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Photos from a previous Lakota East swing dance event

The seventh annual Lakota East jazz swing dance will be held Friday Jan. 25, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Lakota East High School. All ages, students and adults, are encouraged to attend.

During the dance, the East freshman jazz band, East 2 o’clock jazz band and the Eastside jazz ensemble will be performing music of the big band era.

In addition, a dance instructor will be on hand to teach swing dancing throughout the night.

The event will also feature raffles. People who donate items for Reach Out Lakota will receive free raffle tickets, according to the event’s flier.

Presale tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students/seniors. Adults, who buy five tickets, will receive one free.

Refreshments are included in the cost of a ticket. Tickets will also be sold for $12 each at the door on the night of the event.

To purchase presale tickets, visit www.lakotaeastbands.org/swingdance. Tickets can be bought online using PayPal or through the mail. An order form can be printed off on the website.

All proceeds will benefit the Lakota East bands and color guards.

Lakota East High School is located at 6840 Lakota Lane in Liberty Township.

Posted in: Events, School events |

Tags: Tags: band, jazz band, jazz ensemble, Lakota East, Lakota East Band, Lakota East bands, Lakota East jazz band, Lakota East jazz bands, Lakota East swing dance, swing dance

Lakota West jazz band. File photo.

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Lakota West has some of the most talented musicians in the state.

Just ask the Ohio Music Education Association. Following auditions by about 1,500 students across the state, 14 from Lakota West were selected for one of four All-State bands, with one alternate. Another six were selected for the All-State Choir.

That’s the highest number of band students selected from any one Ohio high school this year. The ensembles meet and rehearse during the OMEA’s annual convention that will be held Feb. 7-9, 2013 in Columbus.

Not far behind West was Lakota East with 12 band members selected and one alternate.

Those from West selected for the All-State ensembles and their instruments are:

• All-State Band: Garrett Scholtes, and Paul Register, clarinet; Rameen Salehi and Jenna Eagle, bass clarinet; Luke Hamilton and Melanie Rampton, trumpet; and Ben VanArsdale, percussion
• All-State Orchestra: Julie Green, bassoon; Sarah Klimek, trumpet; Daltin Loomis, percussion
• All-State Jazz: Curtis Holtgrefe, alto saxophone; Ethan Bennett, tenor saxophone; Peyton Bennett, tumpet; and Matt Boubin, alternate, trombone
• All-State Choir: Kayla Burley and Maddie Smith, soprano; and Mandee Jordan, Emily Miller, Courtney Popp and Julie Street, alto

Those selected from East for ensembles were:

• All-State Band: Samantha Hach, flute; Brad Burrets and James Gaitan, bassoon; Joshua Omaits, trombone; and Kevin Everson, percussion
• All-State Orchestra: Chris Nichols, French horn
• All-State Jazz: Zach Williams, baritone saxophone; Jacob Stegeman and Adam Feltner, trombone; Alex Fuhr, trumpet; Andrew Haug, piano; Julia Higgins, bass; and Nathaniel Lett, alternate, trumpet.

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: Lakota East, Lakota East Band, Lakota East High School, Lakota West, Lakota West band, Lakota West High School

Band members from Lakota East and Lakota West will be going door-to-door seeking donations next Saturday, Sept. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The annual Tag Day fundraiser will benefit all bands at both high schools.

Donations will be used to purchase and maintain uniforms for the instrumental groups.

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: band, Lakota East, Lakota East Band, Lakota East marching band, Lakota West, Lakota West band, Lakota West marching band, marching band, music, tag day

Band members from Lakota East and Lakota West will be going door-to-door seeking donations next Saturday, Sept. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The annual Tag Day fundraiser will benefit all bands at both high schools.

Donations will be used to purchase and maintain uniforms for the instrumental groups.

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: band, Lakota East, Lakota East Band, Lakota East marching band, Lakota West, Lakota West band, Lakota West marching band, marching band, music, tag day

The Lakota Trombone Ensemble is seeking trombone players with high school experience for its performance at the West Chester Church of the Nazarene at 7 p.m. May 10.

According to Lakota Ridge Junior band director Brian Botdorf, the performance will promote various styles of music, such as, Latin, jazz, funk and classical.

The performance will consist of Lakota West and Lakota East high school trombone players as well as a special guest appearance by the Bones of Cincinnatus, a greater Cincinnati trombone ensemble of adult musicians.

Both ensembles will combine for a trombone finale, along with any person who played trombone in high school that would like to participate. All participants must provide their own trombone.

The concert is free to attend.

West Chester Church of the Nazarene is located at 7951 Tylersville Road.

For more information or to participate, email Botdorf at brian.botdorf@lakotaonline.com.

Posted in: Events, School events |

Tags: Tags: Brian Botdorg, Lakota East Band, Lakota Ridge Junior, Lakota Trombone Ensemble, Lakota West band, West Chester Church of the Nazarene

The Lakota East High School Eastside Jazz Ensemble was recently selected as one of only fifteen high school jazz bands invited to participate in the Essentially Ellington Festival in New York City this May.

