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Evansville North Instrumental Music Program History
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The 2000’s |
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2000 - 2001 - The Green Brigade attended camp again at Eastern Illinois University. Competing in Class B competition, the Green Brigade grew to 155 members, making it the largest marching band in Evansville! The music style also changed, from jazz to contemporary. Mr. Shelley arranged the music taken from contemporary choral composer John Rutter's "Gloria." Another big step forward was taken when our drill was written by Michael Gaines, the drill writer for the World Champion Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corp. The combination of powerful music and exciting drill movements led the Green Brigade to an unprecendented 4 Grand Champion awards! Drum Major Nichole Daniels again returned to conduct the Green Brigade, winning every drum major award but one through the season. The Huskettes also took top honors for auxiliary in all but one competition. The Green Brigade received a Division I Rating at both the ISSMA District and Regional. Also in 2000, the Green Brigade and Concert Orchestra combined with the Concert Choir for the dedication of the new North Performing Arts Center. This event drew a capacity crowd for the debut performance. The North District Instrumental Music Festival, also held in the North PAC, featured the bands and orchestras from Evans, Oak Hill, and North. The highlights of the program were the performances of the 100-member combined string orchestra and the 230-member combined band. The North Concert Orchestra, with over 30 members, also had a very successful year. Two large string ensembles received Division I ratings at both District and State Solo/Ensemble competitions ... a first to have happen! The North Orchestra also received a Division I rating at the District Organization Contest in Group I competition. Members of the orchestra also performed in the North Spring Musical, the "Secret Garden." North was well represented with our musicians selected to the EVSC Honors Band, Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble. |
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North Auxiliary performing “Gloria” |
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2001 - 2002 Drum major Nichole Daniels, in her 3rd and final season, led the largest band in the history of North High School. The 165-member Green Brigade performed David Gillingham's "Gallactic Empires." Nichole won every drum major award but one, the percussion section and the auxiliary were named Best in Class on five different occasions, and the Green Brigade received 3 Grand Champion awards! It was another outstanding visual program designed by Michael Gaines of the Cavaliers. This was the year the North Orchestra had the distinction of having TWO large string ensembles receive a Division I Rating at both the ISSMA District and State Solo/Ensemble Competitions! Several orchestra members were chosen for the EVSC Honors Orchestra. Junior Alex Smith was named to the Indiana All-State Band. In Mr. Terry Becker's final Musical at North (Mr. Becker transferred to the Signature School), we presented Copacabana, which featured the orchestra in a club setting on stage as part of the production. This high energy show had all the ingredients - a very talented cast, fabulous set designs by Mr. Andy Herbertz, and an incredible brass section and orchestra that provided the foundation of the music. The North Band was also asked by Mayor Russell Lloyd, Jr. to perform for the Re-opening of the Main Street Walkway. The North Pep Band also performed for one of the NCAA Elite Eight Tournament Teams during the Division II National Basketball Tournament held at Roberts Stadium. |
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This was also the hardest music program ever attempted - music by the Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera. The Huskettes were a young group, but they still won many of the Best Auxiliary awards during the season. Unfortunately, rain kept the group from performing in uniform for the home crowd at our 3 home football games. The Green Brigade received a Division I Rating at both the ISSMA District and Regional competitions. They barely missed making State Finals, with 2 of the 4 judges having them in the top 5! The Green Brigade also traveled to Orlando, Florida where they once again performed in a parade in Disneyworld's Magic Kingdom. The 6-day trip included visits to Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic Ocean, to the EPCOT Center, to Medieval Times, and to MGM Studios. The North Orchestra once again had a large string ensemble receive a Division I Rating at both District and State contest. In the EVSC Honors Orchestra, Matt Williams (cello) and Lyndsey Dibble (viola) received lst chair positions. The orchestra and choir were also invited to perform for the Mayor Lloyd’s State of the City address, performing together to an arrangement by Mr. Shelley of "America the Beautiful." The 18-member EVSC Honors Jazz Ensemble, directed by Mr. Shelley, featured 5 North musicians, including 3 of the 5 trumpet players. David Mills was named lst trumpet in this group, performing along with Alex Smith and Noah Stubbs on trumpet, Pete Anderson on alto sax, and 4-year member Zach Fuchs on piano. The North Musical production was "Showboat." Unfortunately, due to EVSC budget problems, the school board decided to cut the K-5 instrumental program for the next year. The 69th production of This is Our Story, the nationally recognized and nationally acclaimed EVSC instrumental music extravaganza featuring student musicians from grades 4 through 12, was held for its final year under the current format. |
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The Green Brigade also mourned the passing of Nathan Schwent, a proud 4-year member of our percussion section, who died of cancer in the spring. Nathan, confined to a wheelchair since birth, had to rise above countless obstacles placed in his way, always kept an incredible positive attitude about achieving his goals, and was a huge inspiration to all of us who knew him. Nathan, who was buried in his North High School Band uniform, truly loved the North High School Band. |
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2002 - 2003 With some strong senior leadership in the band, the Green Brigade reached new heights never before attained. Junior Clay Hassler was chosen as drum major of the Green Brigade, and promptly won nearly all of the Best Drum Major captions during the season. Brian Nugent, Rory Brown, and Nick Conner helped develop the largest and most talented drumline we have ever had at North. This group, featuring 6 snares, 3 quints, 5 bass drums, and a talented pit percussion section, won nearly all the Best Percussion awards. |
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2003 - 2004 Senior Drum Major Clay Hassler did a phenomenal job conducting probably the most difficult show ever attempted by the Green Brigade - music selections by American composer Leonard Bernstein. Selections included: "Profanation" from the Jeremiah Symphony, "Make Our Garden Grow" from Candide, and "On the Waterfront." Bernstein's "Make Our Garden Grow" had special significance for us - 1973 North graduate David Eisler was personally selected by Mr. Bernstein for the lead tenor of Candide. During the marching season, Clay won nearly every drum major award in competitions. In addition, North's talented percussion section and auxiliary also won nearly all of their Best in Class awards. The 135-member Green Brigade, competing in ISSMA Class A, was one of only 2 Evansville bands to receive a Division I rating at the Regional level. The talented North Orchestra boasted several top EVSC Honors members - cellists Matt Williams, Susan Parmar, and Rachel Smith were named to the top 3 chair positions, violist Lyndsey Dibble was first chair in her section, and violinist Nicole Wittman was first chair in the 2nd violin section. |
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2004 - 2005 With a change to an all-black uniform, the Green Brigade presented a very entertaining program entitled "Parameters of Light." Mr. Richard Saucedo, Director of Bands at Carmel High School, composed the music. Mr. Tim Fairbanks of Centerville High School (Ohio) wrote the drill design for the show. The use of rainbow colors in the guard, a band dance during the percussion feature, and special colored waterfall backdrops designed by Mr. Jeff Cravens resulted in an outstanding program for the group! The Green Brigade won several lst place and Best In Class awards, including Gold Division ratings at both the ISSMA District and Regional competitions. The Green Brigade was led by junior Drum Major Liz Fisher. A highlight of the year was being invited to perform in Indianapolis for the Inauguration of Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. It marked the first time in over 24 years that an Evansville performing group had been included in an inaugural event. On April 2, 2004, the North Band Boosters sponsored a concert featuring legendary jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and his Big Bop Nouveau Band. Over 30 area trumpet students joined with Maynard in a unique, unforgettable performance of his hit, "Rocky." The concert marked the last Evansville appearance for Maynard Ferguson, who passed away in 2005. The Green Brigade also traveled to Disneyworld during Spring Break, performing at the Magic Kingdom in front of a crowd estimated to be 85,000 along the parade route! In March, band and orchestra members performed in North's Spring Musical, "The Pirates of Penzance." |
