We have had a great start to our fall season as a performing group. The Pep Band kicked it off with several performances at Football and Volleyball games. The Band is loyal to our teams and eager enjoys providing the much needed musical enthusiasm at our athletic team events.
We introduced a new practice tool this year with the use of personal student laptops. It is called Smartmusic. It provides each band student with a personal tutorial interactive program that they can practice with to learn their parts for our band performances. So far the purchase of the program has been voluntary, cost $30.00 per student or family. It is a wonderful way to practice at home because you are able to play along with a virtual band and learn by hearing how your part is played. Parents are encouraged to purchase this program for their students in band by visiting www.smartmusic.com and registering.
The Loyola Jazz Crusaders performed their first concert of the 2009-2010 school year on October 8th, in the Loyola Gymnasium. Our group has styled itself after the “small big band” sound with 2 Alto saxes, 2 Trumpets and a Trombone and Rhythm. We enjoyed playing tunes by Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and even an original tune Mr. Bierer wrote and his daughter in law Mrs. Lauren Bierer sang. As always we appreciate the audience we get at these events. It always makes us play better.
Our Fall season has also been very busy with the preparation of our Fall Musical “ Grease”. 15 of the 18 Loyola Band members were in the cast as either actors, stage hands, or musicians. The performances were a blast. Our pianist was Mr. Ben Marti a New Ulm native and awesome Keyboardist. James Ihrke - alumni 2000 helped us out on Bass, David Kruse - alumni 2009 covered guitar and his brother Joe Kruse - alumni 2004 played drums. Bennett Coughlan senior, rocked out on Tenor sax! Former band member Joe Kopel laid down some cool guitar blues licks in the show.
Seniors Bennett Coughlan, Amanda Nusser, and Matt Blaine were selected to represent Loyola at the St. Thomas, Gustavus Adolphus and St. Olaf Honor Band events this fall. Their concerts were awesome at each Festival site. They performed with the best music students from all over the state and even some students from out of state.
Our annual Fall Thanksgiving Concert was performed on Monday, November 23rd @7:30pm in the Loyola Gym. The concert was free and open to the public. It featured music selected along a them of “The River of Song” , music along the Mississippi River way. Our Christmas program included small ensemble carol arrangements that Mr. Bierer and other arrangers composed.
Catholic Schools week mass music was awesome. Our band played special arrangements of praise and worship music that Mr. Bierer created. We are now working on Contest music preparation for our next concert on March 8th. Pray for us at our State level competition on March 17th St. Patricks Day! The Fitzgerald 8th grade band students will be joining us for those events.
