Northwest High School - Vanguard Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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With precision, skill, and harmony, the Northwest Marching Band with Director Darrel Horton stepped to several awards and distinctions. Beginning at the end of school, the music department offered a half-credit band course in summer school, the course not only taught the basics of band marching, but also served as a testing ground for formations and rou- tines. Several Silverettes and feature twirlers Shirley Cash, senior, and Sherrie Williamson, junior, attended a week-long summer workshops at Vincennes University, while maiorette Karon Lawrence, sophomore, partici- pated in the Smith-Walbridge Drum Maior Camp. Sum- mer work was climaxed by two weeks of concentration practice in the August heat in preparation for the North- west Jamboree, August 28. An attraction at all home football games was the half-time show provided by the marching band, Silve- rettes, and feature twirlers. The ensemble treated foot- ball fans to programs like the one that gained them their fourth consecutive first division rating in the advanced Group I at the State Marching Contest at Southport High School, October 9. Veteran's Day Parade specta- tors also had an opportunity to watch the band in action as they marched in the October 25 event downtown. Band uniforms, purchased in Spring, 1970, were still being paid off with receipts from the band's annual candy sale in October. Members sold the familiar chocolate-almond bars to neighbors and students for 50 cents. A S300 gift certificate from Nick Craig Studios went to senior Steve Clear for selling the most candy. lol With their performance completed, band members Melanie Leet, sophomore, Deborah Baker, Frank Spikes, and Chris Gal- loway, seniors await the judge decision and . . . tbl . . . rejoice at the news of their first division rating. ici Silverettes and Maiorette Karon Lawrence show the fruits of many hours of practice with a precise routine at the State Marching Contest. idi As their instruments blast out contemporary melodies, North- west marchers close ranks at the end ofa football halftime show. Kei Waiting to take the field at the State Marching Contest, Silve- rettesnervously watch the competition.

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Under the direction of Darrell Horton and Miss Karol Ruby, lcj The Concert Choir sings the band laj and orchestra lbj Handel's Messiah at St. An- ldj Members of the Belles perform in the annual Christ- ,drews Presbyterian Church, practice for an upcoming mas concert. during the yule season. performance. - N orthwest Vocal and instrumental groups were active in a variety of contests and concerts throughout the city. The band directed by Darrell Horton started oFf the year with the routine switch from marching to concert season. For the first time ever, the band was divided into A, B, and C groups, A band was com- posed of seasoned performers, B band consisted mostly of freshmen, and C band was a group of individ- uals just learning to play an in- strument. A band participated in the Christmas, spring, and awards concerts as well as a band contest in April. Dance Band, a select group of band members, specialized in music with a jazz flavor. They performed at such school and community func- tions as PTA meetings, the Toy and Hobby Show at the State Fair- grounds, and various local dances. They attended clinics to learn meth- ods for improving their sound and also entered stage band contests at Vincennes and Notre Dame in the spring. Several individuals , as well the group as a whole, competed in the State Solo and Ensemble con- test. They formed the nucleus of the pit orchestra for South Pacific, and ended the year performing in Northwest's annual spring jazz concert. The orchestra, playing music ofa more classical nature, was another major Northwest instrumental group. This group also performed in the Christmas, spring, and awards concerts, and entered a state con- test in the spring. A few members of the orchestra formed a string quartet which competed in the Feb- ruary Solo and Ensemble contest. Several orchestra members assisted the Dance Band in playing music for South Pacific, the spring musical. The Concert Choir, directed by James Kantarze, was the largest ever. Performing in the three major department concerts, they also en- tered a choir contest and choir fes- tival in late spring. Choir sang at several community functions, sang Christmas carols on the Circle downtown, and performed Handel's Messiah at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Swing Choir, a group of mixed voices, sang more contemporary tunes. Belles, an all-girl ensemble, also presented popular music. Both groups performed at several func- tions outside of school and were featured in the Strictly Jazz con- cert in the spring. Madrigals was a newly-formed mixed voice group and sang cen- tury old songs in a cappella style. Madrigals entered the Solo and En- semble contest in February. Performing a variety of songs ranging from classical to modern, the Concert Club sang in the Christ- mas and Spring concerts at North- west. They also entered a state vo- cal contest and sang in the all-city concert club festival in the spring. IOI