ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Iowa High School Music Association has awarded its Distinguished Academic Achievement Award to the following Urbandale High School Bands for the Fall 2020 semester.
- Wind Symphony: 3.69 GPA
- Wind Ensemble: 3.57 GPA
- Symphonic Band: 3.32 GPA
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Students of the Instrumental Music Department gave over 15 performances throughout the school year. Performance opportunities were greatly limited by COVID-19.
CONCERT BAND
The Band Department utilized both traditional and hybrid ensembles performing at 4 local events throughout the year. All three concert bands performed virtually at State Large Group. The Wind Symphony earned the highest available rating: Division I (reserved for “superior” performances), while Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band were awarded Division II ratings (categorized as “excellent” performances).
MARCHING BAND
The 160-member J-Hawk Marching Band is UCSD’s largest single performing ensemble. They performed a total of 5 local performances throughout the season. The band was unable to perform at State Contest due to COVID-19. The marching band also performed at the Homecoming Parade.
JAZZ BAND
The Jazz Bands performed at 2 local concerts and 2 virtual clinics this year. The Urbandale Jazz Colloquium was cancelled due to COVID-19.
SOLO AND CHAMBER ENSEMBLE FESTIVALS RESULTS
On February 11, 2021, Urbandale High School Instrumental Music Department entered 70 events into the Perry Band Olympics Solo & Small Ensemble Contest. Performing alongside students from across the state of Iowa, Urbandale’s students earned 27 Division-I ratings. The following students were further highlighted against nearly 500 other entries with these “podium finishes” within their respective categories:
Katelyn Knight 1st 9-10 Flute Solo
Sophia Huber 2nd 9-10 Flute Solo
Kiki Ibsais 4th 9-10 Flute Solo
Anna Holub 3rd 11-12 Flute Solo
Alexis Judge 3rd 11-12 Bass Clarinet
Michael Andrews 1st 11-12 Bassoon Solo
Addie Kerr 2nd 11-12 Clarinet Solo
Jack Neas 3rd 9-10 Alto Sax Solo
Cody Iwig 4th 11-12 Tenor Sax Solo
Mia Tessier 2nd 9-10 Bari Sax Solo
Autumn Sheppard 1st 11-12 Bari Sax Solo
Kenji Bachman 2nd 11-12 Horn Solo
Daniel Bacuyag 4th 11-12 Horn Solo
Will Schumacher 5th 11-12 Trumpet Solo
Nathan Boorman 5th 11-12 Trombone Solo
Sia Smith 2nd 9-10 Euphonium Solo
Liam Holman 4th 11-12 Euphonium Solo
Aurora Murphy 3rd 9-10 Tuba Solo
Taylor Beron 2nd 9-10 Mallet Solo
Knight/Huber 1st 9-10 Like Duet
Urbandale Woodwind Quintet 1st 11-12 Small WW Ensemble
ALL-STATE BAND AND ORCHESTRA
On Wednesday, Oct. 21st, Urbandale High School had 21 students audition for the Iowa Instrumental All-State Festival. Statewide over 1000 instrumental student-musicians audition and approximately 17% of the candidates are selected and recognized amongst the top musicians in the state. These Urbandale students were among those selected:
Accepted:
Michael Andrews, 11th grade, bassoon, 3rd year
Autumn Sheppard, 11th grade, bari saxophone, 1st year
Alternates:
Nathan Boorman, 12th grade, trombone, 1st alternate
Addie Kerr, 11th grade, Bb clarinet, 1st alternate
ALL-STATE JAZZ BAND
Selection for the Iowa All-State Jazz Band occurs through a competitive recorded audition process. Students submit a recording of a challenging jazz etude and an improvised solo. This year Hudson Lybarger was accepted as an alternate tenor saxophonist.
South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor Band (SCIBA)
On December 3, Urbandale High School had 26 students submit video auditions for the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association (SCIBA) Honor Band. The following students were selected:
- Thea Alex – Clarinet
- Kenji Bachmann – French Horn
- Daniel Bacuyag – French Horn
- Nathan Boorman – Trombone
- Anna Holub – Flute
- Sophia Huber – Flute
- Addie Kerr – Clarinet
- Katelyn Knight – Flute
- Hudson Lybarger – Tenor Sax
- Alexia Murano – Flute
- Cory Pair – Clarinet
- Josie Rose – Clarinet
IOWA BANDMASTER’S AWARD OF MERIT
Senior, Nathan Boorman, was awarded the Iowa Bandmaster’s Award of Merit for his musical achievement, work ethic, and service to the organization over the course of his entire tenure in high school band.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG JAZZ AWARD
Senior, Evan Rains, was awarded the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award for his contributions, achievement, and study of jazz music.
