Avon Marching Black & Gold (AMB&G) took first place this past weekend at the Music for All Bands of America (BOA) Super Regional Championship held at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, November 5, 2011. 31 high school marching bands from Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia performed in preliminary competition. The top 12 scoring bands advanced to the evening finals competition. The final 12, with their scores are as follows:

Finals Results
1) 91.35 – Avon
2) 89.85 – Carmel
3) 87.00 – Lake Central
4) 86.65 – Marian Catholic
5) 85.55 – Lawrence Central
6) 83.70 – Ben Davis
7) 81.30 – Lincoln-Way East
80.80 – Hickory
9) 80.20 – Center Grove
10) 80.10 – Greenwood
11) 79.20 – Centerville
12) 77.90 – Castle

Captions:
Music – Avon
Visual – Avon
General Effect – Avon

In the preliminary competition, AMB&G also won all captions and placed first in Class 4A. Next stop, is BOA’s Grand National Finals on November 11-12, 2011, also at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. AMB&G has won the Grand National title the last 3 years in a row.

This Saturday, November 5, 2011 is BOA Super Regional @ Lucas Oil.

Click here for the complete schedule and more info!

The 2012 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association President, Richard Jackson, will visit Avon on August 27^th at the Rose Parade® Bash to formally welcome the Avon Marching Black & Gold (AMBG) as one of 21 marching bands chosen to make the historic 5-mile journey down Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard on Monday, January 2, 2012.

The public is invited to attend the AMBG Rose Parade® Bash. It will be held Saturday, August 27, 2011 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m at Primo’s, 2353 E Hadley Rd, Plainfield, Indiana. The evening will include guest speaker, Richard Jackson, dinner, music featuring local artists, Knee Deep in the Weeds, dancing, and a silent auction.

“We are very excited to be welcoming Mr. Jackson to Avon! This Bash will also serve as our largest fundraising effort for our 300 member band,” stated AMBG Booster Co-President, Connie Anoskey.  She continued, “It’s imperative our community rally around the students to show support for this once-in-a-lifetime event. By attending the Bash, you will be helping one student get closer to their dream of marching in the famous Rose Parade®.”

Cost of the event is $65/person. For Tickets please call 317-997-9285 or email cardio2002@aol.com. Deadline to purchase tickets is August 10, 2011. If you would like to purchase via credit card, please visit avonband.com/bash.

As President of the 935 volunteer members Tournament of Roses® Association, Mr. Jackson will present AMBG with the traditional Rose Parade® flag, which represents the band’s prestigious participation in the 123^rd Rose Parade®. The annual Rose Parade® will spotlight thematically designed floral floats, high stepping equestrian units and spirited marching bands. Nearly one million people are anticipated to line the Rose Parade® route, while more that 350 million people in over 100 countries are expected to view the Rose Parade® on television. For more information, visit BASH.

Area residents are invited to the Avon Marching Black & Gold Community Day on Friday, July 29, 2011 at the Avon High School football field. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with concessions, vendors, bounce house, face painting, raffle, cakewalk, and more. At 6:00 p.m. the 3-time Grand National Champions and 9-time State Champions, will march onto the field to perform. In a never before seen sneak peek, the public will view the guard, hornline, and drumline then bring it all together with a full band performance of this season’s musical selections entitled, “Oddities.”

In addition, the band will perform their medley prepared for the Tournament of Roses® Parade January 2012. All proceeds from Community Day will benefit the Rose Parade® trip. A $3 donation is suggested. Vendors are invited to showcase their wares in a 10′ x 10′ area for a $50 fee. Interested vendors should call or email: deborah.brown2@hotmail.com 317-670-6079.

Congratulations Avon “World” Drumline for your 1st place award on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at the Indiana Percussion Association State Finals. Scores were as follows:

82.475 Franklin Central
86.175 Fishers “Movement World”
88.975  Center Grove
89.075 Avon

The community is invited to the Avon Band’s Winter Showcase on Friday, February 18th at 6:30 pm in the Main Gym. Tickets are $3/person at the door. Please enter door #33 at Avon High School, 7575 E. 150 South.

This annual event is a huge hit for the public to view performances of Avon’s Drumlines (World and A) and Guards (World and Cadet) along with the Jazz Band. You won’t want to miss this exclusive show for the Avon community!

