Note from Mr. C...

It is with admiration and a touch of sadness that we say farewell to the Class of 2024. Together we received 4 Gold Ratings with Distinction in Music and Marching at ISSMA Marching Festival, Gold Ratings at Concert Band Contest in Gr 3 as Freshmen and in Gr. 2 and 1 as Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors. Many of those performances earned With Distinction and Sight Reading Awards! Gold Ratings with Distinction in Gr. 1 Jazz Resulted in All Music Awards for Band and the 2024 ISSMA Total Department Award thanks to your hard work along with our friends in the HHS Choirs. There were so many great memories and musical moments along the way. The Militia Band Disney Trip in 2022 and the Exchange Trip with the Worcester City Brass in 2023-24. Congratulations Class of 2024 and Continue to do great things wherever you are!

To the incoming Class of 2028 - Welcome! You’re a part of the Harrison Band family now. Like anything else in life, you get out what you put in. Great friendships, fun times, and wonderful music making experiences are all available to you. I encourage you to get involved in one or more of our extra curricular bands as a way of making friends beyond your band class and getting the most out of your HS band experience. Parents, I encourage you to be involved as well. There are many volunteer opportunities in the Band Booster organization and your participation truly makes a difference for your student. Here’s to a fantastic summer break and a great school year!

-Mr. C

Note from Mr. C -

Welcome to the 2024-25 school year and the Harrison Band Program. As I write this, we have completed the first month of Marching Band and are about to have our second performance of the season by the Militia Band with three home games, ISSMA Contest and the Showband Spectacular to go. Watch for our Militia Band Disney Trip “Pop the Balloons” Fundraiser which begins Tuesday, September 3rd.

Concert Bands are under way and preparing for our Wednesday October 16th Fall Band Concert which will feature Freshman, Intermediate and Advanced Concert Bands as well as the Advanced Jazz Band. Concert Band uniforms are Tan / Khaki dress pants, Dress shoes, dark colored socks and the Harrison Bands Polo Shirts. Shirts can be purchased through the Band Gear Order Form which will go out in a Student Parent Email the first week of September. All Freshman band students will need a shirt. Upperclassmen may use a previous year's shirt, if it still fits. If the cost of a shirt is prohibitive, please contact the band office and one will be provided. Also, watch for our traditional all bands fundraiser Fannie May Chocolates and Florida Citrus Sale that Begins in mid October. Our Band Booster organization supports all of the activities of the Band Department, including a $3000 per semester allotment for Concert Band support, Equipment purchases and more. We ask that all students participate at some level in our once a year sales oriented fundraising.

As the year progresses, look for announcements and assignments on our class Canvas pages. Many questions about Band general Information can be answered on the FAQs page of the Band Website.

Finally, thank you as parents, for supporting your student in their musical endeavors. We hope you will attend concerts and enjoy the outcomes. Parent volunteerism is an important part of our Band program. Look for opportunities to get involved and meet other band parents as they help our students succeed! Our Band Boosters organization will contact with volunteer opportunities such as the November 23rd Craft Show and the February 8th Solo and Ensemble Event. Although they might not say it, the students appreciate your involvement in their activities.

-Mr. C

Class of 2024

2024 Award Winners

Pedro Baptista
Margaret Blessinger
Alexander Booska
Slade Brown
Blake Cherkauer
Audrey Circle
Jonathan Clinton
Camden French
Garrett Grossman
Luke Hainje
Leah Hosler
Rebecca Kaluf
Andrew Kang
Brooke Kerkhoff
Kaydence Miller
Lupita Mejia-Garcia
Gavin Marfell

Noelle Moon
Abril Mota
Natalie Newell
Kira Newman
Peyton O'Brien
Josely Olivares-Soto
Carter Palmer
Autumn Rendina
Kendyll Ritter
Eryn Roland
Joshua Sanson
Sean Sharp
Maci Smith
Sophia Sturgeon
Lucas Vanlerberghe
Dakota Virkler

Outstanding Band Member: Jazz 2: Sara Restrepo
Adv. Jazz: Hayden Boyer
Freshman Band: Dante Thompson, Anna Mott, Zach Havel
Intermediate Band: Keira Buck, Jonathan Mills
Advanced Band: Addy Welch
Musicianship Award: Garrett Grossman, Rebecca Kaluf, Andrew Kang, Peyton O’Brien, Leah Hosler
Senior Band Awards: Instrumentalist Merit: Pedro Baptista, Andrew Kang
Arion Award: Blake Cherkauer
Performing Arts Dept. Award: Peyton O’Brien
Woody Herman Award: Luke Hainje
Louis Armstrong Award: Gavin Marfell
Director’s Award: Rebecca Kaluf
Patrick Gilmore Award: Garrett Grossman
John Philip Sousa Award: Leah Hosler
Twirler Recognition: Audrey Circle

Thank you to Gibson’s Shaved Icefor their support during band camp!

