REAGANFEST 2012

Our 4th annual Reaganfest was a huge success!  Hundreds of Reagan students came out to meeting new people, sign up for extra curricular clubs and activities and celebrate the new school year!  Reagan student musicians and DJs provided outstanding live music for the event.  Special thanks to Mr. Adam Murphy for coordinating this unique and exciting event!

Check out some great shots from Reaganfest below:

Welcome Back!

The Vera J. Zilber Music Department at Reagan High School is back in full swing for a new school year.  After starting our blogging adventure last year, we often found that we were so busy making music that we forgot to write about it.  We are hoping to be better about updating our community, parents and students about the exciting things we are up to during the 2012-2013 school year.  Before we launch into the new year, we thought we'd post a huge list of all of the great things that we accomplished last year from new community partnerships to exciting public performances.  We hope you enjoy our list!

Erica Breitbarth, Adam Murphy and Nick Johnson 
Reagan Music Teachers

Reagan Jazz Band Recap #1: Sweet Water!

The Reagan HS Jazz Band's seven-show summer tour kicked off Friday evening at Sweet Water Organics in Bayview WI. Eight talented Reagan HS student musicians were joined onstage with guest drummer Erik Radloff of the Todd Richard's Band. Together they performed jazz standards including All of Me, JaDa, Perfidia, So What, and Blues for a New Day.

Thanks to Sweet Water Organics Vice President Todd Leech for organizing this Bay View Art Gallery Night performance opportunity and providing an inspiring venue, complete with a gallery space, aquaponic tours, and a few lovely ladies on roller skates!

The Reagan HS Jazz Band will play six more gigs this summer including performances at South Shore Water Frolics, The Eastside Green Market, African World Fest, Mexican Fiesta, and at the Bay View American Legion Post. Their next gig is Sunday June 17^th at the Lakefront Festival of the Arts at 2pm.

Great work Jazz Band students! You make Milwaukee proud! 

Reagan Jazz Band 2012 Summer Tour

Ronald W. Reagan High School presents the HOT Summer Schedule for our own Reagan Jazz Band!!!

Bay View Art Gallery Night
Friday June 1st @ 6pm
Sweet Water Organics, 2151 S Robinson Ave
FREE

Lakefront Festival of the Arts
Sunday June 17th @ 2pm
Milwaukee Art Museum, 750 Art Museum Dr

Eastside Green Market
With special guest performance by Reagan Alum Ro Ward!

Saturday July 7th @ Noon
Bean and Barley, 1901 E North Ave
FREE

South Shore Water Frolics
Sunday July 15th @ Noon
South Shore Park, 2300 E Nock St
FREE

Bay View Swing Dance Fundraiser
Friday July 20th @ 8pm
G Washington American Legion Post 180, 2860 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Come early... Rocco's Friday Night Fish Fry Jazz Band starts 6pm!!!
FREE

African World Festival
Saturday August 4th @ 4pm
Summer Fest Fairgrounds

Mexican Fiesta
Sunday August 26th @ 4pm
Summer Fest Fairgrounds

Fox 6 Drum Line Interview

In preparation for the Reagan Drumline's second annual performance in the MPS Battle of the Drumlines, Tony Clarke from Fox 6 stoppped by to see how things were going...

Check it out here:
http://beta.realmilwaukeenow.com/2011/tony-gives-drumming-a-try-at-ronald-reagan-high-school/

Milwaukee Holiday Parade Welcomes the Reagan High School Marching Band

The Reagan High School Marching Band made its first appearance at the Milwaukee Holiday Parade on November 19th 2011.  This televised downtown performance was a crowning achievement for the band that was formed only four months ago!  The students represented the school with tremendous pride and were glowing with excitement as they marched 75 members strong through the streets of Milwaukee.  Thankfully the weather cooperated and we made it back to Reagan in time for hot chocolate!  We look forward to making this parade an annual holiday tradition.

A Night At the Opera

This past Friday, 50 Reagan Music students attended the Puccini opera Turandot at the Performing Arts Center performed by the Florentine Opera and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The students attended a pre-concert lecture and demonstrated excellent concert etiquette during the performance. For the majority of the students, this was their first opera and first time at the Performing Arts Center. The students were inspired by the amazing singers and instrumentalists. The students will also have an opportunity to interact with four of the singers from the performance in an exchange at Reagan later on this month.

A HUGE thanks goes out to the Florentine Opera for making it possible for these students to attend this unique event! We are excited about this new community partnership and its impact on our young Reagan musicians!