Medina Marching Band presents annual awards, names leaders for next year
Provided photo: The 2018-2019 student staff (for the Medina Marching Band includes: Drum Major – Maisie Griffin; Assistant Drum Majors – Alissa Blount & Ray Paul; Flute Section Leaders – Rebecca Lunden & Sarah Cochrane; Clarinet – Jessica Granchelli; Saxophone – Emma Baldwin; Mellophone – Lily Kiebala & Maisie Griffin; Trumpet – Erin Dunham; Trombone/Baritone – Kody Leno; Tuba – JP Pietrafesa; Front Ensemble – Jada Draper; Head Band Manager – Ray Paul; Band Managers – Travis Gotts, Shelby Martin, Dan Squire, Margaret Klotzbach & Dawson Brown; Uniforms – Libby Cook & Mary Flores; Secretary/Librarian/Attendance – Kali Schrader & Sophia Cardone; Color Guard Captain – Kaela Grosslinger; Color Guard Managers – Sarah Goodin, McKenna Callard & Talishiona Feitshans; Head of Percussion – Ben Zakes.
Courtesy of Medina Marching Bnad
MEDINA – The 48th annual Medina Mustang Band Banquet & Awards ceremony was held Saturday at the Ridgeway Fire Hall.
It was an evening of awards and reflection on the many accomplishments in the 2017-2018 school year. Special guests included Mark Kruzynski, school district superintendent; Kevin Lasky, Assistant High School Principal; Wendi Pencille, Board of Education member; and Jonathan Seiler who started and funded the Steele Family Scholarship in 2016.
The Booster Organization was credited for its continued dedication and commitment to the band. Outgoing officers were recognized and thanked for their help as well as the incoming officers.
Instructional staff were recognized: Drill & Music – Jeanette Sheliga; Color Guard Instructor – Katie Granchelli; Percussion – Jeff Pask, T.J. Gray and Brian King; Pit – Terry Steele and David Stacey; Color Guard Design and Instruction – Vinnie Monacelli, Kristen Costa and Diana Baker; Assistant Band Directors – Becky Botsford and Diana Baker. Joe Organisciak – Music Arranger; Percussion Instructors – Joe Guadagnino.
The Harry Dinkle Award was established to recognize someone who is not a Booster Officer but who volunteers a great deal of personal time and effort to the program. This year’s recipient is Shawn Callard.
The NYS Field Band Conference scholarship was given to Shelby Green. The Mustang Band Service Scholarship was established in honor of past boosters who gave countless hours of volunteer time. The scholarship was established by donations received in memory of deceased boosters. This year’s recipient is Madison Kenward.
The Steele Family Award was established in 2016 by Jonathan Seiler and given to a senior who has given their best throughout their years in the band program. This year’s recipient is Madison Kenward.
The Joseph C. McKain award is given to a junior and a senior in recognition of their dedication and commitment to the band. This year’s recipients are Ben Zakes, a junior, and Christian Hahn, a senior.
The Alfred Hartway Drum Major award was established in 1968 in loving memory of a man who was a bus driver and avid supporter of the band program. This year’s recipients are Shelby Green (Drum Major), and Madison Kenward and Brigid Keller (Assistant Drum Majors). Their names will be engraved on the plaque that is displayed in the high school.
Recognition was given to the Winter Guard program. This year Medina sponsored 3 WG units. Our newest guard, the Pony Cadets, consisted of 10 new sixth-graders who performed “Then & Now” featuring the music of Michael Jackson & Bruno Mars. They placed 4th in their class at the championships. The second guard unit, the Mustang Cadets, consisted of 13 students in grades 7 and 8 performing “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and won gold at the championships. The third guard unit, Medina’s Varsity Guard, consisted of 16 girls in grades 9-12 performing “24 Hours” and winning gold at the championships. Each girl received recognition along with a medal and patch.
Outstanding Band Member awards were given in three categories. Outstanding Rookies went to Will Roush (brass), Kaylee Lacey (woodwinds), Jaxon Phillips (percussion) and Ava Chambers (guard), Most improved went to Erin Dunham (brass), Kayleigh Wright (ww), August Pietrafesa (percussion) and Kiana Cleveland (guard). Most valuable went to Chris Woodroe (brass), Brigid Keller (ww), Ben Zakes (percussion) and Kaela Grosslinger (guard).
Director’s Award was given by Ms. Baker to Phallon Rivera; given by Mrs. Botsford to Shelby Martin; given by Mr. Steele to Sara Goodin.
Attendance awards are given to students who had perfect attendance in Fall, Spring and both. Service awards are given to students who have between 1 to 14 seasons of participation. Graduating seniors are given the medallions. Each student who held a staff position this past season was given a plaque. The Junior Prologue was given by Alissa Blount and the Senior Epilogue by Shelby Green. A slide show of the year’s events was prepared by Katie Granchelli and Diana Baker.
The 2018 Fall show is entitled “Together As One” and practices begin June 12 for the various musical sections and a full band rehearsal starting June 19. Band Camp runs August 6-10.
