WINDJAMMERS
(Severna Park High School Stage Ensemble)

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Staff & Members| Uniform| Song List| Tips| Contact Info

The Windjammers are a group of very talented musicians from the SPHS band program that come together and perform as a Stage Ensemble. They are considered by many as the finest Stage Ensemble in the Anne Arundel County school system. They perform music ranging from Swing, Be Bop, Latin, Waltz, Big Band, Cool Jazz, and Ballads. The Windjammers perform for concerts, social gatherings, and other events throughout the school year.

Windjammers practices usually start on the second day of Band Camp. By the end of the week they perform at the band camp concert. During the fall practices they focus on new music and traditional holiday music. They perform outside at Park Plaza for the annual holiday festival and always welcome Santa with “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”.

When marching band season is concluded, the Windjammers focus on preparing for the cookie social after the annual Holiday concert. They provide the music for dancing and listening while many band members, parents, and alumni all come together to talk about the latest events and relive the past.

The Windjammers also provide the entertainment for the yearly Ziti Dinner fundraiser. They provide music while hundreds of SPHS bands supporters enjoy a dinner of pasta, salad, and dessert. They also participate in the Anne Arundel County Jazz Clinic, where a military jazz ensemble performs in the morning, provides jazz performance education for each band section (Trumpets, Trombones, Saxes, and Rhythm) and in the afternoon provides feedback while each high school Stage Ensemble performs.

The highlight of the year for the Windjammers is the annual “A Night of Jazz in the Park”, where the SPHS cafeteria is turned into a Jazz Club, serving refreshments and staging great jazz music. Past performers from the event to play with Windjammers have been the Severna Park Middle School and local professional jazz bands. The students always look forward to this event because many of them will actually get a chance to perform with the professional group either as a soloist or in small groups.

The Windjammer season usually concludes with anchoring the spring concert and playing at Senior awards.

This is just a portion of the Windjammer’s season. Occasionally throughout the year they are ask by individuals (Board of Education, county councilman, retirement home directors, civic and community leaders, etc.) to perform at various functions. These are great opportunities for the kids to share their musical talents and give back to the community.

Instrumentation

The Windjammers have four sections. They are made up of four trumpet parts, four trombone parts, five sax parts, and a rhythm section (keyboard, bass, and drum/percussion). This adds up to 17 separate parts. In order to allow maximum participation in this highly sought after group, many of the horn parts are doubled (two people play the same part at the same time) and multiple musicians in the rhythm section take turns playing those parts. This brings the band size up to around 30 participants. By far the biggest High School Stage Ensemble in the county.

Windjammers usually have at least three percussionists. All percussionists are required to play drum set and auxiliary percussion (cow bell, congas, etc). It is also desired, but not required, that percussionists play vibes.

In addition, the Windjammers on occasion have one or more singers that perform with the band. The singers must meet all the criteria of the other band members.

Participation

The Windjammers have earned the reputation as one of the best Stage Ensemble programs in not only the county but in the state. They strive to maintain that level of excellence year after year while constantly taking on new challenges. Are you ready to be part of that tradition?

Participation in the Windjammers is by invitation only from the Music Director (Mr. Powell). There are no tryouts or auditions. The musicians and their parts are chosen at the beginning of band camp and remain the same for the entire year, except at the discretion of the Music Director when additional musicians are needed or musicians need to be move from one part to another. Unlike concert band, there are no student challenges for moving up to another part.

If you desire to be part of the Windjammers, you are encouraged to discuss this with the Musical Director. The Windjammer section leads and the Assistant Director are a good resource to ask questions, but you must talk to the Music Director to be considered.

Invitation to the Windjammers is determined by the combination of the following criteria.

1. You must be a member in good standing in the marching band.
2. You must have a proficiency with your instrument that will allow you to perform the part required.
3. You must commit to all practices and performances. Notes are required for illness. Parental coordination with the Musical Director or Assistant Musical Director ahead of the practice/event for other absences. Students are required to minimize school conflicts (i.e., makeup work) and attend practices. Members will be allowed to miss partial practice to make up school work, but this needs to be kept to a minimum.
4. Good attitude, proven responsibility, dedication to the band, and respect for the SPHS musical program and its participants.
5. Consideration will also be given to class level (seniors before juniors before sophomores before freshman). This is only part of the consideration, it will not override the above criteria, and should not in any way discourage underclassmen from letting the Musical Director know that they are interested.

2012-2013 Windjammer Members & Staff

Windjammer Uniform

The Windjammers perform with various uniforms depending on the event. Students will not be allowed to participate in Windjammer performances without proper attire.

The main uniform for the Windjammers is “Blue on blue” which consists of a light blue oxford shirt with button down collar, dark blue slacks (no jeans), with dark dress shoes, socks, and belt (all preferably black). Although there is flexibility in what can be worn (e.g. dark brown shoes), the idea of a uniform is uniformity. Please endeavor to look as uniform as possible. If all females decide to wear a dark blue skirt (below the knees) that is permissible. Note that if one female wears a skirt, ALL females must wear a skirt. This will be at the discretion of the student band leader.

The formal uniform is the exact same uniform as concert dress. This is used by the SPHS concert band and consists of coat and tie, white shirt for males, black dress for females. Further details for this uniform can be found under the concert band page or in the SPHS BOB newsletter.

For other occasions, uniforms will be determined on a case by case basis. Examples would be band jacket and jeans for an outside job when the temperature is cold, or band golf shirt for more casual events. In these cases the musicians will be informed by the Assistant Music Director of what uniform to wear.

Song List

The following is a sample list of songs recently performed by the Windjammers.

• Beyond the Sea
• Blue Charlie Brown
• Blue Moon
• Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
• Danny Boy
• Get It On
• Jump, Jive, and Wail
• Moon River
• Old Devil Moon
• One
• Sentimental Journey
• Smooth
• Soulman
• String of Pearls
• Swingin’ Shepherd Blues
• Until I Met You
• Volga Boatman

Last Update: July 24, 2012

Important Tip for Parents

Please plan to help your students get to and from events. With a smaller group, the school does not usually provide transportation. For each event Students handle setting up instruments and equipment, but could use a hand when transporting their instruments to and from these events. Plus, it make it easy for you to see them perform.

Contact Information

For general questions concerning the Windjammers, you can contact the Assistant Music Director, Wilbur Hildebrand at jazztones@cablespeed.com