VARSITY LETTER WINNERS
Each year band students have the opportunity to earn a Varsity Letter in band by participating in numerous optional performance and educational opportunities. In 2021, 73 band students, or 45%, earned a Varsity Letter.
Freshmen Letter Winners
Josiah Beiser, Taylor Beron, Evangelina Ellison, Matthew Fletcher, Truman Folkers, Ethan Giles, Audrey Hager, Nikolas Hudak, Claire Ibsais, Hudson Lybarger, Hope Stice, Ian Swacker, Din Terzic, Mia Tessier, Vivian Tessier, Anna Thompson, Kiersten Van Horn
Sophomore Letter Winners
Hannah Field, Sophia Huber, Katelyn Knight, Ana Mamola, Aurora Murphy, Jack Neas, Josh Neas, Max Obrecht, Cory Pair, Quinn Panos, Gillian Saylor, Sia Smith, Jenna Vander Hart
Junior Letter Winners
Michael Andrews, Kylie Bakke, Eli Brockman, Alivia Cronk, Kaylee Fletcher, Bryce Getz, Jacque Hernandez, Cody Iwig, Luis Jimenez, Alexis Judge, Addie Kerr, Liz Luke, Dylan Luong, Elise McDowell, Sahithi Narmnada, Alayna Sand, Megan Sawyer, Will Schumacher, Autumn Sheppard, Aaron Spidle, Jacob Walters
Senior Letter Winners
Thea Alex, Kenji Bachmann, Daniel Bacuyag Nathan Boorman, Calli Cairo, Reece Cairo, Maddy Cunningham, Alisa Deo, Jaden DuBois, Devin Ensley, Elias Fefchak-Robinson, Alivia Harshbarger, Anna Holub, Logan Ingraham, Brianna Krueger, Alexia Murano, Luke Murano, Grace Pearson, Evan Rains, Josie Rose, Jackie Royston, Logan Valle
Participants
Conner Anderson, Regan Anderson, Andrew Antunez, Emily Arntzen, Hanah Auxier, Lucia Ayala, Rylan Beaman, Chivon Bowley, Skyler Blanchard, Madeline Brostad, Hayden Childes, Megan Coffelt, Lillian Cola, Kayla Collum, Robert Cross, Ella Darsee, Cadence Davis, Elliott Dix, Tyler Fraaken, Will Fuchs, Leah Gardner, Colin Giles, Akira Gunn, Sam Haenzi, Skylar Haenzi, Drew Hamilton, Liam Holman, Tristan Holman, Allison Hoye, Jessica Hoye, Jonathan Hudak, Jessie Hunter, Finley Jacobson, Madeline Kapela, Rebecca Krugler, Anna Legler, Jonathan Lingg, Lilly Logue, Maia Lozovich, Liberty Luna, Daniel Mabota, Jessica Macie, Amara Marks, Abdi Martinez, Lemuel Martinez, Lucas McCannon, Amela Medinoski, Rachaelle Mendoza, Carter Menke, Logan Mills, Kaitlyn Molis, Alex Moran, Sean Murphy, Jimmie-Rae Namink, Grace Nelson, Tyler Nguyen, Gillian Persampieri, Brad Pettit, Sabbath Pollock, Ciri Quirk, Dylan Rains, Nolan Rains, Olivia Raymond, Emma Ritter, Crystal Ruden, Sophie Rugama, Alec Rullman, Joe Schmidt, Ian Sharp, Kaidyn Shull, Mark Sibley, Macy Stutler, Zach Sweet, Allisyn Ternes, Kyle Tran, Michael Trotter, Maya Vanderleest, Gabe Van Haecke, Danielle Van Zante, Parker Westhoff, Kara Wildermuth, Genevieve Williams, Zoey Worrell, Delaney Young, Megan Young