Sara Southwood, Riley Weaver, Walker Runyan, Jordan Ghaim, Zach Domrese, Marissa Shirk, Deanna Fuller, Shelby Ledbetter, Zach Dunham, Luke Sanders and Alex Gracie all members of the Avon High School Band directed by Jay Webb, Matt Harloff and Robert Burns, have been selected to participate in the 51^st Annual Indiana High School Band Festival sponsored by the Indiana Bandmasters Association.

Each student earned this honor by participating in a highly competitive audition held early in January at nine centers across Indiana. Nearly, 700 talented young musicians applied to audition.  A selection committee then review tape recordings form each center.  One hundred sixty-seven outstanding high school band members have been selected for participation in the 2011 Festival.

Dr. Jeffery Doebler, Director of Bands at Valparaiso University, will direct the 84 piece Indiana All – State Band. In addition to the regular Indiana All-State Band, there is a select Honor Band.  Professor Jay Gephart, Director of Bands at Purdue, will direct the 86 members Indiana All-State Honor Band.

All members will participate in a series of activities including seating auditions, sectionals, and full rehearsals from Friday March 11 through Sunday March 13. A grand Finale concert will be presented to the public on Sunday March 13^th, at 2:30 pm in the Elliott Hall of Music on the Purdue University – West Lafayette campus. Directions to Elliott Hall of Music may be found on the IBA website at www.indianbandmasters.org

Photo:  Walker Runyan has accepted Baritone Saxophone 1st Chair in the Honor Band.

The Avon Marching Black & Gold secured a special invitation to perform in the 2012 Rose Parade along with its 3rd consecutive Grand National Championship in the Bands of America Grand National competition.  They will participate alongside a select group of 22 other bands on January 2, 2012.

The Tournament of Roses parade, held annually in Pasadena, California, has a 116 year history and a worldwide audience.  This annual spectacle is viewed by over 50 million Americans annually and millions more worldwide.  “Receiving an invitation to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade is a once in a lifetime experience for the students and staff alike.  It’s an opportunity to represent our community on a grand scale,” says Jay Webb, Avon’s Band Director, “but it’s also a daunting task.  In order to realize this dream, we’ll need to raise an additional $250,000 above and beyond our usual budget. We won’t be able to do this without support from the community.”  We want all of the students to have an opportunity to participate regardless of their family’s financial situation.

The Avon Marching Black & Gold will be mobilizing a force of parents and other supporters to begin fundraising with the goal that every student that wants to participate can do so.  “There will be multiple events in the community to garner support, but donations are being accepted already,” notes Barbara Suizdak, president of the Avon Band Boosters.  She adds that, “the Avon Marching Black & Gold is a 501(c)3 organization, so all donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.”

Avon High School Senior and tuba player, Zach Domrese, has been selected to play in the All-American Honors Orchestra which will perform at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, February 19, 2011.

Domrese has been with the Avon Marching Black & Gold all four years winning 3 National Championships and 3 State Championships as well as an Avon Wind Ensemble member for 3 years. He has been in both the Indiana Music Educators Association ((IMEA) and Indiana Bandmasters Association (IBA) All-State Bands in 2010. He will be in the IMEA Honor Band again in 2011 and will audition for IBA All-State this January. Domrese also received a Gold rating last year at the State Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) Solo competition.

This series challenges elite students to perform at their very best. Students rehearse and perform under master conductors and have the opportunity to perform before invited representatives from collegiate and professional music programs. Though much of the student’s time is focused on performance preparation, the week also allows students to experience the best of the sights and the performance arts in New York City.

The Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall was established to showcase some of the most talented student performers in high school today. Through director nomination and selection process, accomplished students are brought together in New York City with peers to comprise the Honors Choir and Honors Instrumental Ensembles.

Last Saturday at Semi Finals, the Avon Marching Black & Gold qualified for State. They will be performing at 8:45 pm at Lucas Oil Stadium.  Anyone can attend!  Tickets are $20/adults and $18/students. This is set by the ISSMA. To purchase, go to the Avon Band office from 7am-3:30pm each day this week (check payable to the Marching Black & Gold or cash, no credit cards) OR purchase from the Lucas Oil Box Office. Tickets will also be on sale at the AHS Band office Thursday night from 6-8:45pm. Once it is 3:30 on Friday they will no longer be on sale @ AHS.  The price is the same at Lucas Oil box office.

