Wheaton Conservatory of Music Donates Folder Racks!

Thank you Wheaton Conservatory of Music and Dean Michael Wilder for your donation of folder racks to the Vera J. Zilber Music Department.  A very special thanks goes to Daniel Wilder, Dr. Wilder's son, who personally delivered the equipment from Chicago!  The racks will help our students organize their music folders and IB Developmental Work Books.
 

Seen above: Mr. Johnson shows his support for Wheaton as Mr. Murphy accepts the donated folder racks from Daniel Wilder, senior cellist at the Wheaton Conservatory of Music.

1st Annual BAND CAMP!

The Reagan High School Band under the direction of Adam Murphy and Nicholas Johnson are kicking off the school year with our first-ever Reagan Band Camp! 30 students have spent the week learning new repertoire, mastering marching steps and building community before the school year begins!

Mr. Adam Murphy shouts out marching commands during outdoor rehearsal!

Students practice basic marching steps with their instruments

The newly-formed Reagan High School Drumline is also kicking off the school year with the help of guest percussionist Bony Plog-Benavides.

EXTREME MAKEOVER: Take 2!

Last summer, 30 Reagan music students gave up a week of summer break to help renovate, clean, paint and organize the music department. Over the course of the week, previously run-down rooms transformed into beautiful spaces for music-making and learning. This summer, we spent another great week following up on projects from last summer and tackling some new projects such as:

• painting and construction on choral risers


• assembling and spray painting Wenger music chairs


• organizing music for the coming year


• assembling developmental workbooks


• wiring and cleaning practice rooms/recording studios


• and much much MORE!

Thanks to all of the students who came out to help this year!


Even our music department alumni Derrick Schaeffer and Victoria Ortiz came out to lend a helping hand!

Freshman Cassie Glad assembles music department Developmental Workbooks- an essential component of the IB Middle Years Program curriculum for the arts!

Thank you JOE VOITH!

Special thanks to the music department's "Carpenter in Residence" Joe Voith, Spanish teacher at RRHS! Over the past two years he has graciously offered to build some essential organizational tools for our music department. Last summer he built six music folder racks for our performing ensembles. This summer, he custom-built three beautiful wood guitar racks that will be the home for our new class set of guitars for music appreciation. The music department will benefit greatly from his efforts this coming year as Mr. Johnson starts a Guitar Club in the fall (more details to come). Thanks Joe!

Ruadhan Ward and Sin Nombre perform encore performance at the WSME Backyard BBQ

91.7 WMSE hosted their annual Backyard Barbeque in Cathedral Square Park on Sunday July 31st where Ruadhan Ward and Sin Nombre (Victor Jasso, Luis Jasso, Jesus Suarez, Eddy De La Torre and Alan Guerrero) performed for a crowd of fun seeking festival goers.  Our emerging student musicians performed with excellent musical taste, displayed professional musicianship and shared their delightfully honest stage presence with their enthusiastic crowd.  Congratulations to our young musicians!  We are looking forward to covering your future gigs!

Ruadhan Ward performed a collection of original songs and a tribute to the late Amy Winehouse. 

 Sin Nombre got the crowd dancing with a mix of Latin favorites and a special farewell guest appearance by Reagan Alum Emmit Williams aka Heaven's Favorite