They are one of the most successful programs in the King Philip school system. Hundreds of students have participated over the years, and they have won numerous local and national awards. Area students are getting ready to head back to school soon, but participants in the KP music program, especially marching band, have been hard at work all summer.
According to Barbara Snead, president of King Philip Music Association (KPMA), marching band students have spent much of the summer practicing for the fall season. They had weekly rehearsals through August until leaving for band camp, held at Camp Mataponi in Naples, Maine. At band camp, the group practiced 9.5 hours a day, and upon return to Wrentham, practiced 13 hours a week until the start of the competition season. During the season, the students will average 18 to 20 hours a week of practice.
“Marching band is pretty rigorous,” noted Snead.
The program is growing, and the number of marching band students has increased this year, to 75. This puts the program in Division IV, said Snead.
The band will perform its preview show on Sunday, September 17 on the high school’s turf field. The public is invited to come out and see the band in its first performance of the year. Complimentary food will be available to thank the community for its support, said KPMA board member Cindy O’Rourke. Admission is free.
Also in September, the KPMA boosters will host the second annual Sippin ‘n September fundraiser. Billed as an evening of beer, wine, and spirits tasting, the event will also include dinner, dancing, and raffles. The event is planned for Friday, September 22 at Raffael’s in Walpole from 6 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $60 per person and are available for purchase at www.kingphilipmusic.org. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
This year the marching band will have a new director who already knows a thing or two about the program. Michael Keough, the band director at KP Middle School, has switched roles with Joshua Wolloff, director of the high school’s music program, who has returned to the middle school.
The move, made for professional and personal reasons, will likely not impact the success of the district’s programs. Keough had already been involved with the high school’s program for several years. He is a graduate of UMass Amherst, with a degree in music education and trumpet performance. He has his master’s degree from the American Band College in Oregon.
Keough said his primary goal for the high school’s music program is to continue the level of excellence it has enjoyed for the past thirty years.
“I’m excited to see this year’s marching band competitive show come together and I am also excited to work with students I taught at the middle school,” said Keough.
Like Keough, Wolloff is also familiar with his new role. He was director of the middle school music program when Peter Tileston was the high school program’s head. Wolloff says his goal for the middle school music program is similar to Keough’s: to continue to provide outstanding music education.
Wolloff added, “I hope to encourage the students to be life-long learners, to apply the lessons learned in the music program to all aspects of their lives and to be advocates of arts education.”
Issue Date:
September, 2017
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