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1998-99:

November 2, 1998 ~ Baxter Bulletin

Bomber Band Wins 'Grand Champion'

The Mountain Home High School Marching band completed its competitive marching season by winning the title of grand champion in the Northwest Arkansas Invitational Marching Classic, held Saturday on the campus of Siloam Springs High School.

The MHHS band became the first band in history of the contest to be named grand champion in consecutive years, and also won the awards for overall music performance.  In preliminary competition, Mountain Home was named the first place winner in class D competition (larger bands) with a score of 91.0.  In finals competition, the MHHS band raised its score to 91.33, and was named the first place finalist.

Other bands selected for finals competition and their scores were:  second place, Conway, 89.33; third place, Van Buren, 88.67; fourth place, Arkadelphia, 88.0; fifth place, Charles Page High School, Sand Springs, Okla., 87.33; sixth place, Lakeside High School, Hot Springs, 85.67; seventh place, Huntsville, 85.0; eighth place, Bixby, Okla., 83.5; ninth place, Fayetteville, 81.67; tenth place, West Fork, 78.17.

This is only the second year in which MHHS Band has won two championships in the same school year.  In its first competition of the year, MHHS was named the grand champion of the Three States Invitational marching contest in Huntsville.  In three competitions using preliminary/finals format, the MHHS band has competed with over 50 bands from Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma; and only the Jonesboro band has received a higher competition score than the Bomber Band -- by seven-tenths of a point in the finals of the Arkansas Open.  The MHHS Band also received a First Division rating in the Region One Marching Contest held in Springdale.

The next performance by the MHHS Band will be at half-time of the MH/Little Rock Hall football game Friday evening (Nov. 6) at Bomber Stadium.  The final marching performance will be Nov. 10, as the band presents its annual band exhibition.

 


October 12, 1998 ~ Baxter Bulletin

MH band takes first

The Mountain Home High School 1998-99 marching band won first place at the three-state invitational marching contest Saturday in Huntsville.

They also won the outstanding music award. Twenty bands competed in the preliminaries; the judges selected 10 for further competition and MHHS band took first place.

Mountain Home band wins grand champion

The Mountain Home High School marching band began its competitive season  by winning the title of "grand champion" of the Three-State Invitational Marching contest in Huntsville Saturday.

The Mountain home band finished the preliminary competition in second place behind the Marionville, Mo., band, but came back with a score of 93.33 in the finals to capture the overall championship.  Marionville finished in second place with a score of 92.50.

In preliminary class D competition, the Mountain Home band finished with a score of 86.67, and earned trophies for outstanding percussion line, outstanding horn line and best in class.  In addition, the band was awarded one of only three first division ratings given in the 22-band competition.  Bands from Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma made up the field for the event.

In the finals, the MHHS band also was awarded the overall outstanding music award.

Bands selected for the finals competition and their ranking and score are as follows: (10) Catoosa, Ok., 67.17; (9) Branson, Mo., 69.67; (8) Shiloh Christian, Springdale, 74.33; (7) West Fork, Ar. 74.50; (6) Harrision, Ar. 75.17; (5) Siloam Springs, Ar. 76.33; (4) Spiro, Ok., 80.17; (3) Aurora, Mo., 85.67; (2) Marionville, Mo., 92.50; (1) Mountain Home, Ar., 93.33.

 


1997-98

 

October 20, 1997~Baxter Bulletin

MH Band wins 2nd in 4-state event

Bomber band also takes 1st in its class

 

The Mountain Home High School Marching Band stepped into the winner's circle Saturday night with a second-place finish in a four-state marching band competition at Carthage, Mo.

Finishing first in its class, the band was among the top 10 of 34 competitors to advance to the overall competition in the annual Maple Leaf Marching Festival, held in conjunction with Carthage's citywide fall festival.

"I am very proud of what they did," band Director Robert Nelson said of his performers. Finishing second only to the marching band from Jefferson City, Mo., Nelson said "It's as close as we've ever come to pulling an upset" again a band he said essentially "can't be beat."

But after Mountain Home's "outstanding" performance in the finals, Nelson said he believed an upset was indeed possible.

