw scores! Ms. Stockhouse congratulated the members of the Symphonic Band, saying, "It was your ensemble sound and composite musicianship which impressed the panel of adjudicators. Many other directors were complimentary of our performance as well."

The Symphonic Band also finished as runner-up in the National Adjudicators Invitational held in Atlanta, Georgia last month. They earned a superior rating and the award for Best Woodwind Section.

Thanks to our dedicated teachers, talented BHSN jazz band students, volunteers, and donors, the Spring Fling Swing Dance was a great success! The cafeteria was beautiful (if you can imagine!), the music was awesome, the desserts were mouth-watering, and everyone had great fun dancing. On top of that, over $3000 was raised for the band program! If you missed it, be sure to come next time!

View pictures under Albums > Jazz Bands > Swing Dance!      
And here's a YouTube video of the finale.

A BIG THANKS to Janis Parker, who planned and organized the whole event practically single-handedly! She did a stupendous job! Thanks to Joy Main for a great job with publicity. And thank you to all the student and parent volunteers who set up, cleaned up, and worked during the event.

Another BIG THANKS to the IU Ballroom Dance Club, sponsored by IU Rec Sports, who provided instruction and inspiration at the dance, gathered and donated items for the silent auction and raffle, and shared their energy and enthusiasm. In particular, we'd like to recognize Rebecca Mandell, who is charge of Community Outreach! We are grateful also to IU students Carl Kensicki and Leah Boresow, who led four swing dance tutorials at North.

A round of applause is due for our excellent Master of Ceremonies, Perry Metz, General Manager of WTIU and now a "band parent" himself! Also to performer and teacher Sarah Flint, our guest vocalist. Sarah generously donated all her preparation, rehearsal, and performance time!

The following wonderful restaurants donated the "Lindy-licious" desserts:

• Tiramisu - Olive Garden
• Cheesecake Variety - Macri’s at the Depot
• Key Lime Pie - Longhorn Steakhouse
• Pecan Pie - Short Stop Food Mart
• Peanut Butter Pie - T.G.I. Fridays
• Vanilla Bean Cheesecake - T.G.I. Fridays
• Cranberry Stackers - McAlister’s Deli
• Cheesecake Bites - McAlister’s Deli
• Dream Bars - Potbelly Sandwich Shop
• Cookies - Potbelly Sandwich Shop

Nearly $3,000 worth of items were donated for the Silent Auction and Gift Basket Raffle. Thank you to the following businesses for their generosity!

• Richardson Studio
• Grazi
• Hu Hot
• Opie Taylors
• Malibu Grill
• Barnes and Noble
• Game Preserve
• Regis Hair Salon
• Andrew David Men's Wear
• Kroger
• Lake Monroe Boat Rental
• Jazz from Bloomington
• Monika Herzig
• Café D’Jango
• Massage on the Square
• Starbuck’s
• Oliver Winery
• Panache Dance Studio
• IU Ballroom Dance Club

And did you see the articles in the Herald-Times?! Thanks Chris Howell and April Toler.

The BHSN Winter Guard has made it into the Indiana State Color Guard Association State Finals for the first time ever! This year, director Christy Wilson decided to take the group up into Open Class in order to compete at a higher level against some of the best groups in the state. After proposing the idea of harder work, longer rehearsal hours and intense choreography demands to the group of 16 members, they all decided they would stick their necks out and go into Open Class competition. Little did they know that they would go on to place at most of their competitions, and actually make Indiana State Finals! Congratulations to Christy and these amazing North students who have put time so much time and dedication: Emily Chambers, Sammi Davila, Emma Barnett, Emily Brzegowy, Meredith Buckley, Megan Coar, Makayla Culbertson, Katie Farris, Emily Goad, Andie Head, McKayla Hoschtetler, Sara McKinney, Ali Sandy, Sydney Shilkett, Abby Watson, Alissa Wyle.

Their show is titled, "Minnaloushe" and the music is Libertango. The show is a visual interpretation of the Poem by Yates called "The Cat and the Moon" in which Minnaloushe is the name of the cat. Finals will be held March 17th at Center Grove High School.

Results of the competition: North placed 8th out of 9 guards. Even more impressive was the amount of hard work and determination that the students put in. Congratulations!

This past Saturday (3/3/12) our Bloomington North jazz musicians turned in their most outstanding performances of the year at the Ball State Jazz Fest!

Advanced Jazz earned Honor Band status in their hall (as did Carmel 1 in the other hall) and was invited to perform at the Finale Concert featuring Ball State 1 with guest trumpeter, Ingrid Jensen.

The "Gentleman" combo (Evan Main, Chris Parker, Stefan Lenthe) and the "Lady" combo (Sadie Johnson, Hannah Fidler, Lydia Elmer) placed 1st and 2nd, respectively, in the Combo hall en route to knocking the socks off of the adjudicators. North's other 3 combos also turned in stellar performances and earned superior ratings.

Studio Jazz played a superb swingin' set in Pruis Hall (alongside mostly #1 bands) with seniors Mitch Myers, Cameron Adams, Jacob Gates, and Carl Factora earning Outstanding Soloist certificates.

Intermediate Jazz performed in Sursa Hall amongst other #2 and #3 bands and won 2nd Place overall!

Outstanding Bassist in Emmens Hall: Hannah Fidler
Outstanding Drummer in Emmens Hall: Chris Parker
Outstanding Special Instrumentalist in Emmens Hall: Sadie Johnson
Outstanding Musician in the Combo Room: Evan Main (and recipient of an Aebersold Summer Jazz Scholarship)
Outstanding Drummer of Sursa Hall: Scott Emmons
Outstanding Special Instrumentalist of Sursa Hall: Henry Alexander

The Bloomington North Advanced Jazz Band (Jazz 1) took home and Superior rating and top honors at the 40th Annual Great Plains Jazz Festival held this past weekend in Omaha, NE. Named Outstanding Soloists of the festival were Hannah Fidler (bass), David Hunt (alto saxophone), Miro Sobrer (trombone) and Sadie Johnson (guitar). North also entered five combos which all earned Superior ratings. Named Outstanding Soloists in the combo room were Fidler, Johnson, and Lydia Elmer (vocalist).

Soloist awards were also earned by: Kevin Kostelecky, Chris Parker, Stefan Lenthe, Evan Main, David Burke, Jimmy Ryan, Hans Riess, Chris Alexeev, Carl Factora, Jacob Gates, and Ian VanArsdel.

Ms. Stockhouse reports that the adjudicators and the host college director were VERY impressed. Furthermore, the local NPR station manager was KNOCKED OUT by our combos and bands and wants to broadcast several of our tunes on their recap show of the festival this coming March!

The group made the 4-day trip to Omaha by bus, stopping by St. Louis for lunch, and staying one night in Kansas City, where they went to the American Jazz Museum and attended a latin/salsa night at the Blue Room. Combos performed in Omaha on Friday, while Jazz 1 played on Saturday. The guest artists of the festival were Doc Severinsen, long-time leader of the Tonight Show Band, and Dave Pietro (alto saxophone). After the finale concert, the victorious Cougars drove through the night, reaching home Sunday morning.