Regular season marching band schedule

Aug:
Tue
8/13,20,27
Music Rehearsal
2:45-4 PM
Wed
8/14,21,28
Marching Rehearsal
6-8 PM
Fri
8/30
Game Day
2:45-9:30 PM
Fri
8/23
Marching
2:45-4:30
Sept:
Tue
9/3,10,17,24
Music Rehearsal
2:45-4 PM
Wed
9/4,11,18,25
Marching Rehearsal
6-8 PM
Fri
9/20
Game day
2:45-9:30 PM
Fri
9/6,13,27
Marching
2:45-4:30 PM
Sat
9/28
ISSMA Contest
All Day
Oct:
Tue
10
Music Rehearsal
2:45-4 PM
Wed
3
Marching Rehearsal
6-8 PM
Fri
10/4
Game day
2:45-9:30 PM
Sat
10/12
Showband Spectacular
6 PM
Fri
10/18
Volunteer Pep Band Only
2:45-9:30 PM
Dec:
Sat
12/7
Lafayette Christmas Parade
TBA

Showband Spectacular

Saturday, October 12th
McCutcheon High School
Time: 6PM

Home Game Performance schedule

August 30th September 20th, October 4th

2:45-4:45 Rehearsal

5:00 Dinner in cafeteria

5:45 Dress in uniform

6:15 Warm-up and Tuning in Band Room

6:30 March to Stadium

6:45 Pregame Show

7:45 (approx.) Halftime Show

After halftime Change out of uniform and 3rd Q break

9:30 (approx.) Band dismissed when game ends

ISSMA Marching Band Festival

Saturday, September 28th Southport High School Time: TBA

HHS Band Booster

Craft show

Save the date!

Saturday, November 23

9am-2pm

Harrison High School

Admission = $2

10 & under = free


2024 Harrison Militia Band
Presents

The Music of

TAYLOR SWIFT

2024 Militia Band Leadership Team

Directors: Mr. Cotten, Mr. Koleszar, Mr. Caudill
Drum Major: Ava Wildoner
Section Leaders: Flutes: Abby Schneider
Clarinets: Alyse Kline, Noah Schultz
Saxophones: Clay Meister, Seth VanHoosier, Janae Vandenburg
Trumpet: Ryanna Meunier, Addelyn Welch
Mellophones: Emma Wells
Twirler: Ayla Isenburg
Low Brass: Cavin Bentley, Zachary Knotts, Eli Meyer
Drums: Sasha Lyutikova, Ben MarcAurele


Thank you!

THANK YOU to all who volunteered to help with fitting and hemming Militia Band uniforms during band camp week! We could not have done it without you! Another big shoutout to, Uniform CoordinatorS Bobbi Wells and Rhonda Peck, for their leadership in this effort!

HARRISON BAND PARENTS:
Bringing the Magic to Life!

Bringing the Magic to Life! No matter which band your student joins at HHS, parent volunteers play a crucial role in creating musical magic for our kids.

Please take a quick moment to skim the list of Band Volunteer Opportunities!

Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, feel free to explore any roles that interest you or request more information before deciding. This approach helps us match volunteers with preferred tasks and provide you with the necessary details. Thank you!

Questions?
Contact Co-Presidents:

Diane Kelley (dkelley@harrisonbandboosters.org)
Jackie Knotts (jknotts@harrisonbandboosters.org)

2024-2025 Tentative Band Schedule

*All dates are subject to change. Any changes will be announced and publicized via email, band website, and Facebook.

August

5-9 Marching Band Camp MB

30 Home Football Game MB

September

20 Home Football Game MB

28 ISSMA Marching Festival MB

October

4 Home Football Game (Band Senior Night) MB

12+ Showband Spectacular MB

16* Fall Band Concerts (7pm) ACB, J1

15 TSC N Band Festival (7pm) AB

18 Volunteer Pep Band Only MB

27 Possible Football Sectional Home Game MB

November

23 HHS Band Booster Craft Show

December

4* Holiday Concerts (7pm) AJB, ACB

7+ Lafayette Christmas Parade MB

January

23 Community Jazz Showcase J1

25 Purdue Jazz Fest J1

February

1+ District Solo & Ensemble Contest ACB

March

8 ISSMA Jazz Festival J1

7-9 Spring Musical PB

12* Jazz Concert AJB

April

11-12*+ ISSMA Contest FB/IB

May

2-3* ISSMA State Qualifiers AB

10*+ State Finals if selected AB

14* Spring Concerts/Awards (7pm) ACB, J1

June

1 Harrison Graduation Grad Band

2024–2025 Band Booster Officers & Committee Chairs

Elected Officers

Co-President Diane Kelley............................................765-337-4605

Co-President Jackie Knotts...........................................317-445-9613

Co-Vice President Cara Wetzel.................................... 765-414-1325

Co-Vice President Chris Peck...................................... 765-427-0395

Communications Secretary Terra Kline .......................765-412-0510

Recording Secretary Alyson Welch..............................765-430-2597

Treasurer Kim Schoonmaker ........................................515-290-6118

Harrison Band Staff

Director of Bands Steve Cotten ....................................765-772-7666

Assistant Director Doug Koleszar ................................765-772-7665

All parents and guardians of any student in the Band program at Harrison High School are part of the Harrison Band Boosters. Our success depends on the support and cooperation of each one of you!

Committee Chairs

Militia Band Uniforms Bobbi Wells ...............317-412-4037

Chamber Winds Uniforms Jackie Knotts.............317-445-9613

Marching Band Meals Jessica Schneider....... 765-476-3153

Memory Book Coordinator Jodi McClure........ 765-428-0526

Craft Show Vendors Deb Rolofson ........... 419-957-8178

Craft Show Publicity Alyson Welch.......... 765-430-2597

Terra Kline..............765-412-0510

Craft Show Café Miranda Virkler....... 219-204-0323

Fruit/Candy Fundraiser Allyson VanHoosier...765-409-0128

Photography Paul Niles ................... 765-588-7411

Solo & Ensemble Diane Kelley ............. 765-337-4605

Jackie Knotts ........... 317-445-9613