Competition began Saturday afternoon with preliminary performances, during which bands were judged in four class divisions based on size. Mountain Home competed in Class C - the second largest division. The band marched away with a first-division rating - the highest, according to Nelson - as well as awards for outstanding percussion line, outstanding horn line, "a music award," Nelson said, and best in class.

That stellar performance secured a position in the overall competition that evening of the day's top 10 bands. Mountain Home finished only a point and a half behind Jefferson City, Nelson said. The band marched its final performance of the day at 11:30 Saturday night.

Anyone who attended Mountain Home's homecoming Oct. 10 got a preview of the show performed at the competition. Nelson said it's based on "Phantom of the Opera," something he and the students had wanted to do since performing concert music from the play last spring, Additionally, advanced placement English students will be traveling to Memphis in November to see a production of "Phantom of the Opera."

Music from "Phantom" provided a dramatic opening to the band's marching performance, which begins softly with much of the band behind a four-panel "curtain" that opens as the score intensifies to include the entire band. Next, a slower, more dignified "Fire of Eternal Glory" is performed, followed by "One More Time, Frankie and Johnny." Nelson said the show is tied together with a closing number, "Music of the Night," also from "Phantom of the Opera." He said the attempt to offer the largest variety was one factor considered by judges at the competition.

On Mountain Home's performance, "Judges' comments were really favorable," Nelson said. "I was very pleased. ... We come back in the finals with a strong performance," and Nelson said he began to believe the young performers might beat the unbeatable Jefferson City. In addition to finishing first overall, Jefferson City also walked away with the outstanding music award, but Mountain Home was only a half-point behind, Nelson said. "The band played very well."

Five of the 10 finalists Mountain Home faced were from larger competition classes. Only two other top 10 bands were from Arkansas: Fayetteville, which finished eighth; and Siloam Springs, which finished ninth. The competition featured 34 bands from Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.

Nelson, who designs the band's shows, said he gets help from two other school district directors, Pinkston Middle School's Michelle Goode and the Junior High School's Bill Maxwell, in helping teach the show to the students. Volunteers Dan and Brandy Smakal work with the flag line and Pam Smith works with the majorettes to develop complementary routines for them.

Next, the band travels to Springdale on Tuesday for Arkansas' Region I Marching Contest. Then it's over to Siloam Springs Nov. 1 for the Marching Classic, which will end the marching band's competition season.

 


November 4, 1997~Baxter Bulletin

MHHS Band Wins Top Awards

 

Mountain Home High School Band came away with four awards from the Northwest Arkansas Invitational Marching Classic at Siloam Springs High School Saturday.

Competing with 15 other bands, Mountain Home came away with the Grand Champion title, the Best in Class title and the High Point Music title. The majorette line walked away with the Outstanding Twirling Line Title.

The band's competition selections include "Think of Me," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Fire of Eternal Glory," "One More Time, Frankie and Johnny," and "Music of the Night."

Elizabeth Taglauer, Brigid Regan, and Bill Stahlman had trumpet solos while Aaron Baker had a trombone solo and Kerri Maxwell performed a French horn solo.

     


        Baxter Bulletin

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

 

TO A GREAT BAND - Year after year, the Mountain Home High School Band brings home a truckload of awards from the competitions it enters. This year is no exception. In the recent Northwest Arkansas Invitational Marching Classic in Siloam Springs, the Bomber Band won four awards: Grand Champion, Best in Class, High Point Music, and Outstanding Twirling Line. This follows another successful showing in a Missouri band contest. This is a tribute to a bunch of fine young men and women who work hard to achieve the superior level of marching and musical ability. It is also a tribute to band director Robert Nelson and his associates, Bill Maxwell and Michelle Goode, who do such a fine job of molding these students into champions.

 


November 10, 1997~MHHS Contrails (school paper)

Heart and Soul -

Band season in review

 

Every day students from all over the campus can look out at the practice field and see an organization coming together time after time. This organization brings students from every social circle and molds them into one finely honed marching band. Members of this band comment repeatedly on the sense of unity and pride.

"This is one of the few groups in school where students who come from different social circles and possess such diverse personalities are completely in tune (no pun intended) and aware of each other and focused on a common goal... of winning," stated Kerri Maxwell.

