OASD Band Students Perform Songs of the Season in Annual Band-O-Rama Concert
Middle and high school band students from across the Oshkosh Area School District joined in concert for this year’s Band-O-Rama event.
Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) band students in grades 6 through 12 gathered at Oshkosh North High School on Saturday, December 14, 2024 to “strike up the band” for another rendition of the annual “Band-O-Rama” concert.
CLICK HERE to watch the full concert recording.
The event was free and open to the public, allowing the entire community to enjoy a variety of winter-themed songs. More than 750 middle and high school students of all levels of experience - from enthusiastic beginners to seasoned performers - were seated across the entirety of the Oshkosh North Field House floor to play musical pieces side-by-side with their classmates from across the district.
The concert was led by band directors, music educators and student teachers from across the district - each taking turns conducting and assisting in the grade level and specialized student performances. OASD superintendent Dr. Bryan Davis welcomed families and community members and served as the evening’s master of ceremonies.
During the program, students performed musical pieces in groups determined by grade and skill levels. Each song performed was either related to the winter season or selected to best suit the learning experience of the student performers.
Program of Songs Performed at Band-O-Rama:
“For the New Day Arisen” by Steve Barton - Performed by Eighth through Twelfth Graders
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” Traditional arranged by Daniel Singer - Performed by Sixth-Grade Band
“Trepak” from The Nutcracker, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, arranged by Michael Story - Performed by Seventh-Grade Band
“Santa at the Symphony” arranged by Mark Williams - Performed by Eighth-Grade Band
“Instant Concert” by Harold L. Walters, edited by Daniel Singer - Performed by Wildcat, Spartan, and Concert Bands
“Midnight Sleighride” by Sergei Prokofiev, arranged by Eddie Sauter, Bill Finegan, and Tom Wallace - Performed by Varsity Band and Wind Ensembles
“Toboggan Ride” by Stan Applebaum - Performed by Varsity Band and Wind Ensembles
“Countdown to Christmas” arranged by Joseph Compello - Performed by Sixth-Grade Band
“When the Koalas do the Conga with the Kangaroos” by Len Orcino - Performed by
Seventh and Eighth-Grade Bands
“Angels Sing” arranged by Bill Calhoun - Performed by High School Bands
As the concert’s grand finale, all band students in attendance joined together for the final performance of “Three Ring Circus” by Adrian Sims. The final piece was composed and arranged by Sims specifically for Oshkosh band students as requested by the OASD band directors. The commissioned piece was funded through a special grant provided by the SOAR* volunteer board. Students were also able to speak with Mr. Sims via virtual calls in the days leading up to the concert about how he composed the piece and to receive feedback on their performances.
Student Reflections
Two students in the Oshkosh West band - Michael, a senior, and Gabe, a junior - conveyed their thoughts on this year’s Band-O-Rama concert, each sharing their favorite piece to perform and what it is like to perform with a large number of students in one space.
“My favorite song to play this year was ‘Midnight Sleighride’ because I like the interesting rhythms and measures in that piece,” said Gabe, an alto saxophone player.
“I agree,” added Michael, a percussionist, “There’s a great snare part in that song that I get to play. In other songs, I play more auxiliary percussion, but I like the snare part a lot more.”
When asked to describe their experiences performing in the Band-O-Rama concert, Gabe explained, “It’s a cool feeling getting to see everyone play at different levels. It reminds me of how I was in sixth-grade, and makes me think about how far I’ve come as a musician.”
“It’s loud,” Michael jested, “But it’s a great opportunity to be a role model for the younger students. We try to be positive and not to be judgmental of the younger kids, because it can be hard to be a younger kid surrounded by older students who have more experience than them.”
“They get to look up to us, too. I think it encourages the younger students to stay in band as they get older,” added Gabe. “We’re really only a couple years older than them, and someday they’ll be in our position as role models for the younger kids, so it’s important to encourage them and lead by example.”
Special Acknowledgments
The Oshkosh Area School District music educators would like to thank Panske Enterprises - who created the Band-O-Rama shirts for the student performers, Heid Music and the Oshkosh Area School District Education Foundation - for their support in procuring the concert shirts, and SOAR - for their grant to fund the “Three Ring Circus” commissioned piece.
The OASD music departments would also like to extend gratitude to the building staff, Oshkosh North custodians, event volunteers, student musicians and families for preparing the performance space, assisting with rehearsal and event operation, and dedicating their talent and time to make such a significant and unifying concert possible.
We loved to see so many Oshkosh families and community members fill the Oshkosh North Field House in support of our dedicated band students. Through the continued support of our community, musical celebrations like Band-O-Rama allow students to pursue their talents in music and bring joy to others during a time of year centered in giving and togetherness.
*Special Opportunities for Artistic Residencies (SOAR) - a non-profit organization run entirely by a volunteer board to provide Oshkosh students opportunities to experience music, art, literature, and drama from artists, writers, and performers of both local and national renown.