Looking forward to seeing YOU at Lucas Oil in support of the Avon Marching Black & Gold!

Here are are the performance times:

Class A Lineup
Center Grove 7:40
Penn 7:53
Lawrence Central 8:06
Warren Central 8:19
Castle 8:32
Avon 8:45
Ben Davis 8:58
Jefferson/Lafayette 9:11
Homestead 9:24
Lake Central 9:37
AWARDS 10:00

Trumpet Player Scott Burns

Mellophone Player Sara Southwood

Color Guard Samantha Knight and Ashley Ricketts all Earn Elite Status

AVON, IN (October 19, 2010) – Scott Burns, Samantha Knight, Ashley Ricketts and Sara Southwood of Avon High School, Avon, IN, have been selected to be members of the 2011 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. Burns, Knight and Southwood will join an elite group of musicians who will perform during halftime at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Saturday, January 8, 2011, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

“The U.S. Army has a long musical history and being an Army musician is one option the All-American Bowl showcases to young Americans,” said Col. Derik Crotts, Director of Strategic Communications, Marketing and Outreach, U.S. Army Accessions Command. “The mental, emotional and physical qualities necessary to be a successful band member are the same qualities mirrored in Army Strong Soldiers. We are proud to honor all of our U.S. Army All-American Band members and congratulate them on their selection.”

The U.S. Army All-American Marching Band recognizes the top 125 high school senior marching musicians and color guard members from across the country, showcasing their talents during the largest celebration of high school football in America, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, televised live on NBC at 1:00 p.m. EST.

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is the premier high school football game in the country held each January in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The game features the best high school football players in the nation, and has helped launch the careers of Adrian Peterson, Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, Michael Oher (from the movie “The Blind Side”), and many other college and NFL stars since its inception in 2001. The game also crowns the U.S. Army Player of the Year during Bowl Week in San Antonio.

Selected musicians are chosen by the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band Selection Committee consisting of The National Association for Music Education (MENC), Drum Corps International (DCI), Head Director and Show Coordinator Nola Jones, and All American Games.

The U.S. Army Accessions Command (USAAC), a subordinate command of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, meets the human resource needs of the Army by transforming volunteers into officers, warrant officers, and enlisted Soldiers. In providing the force, the 18,400 men and women of Accessions Command prepare these future Soldiers and leaders for their initial military training. Commanded by Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, USAAC is located at Fort Knox, Ky.

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is owned and produced by All American Games, a New Jersey-based sport marketing and event management company. National sponsors of the All-American Bowl include the U.S. Army, American Family Insurance, Athletic Republic – the Official Performance Training Center, beRecruited, Choice Hotels, DCI-Drum Corps International, DeMoulin Uniforms, Football University, Jupiter Band Instruments, Rivals.com, Russell Athletic, San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau, Schutt Sports, The National Association for Music Education, and Zildjian Cymbals. For more information on the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and its related events visit www.usarmyallamericanbowl.com & www.goarmy.com/events/aab.

This past Saturday the Avon Marching Black & Gold competed in two competitions: the Decatur Central Marching Band Invitational and the Center Grove Cavalcade of Champions. The Avon Band swept both shows and received first place in Class ‘A’.

Decatur Central Results

1) 85.10 – AVON
2) 76.70 – Warren Central HS

Best Music: AVON
Best Visual: AVON
Best General Effect: AVON
Best Percussion: AVON
Best Auxiliary: AVON

Center Grove Cavalcade of Champions

1) 85.30 – AVON
2) 80.15 – Ben Davis HS
3) 78.95 – Warren Central HS

Best Music: AVON
Best Visual: AVON
Best General Effect: AVON
Peoples’ Choice: Ben Davis HS

The Avon High School Band Family would like to thank Scott McCormick for his decades of dedication to music education as President and CEO of Bands of America and Music for All and wish him luck in the next chapter of his journey. The Marching Black and Gold look forward to another exciting fall and many years of Positively Life Changing Experiences at both Bands of America and Indiana State School Music Association events.