For many students at MHHS the band is merely halftime entertainment, yet for band members marching is a form of expression. From staying in step to playing in tune, band members constantly strive to attain perfection. "I love everything, from knowing all the hard work pays off to the look on Annie Bergman's (Drum major) face when we play "Fire of Eternal Glory" with feeling," said Emily Jones.

"A typical student's idea of a good time would not usually include meeting in August, before school begins, on the parking lot to spend 9 hours a week practicing," said Donald Calhoun.

What makes band members stay with such a demanding program? Why do they constantly strive to reach a state of perfection? Who inspires them and why? As Trevor Bessner stated, "It's not a family... It's a dynasty."

 

Band named Grand Champions

 

In early August before school began this year, any interested observer could witness approximately 120 students doing push-ups. The football team? No, the band.

With sweat running down faces, the band started to learn what it takes to become champions. Two months later, after earning a wide range of awards and honors, those 120 students know what it takes to come in first.

At the Siloam Springs Northwest Arkansas Invitational Marching Competition, the band finished its marching season taking four of the highest honors. Those included a trophy for best twirlers and 1st place in class D. In their finals performance, they won the high point music award - the most prestigious of caption awards. For the grand finale of the season, the band took the 1st place finalist trophy, and the title of Grand Champions.

The winning band earned may other awards at various competitions, which marked this year as one of the best.

The marching season will conclude on Monday at Bomber Stadium with the annual exhibition, featuring the junior high and high school bands.

 

Students see director as driving force

After over 30 years as band director, Robert Nelson is truly a legend. It's no surprise that every student interviewed said that the reason they are willing to work so hard to attain excellence both in the marching season and in concert season is Mr. Nelson.

"Mr. Nelson is not just a teacher, he is an icon of the best things band has to offer. He demands respect by pulling at your heart and makes you want to go and conquer the world," said band member Carrie Stone.

Students in band care what Mr. Nelson thinks and feels about the band. "Mr. Nelson is one of the most incredible men I've ever met. For over 30 years he has inspired thousands of students to give their time, energy, sweat, and talent to band. There are not many people who can do that. It's amazing that with one stare or one small smile you are able to tell what he's feeling, and those expressions are what pushes us to work harder and what lets us know we've done okay," said Kerri Maxwell.

This year Mr. Nelson's assessment of the band is high. "I feel good. It is musically one of the best bands in a long time. I am seeing different attitudes than at the beginning of the year. I am also seeing people who are ready to work," said Mr. Nelson.

Students agree that Mr. Nelson pushes them to be the best. He expects continual improvement.

Every year, students hope to be better then the last. "We have a much better foundation and leadership with over eighty upperclassmen stepping in and taking the load. There have been years when it started smoother, and it has taken a while to adjust, but now students are getting down to work, making the band something to be proud of," stated Mr. Nelson.

When asked about his high point of the season, Mr. Nelson noted the performance at Carthage. "The music in the finals was the best we've played, but it's still not as good as its going to be."

At times, the band lets Mr. Nelson down. The feeling of failure that students have is unbelievable. "The worst part of marching in high school as a whole would definitely be seeing Mr. Nelson's face (which is the same look on ours) after performing in front of an audience, whether it be at a football game or a panel of judges at a competition," said Stone.

"The low point of this season was the Conway football game. It wasn't prepared for and was not good," said Mr. Nelson.

Some people may wonder why students stay in band for so long with all the hard work and stress, but only people may wonder why students stay in band for so long with all the hard work and stress, but only people in band and Mr. Nelson know how great it feels to have the discipline and hard work pay off. "When I see people smiling and hear people clapping and screaming for us, that gives me chills," said Amanda Garlough. "Some students just come to see if it is as hard as people say, but most come to band and want to work," Mr. Nelson stated.

A band director's experiences are so many and so great, Mr. Nelson says he "doesn't know if he can pick out just one experience as the best." When Mr. Nelson looks out over the band and sees students faces and knows they are experiencing the music and not just playing it, he feels like he reaches his goal. It is something both the student and the director is involved in. Every year has something memorable in it.

Being a band director has many twists to it and there is not just one good thing about it. Mr. Nelson said that one of the best experiences is to have past students come back and say how music has affected their lives. "If there was just one good thing, I wouldn't have stayed around so long," Mr. Nelson said, smiling.