The James A. Garfield Band Department brought students, families, and the community together Sunday afternoon for the 33rd Annual District-Wide Spring Concert, Bands in the Round. Held May 18 at 2 p.m. in the JAG Fieldhouse, the event served as a culminating celebration of a year’s worth of instrumental music education and performance under the direction of Mr. Theo Cebulla and Mr. Joel Logan, with student teacher Ms. Tori Mateos assisting throughout the school year.
The concert showcased performers from fifth grade through high school, with each ensemble sharing a unique musical snapshot of their growth and dedication throughout the year.
The 5th Grade Concert Band opened the program with a spirited warm-up and lively renditions of “Mickey Mouse March” and “Let’s Go Band.” The 6th Grade Concert Band followed with imaginative pieces including “Creepy Crawlies,” the dramatic “Alien Crossfire,” and a crowd favorite, “Hang On Sloopy.” The Middle School Concert Band brought infectious energy with “March Bits and Pieces,” a bold arrangement of “Blackbeard,” and a whirlwind tour of international melodies in “Around the World in 80 Measures.”
The High School Concert Band delivered a cinematic and emotionally resonant program that highlighted their musical maturity and dynamic range. They opened with highlights from How to Train Your Dragon and Harry Potter, featuring sweeping melodies and heroic themes that transported listeners into beloved film worlds. But the centerpiece of their set was a powerful medley from the Broadway hit Wicked, which included “No One Mourns the Wicked,” “I’m Not That Girl,” “Defying Gravity,” “No Good Deed,” and “For Good.” The arrangement showcased the ensemble’s expressive capabilities and dramatic flair, drawing one of the day’s most enthusiastic audience responses. The set concluded with the upbeat “Holiday Road” and John Philip Sousa’s patriotic favorite, “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”
Capping the event, the James A. Garfield “EMHS” REALLY Big Band performed the school fight song, sending the crowd out with a final burst of school spirit.
Senior band members were recognized during the program, including Hallie Cebulla, Loreal Puleo, Ollie May, Tessa Burnworth, Aby Seiler, Simon Fergis, and Hannah Kernig.
High school section chairs for the 2024–25 season were also acknowledged: Aby Seiler (flute and piccolo), Eva VonBergen (clarinet), Loreal Puleo (alto saxophone), Tessa Burnworth (tenor saxophone), Hallie Cebulla (trumpet), Aaron Evans (trombone), Olivia Grcar (euphonium), Lillie Fynes (tuba), and Hannah Kernig (percussion principal chair).
The band program will perform at graduation on Saturday, May 24, and for a final time this school year at the Garrettsville Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26 at 9:00 a.m.
The community is invited to attend and support these talented young musicians as they close out a successful season of performance and learning.