As part of the festival and competition, the Lakota East jazz band will perform at NYC’s Lincoln Center May 4-6.

The Eastside Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Todd Hartmann, was selected through CD audition from among 111 high school jazz bands.

“The Essentially Ellington Festival is the top high school jazz festival in the country, if not the world. It is the Super Bowl of jazz festivals.” Hartmann said.

Lakota East is the only Ohio high school selected to participate and one of only two high schools in the Midwest to receive this honor.

The Lakota East band programs are supported through funds raised by the Lakota East Upbeat Club.

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Essentially Ellington Festival, Essentially Ellington Festival in New York City, jazz band, Lakota East, Lakota East Band, Lakota East jazz band, Todd Hartmann

Cincinnati Enquirer’s Michael D. Clark reports:

Despite high notes in recent years that include performing in California’s Rose Parade and last week at a prestigious music event in Chicago, Lakota Schools’ band programs may be headed for a downbeat next year due to pending budget cuts.

The heralded band and orchestra programs at both Lakota high schools may be targeted soon in another round of budget cuts as part of $9 million in planned reductions for the financially struggling school system.

This school year already saw elimination of sixth-grade music education classes, a loss that staffers say will have repercussions for years as students are delayed from matriculating through Lakota’s bands and orchestras.

“My biggest worry is how many seventh-graders will not sign up for band next year and if they do, how far behind will they be,” says Lakota West High School band director Greg Snyder.

On Jan. 1, 2008, Snyder led the marching Firebirds of Lakota West High School, one of the largest bands in Southwest Ohio, as they earned the distinction of being the first from this region to perform in the annual Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.

Later that year, the Lakota East High School band performed during parades and memorial services in Hawaii marking the anniversary of the World War II attack on Pearl Harbor.

Lakota’s music programs and its wide travel have attracted fund-raising support and special public performances in its schools by both the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Ballet.

Just last week, Lakota West’s band earned kudos from music directors from around the world during its performance at the internationally attended Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. (more…)

Posted in: Levy news, News, Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: 2011 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, cuts, Greg Snyder, Karen Manita, Karen Mantia, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota East Band, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, Lakota West band, Lakota West Symphonic Winds, reductions, school levy, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia

Lakota West and Lakota East marching bands both ended their 2011 competitive seasons by earning superior ratings at the Ohio Music Education Association state finals Oct. 29 in Dublin.

For Lakota East, it was the 15th straight year that the band earned the highest possible ranking.

>>>PROVIDED PHOTOS OF LAKOTA BANDS AT STATE FINALS<<<

DVD and T-shirt order forms are available on lakotawestbands.org.

Pictures from the OMEA state finals have been provided by community members. To add your own pictures to the photo gallery, email photos to akiefaber@westchesterbuzz.com or share your photos through the Photos page.

There are also many other great moments captured on our Flickr photostream. And more West Chester and Liberty Township related photo galleries on our Photos page.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: band, Lakota East, Lakota East Band, Lakota East band photos, Lakota East marching band, Lakota West, Lakota West band, Lakota West band photos, Lakota West marching band, marching band, music, photo gallery, photos, West Chester photos

Band members from Lakota East and Lakota West will be going door-to-door seeking donations this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The annual Tag Day fundraiser will benefit all bands at both high school and freshman campuses.

Donations will be used to purchase and maintain uniforms for the instrumental groups.

“Our marching bands are totally self-funded through student fees and community support,’’ said Jill Cleaves, chairwoman of Lakota East’s Tag Day.

“Both West and East high school bands greatly appreciate all the support provided by the community for this fundraiser and throughout the year.”

Lakota West and Lakota East could still use the help of adult volunteers (21 years and older) to transport students to neighborhoods. To volunteer for Lakota West email tagday@lakotawestbands.org with your name, address, phone number and size of vehicle. To volunteer at Lakota East, email Cleaves at jcleaves@cinci.rr.com.

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: band, Lakota East, Lakota East Band, Lakota East marching band, Lakota West, Lakota West band, Lakota West marching band, marching band, music, tag day

Band members from Lakota East and Lakota West will be going door-to-door seeking donations Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The annual Tag Day fundraiser will benefit all bands at both high school and freshman campuses.

Donations will be used to purchase and maintain uniforms for the instrumental groups.

“Our marching bands are totally self-funded through student fees and community support,’’ said Jill Cleaves, chairwoman of Lakota East’s Tag Day.

“Both West and East high school bands greatly appreciate all the support provided by the community for this fundraiser and throughout the year.”

Lakota West is currently seeking adult volunteers (21 years and older) to transport students to neighborhoods. To volunteer, email tagday@lakotawestbands.org with your name, address, phone number and size of vehicle.

Lakota East also needs drivers. To volunteer to be a driver for Lakota East bands, email Jill Cleaves at jcleaves@cinci.rr.com.

Posted in: Events, School events |

Tags: Tags: band, Lakota East, Lakota East Band, Lakota East marching band, Lakota West, Lakota West band, Lakota West marching band, marching band, music, tag day