Hellgate High School - Halberd Yearbook (Missoula, MT)

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---------------------'N Increased numbers Due to an increased number of students, the Hellgate band has split into two performing groups which are at different maturity levels, in the words of band director John Combs. A 115 piece concert band is not practical, said Combs. He added that a large band was not good for a concert band sound nor could Hellgate s band facilities handle a band that size. Combs also said that all the band members are quite diverse. In the band we have different maturity levels. Combs con- tinued to say that the students have different amounts of ex- perience on their instrument and that each has their own ablility to rehearse effectively. To solve these problems, Combs divided the band into two different prforming groups called Concert Band and Symphonic Band. Concert Band is compos- Symphomc Band: Row one; Denise Dugal, Nancy Stone. Angela Follmgstad. Pam Meidmger, Michelle Johnson. Leanne McDonald. Ronda Susott. Second row; Jennifer O Loughlin. Staci Berger. Lisa Bradford. Linda Roll. Tam- Dana Dugal's looking good all dolled up in his fancy band outfit. mera Ingraham. Barb Bethke. Lisa Foster. Michelle Berger. Michelle Gran. P.J. Breidenbach. Third row; Jolene Thomas. Gigny Bailey. Robbie Sherry. Kim Gilmore. Vickie Hunter. Christie Zuleger. Jay Anderson. Tom Vasecka. Belinda Bailey. Kristin McMahon. Dan Fitch, Jamie Hay. Jennifer Bucklew. Dana Dugal. Dahnesh Medora. Fourth row; Roberta Barney, Brad Bernier. Galen Hollenbaugh. Si Lewis, Robbie Robinson. Brian Betts, Tuan Dau, Ann Weiler, Dave Wall, Tamitha Carpenter. Bill Ballinger Fifth row; Andrew Dayton, Mike Shoen. 22 Activities

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Pep Band plays it with pride From front: Jay Anderson, Tom Vaseka, Belinda Bailey, Kristin McMahon. Ginny Baily. Second row: Stacie Berger. Michelle Harper. Holly Mueller, Kim Gilmore, Kelly Long, Dana Dugal, Jenny O'Loughlin. Denise Dugal. Third row: Brian Betts. Tim Midget. Galen Hollenbaugh, Si Lewis. Robbie Robinson, Dan Fritz. Fourth row: Jenny Harrington, Brian Hood. Ben Koostrag. Charlie Miller, David Wall, Tammy Carpenter, Tuan Dao. Ann Weiler. Jazz Band From Back: Brad Bernier. Russell Plummer. Ben Koostr ih. Second Row. Kelly Long. Dana Dugal, Casey Tolliver. Brandy Rogers. Dave Wall. Seated: Denise Dugal, Tammy Carpenter, Mike Ridgeway, Tim Midget, Dan Fritz, Robbie Robinson, Si Lewis, Dahnesh Medora, Ja- que Rundle. This year's Pep Band encountered a slight problem with the Title IX Program which stated that they had to play lor an equal number of boys and girls events. Normally, the band only played for 3 or 4 of the girls' basketball games because the members were busy with Marching Band. When boys' basketball started, Marching Band was over and they were free to play at most games. Title IX sited that this was discriminatory and Band Director John Combs had to sign a contract saying that he would play for 5 girls basketball games, 5 boys basketball games, 4 football games and 2 other events of his choice. Many fans were disappointed during the boy's basketball season when there was no Pep Band at home games. According to jazz director John Combs. Hellgate s jazz band was considerably younger this year than in past years. Although they were inexperienced, a couple of months of hard practice turned this around and things began to hap pen. This year they participated in the University of Mon- tana Jazz Festival and District Music Festival plus perform- ing in numerous concerts. One of Combs' goals for next year is to form a second jazz band whose purpose would be to give younger musi- cians some experience before going into the Jazz I program. Activities 21

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makes band split Concert Band Members: Row one; Susan Cornelius, Hillary Wallace, Laura Follingstad, Ann Smith. Stephanie, Swan- son. Marta Nelson and Christina Bailey. Row two, Maria Denny. Gus Swartz, Teresa Shoen, Christine Kyle, Maren Hanson, Holly Mueller, Sheryl Bonefeole, Londa Kay and Jennifer Huff. Row three. Pati Hunter, Kristi Hartigan, Ann Burgan, Janice Bailey. Kelly Lang. Michelle Harper and Matt Hampton. Row four; Tim Mldgett, Dan Fritz, Andy Huff, Troy Curless. Land Wilson and Vuong Nguyen. Row five; Brian Hood, Kevin Vance, Liz Gray and Ben Koostra. ed mostly of the younger musi- cians in the band. The band will concentrate on building upon the basics of music as well as prepar- ing themselves for the intense rehearsing in the Symphonic Band. Symphonic Band will spend less time on the fundamen- tals and concentrate on what Combs calls pure musicianship.'' The criteria on deciding who went into which band was set down by Combs. Seniority played a major part in the decision. All seniors went into Symphonic Band and all freshmen went into Concert Band, Combs said. Also the band members had to prepare a tape recording of audi- tion music. They were given two months to prepare for the musical exercises, he said, I would listen to the tapes and score them. There were a limited number of positions in Symphonic Band. 'I wanted strength in both bands. The band during a practice session. Activities 23