I had the privilege of serving as President of the Adrian Music Boosters for four years - May 2017 through May 2021. 

Now, I'm pleased to welcome our newly elected President, Kristen Howard. I'm confident she will do an excellent job of growing our organization and leading us through the next few years. 

As I step down, I'd like to thank our other officers for their support: Vice President Susan Darr, Treasurer Alex Zick and Secretary Beth Mehan-Wood. 

Thanks also to our past President Laura Morris for encouraging me to take over her role in 2017.

Thank you to Directors Lorri Wittenkeller, Aaron Mykeloff, Sheri Powers and former AHS Director of Bands Dan Kesterke for actively engaging with the Music Boosters. 

I appreciate the support of Superintendent Bob Behnke and the opportunity to talk about Adrian Music programs each year before the school board. 

Thank you to the members of the local media outlets who have helped us share Booster news: Dale Gaertner and Steve Barkway of WLEN radio and Brad Heineman of The Daily Telegram. 

My thanks to Tyler Millard of Custom Fundraising Solutions who's helped us raise money for music students through the Mattress Sale and Rock Your Socks. 

Thank you to Dane Nelson, who played an important role in getting our new concession stand built in 2017. (I love that little place!) 

A big thanks to the area businesses that have provided financial support to Adrian Music. They include: 

Gillin Eye Care   /    Aubree's Pizza    /   Maggard Razors    /   Marshall Music    /    D Printer    /     Alpha Koney Island   
Meredith Francis, CPA    /   Ebeling Family Dentistry   /    Loveland Insurance Agency    /    BusinessVoice

And, of course, thank you to all of our student musicians for your commitment to learning and performing, and to the parents of our music students for the many forms of support you provide.

Over the last several years, our group has enjoyed many successes. We implemented the Mattress Sale in 2018, started our advertising program in 2016 and, after funding a portion of the new concession stand that same year, purchased all the necessary equipment and have run the stand ever since. 

We've built an active Facebook page and, prior to the shutdown of activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, published content on a near-daily basis. Since late 2015, we've also grown what is arguably one of the most comprehensive Music Booster websites in the country. It features more than 150 blog posts and 180 original videos that document highlights of concerts, parades, halftime shows, band and choir competitions, elementary school tours and special events. 

We introduced the idea of showcasing the Adrian High School Orchestra during a football game each year,  conducted the first survey of music students in order to collect their feedback and improve our music programs, and were instrumental in the Marching Band receiving an official proclamation from the city of Adrian in November of 2017. 

We also worked with area restaurants to set up "dine to donate" fundraisers, opened our own AmazonSmile account, and steadily grew our annual Apple Pie Sale to achieve record sales.

Music education provides so many benefits. If you or your child would like to learn more about vocal or instrumental music, please take a look at our Music Education Blog. 

I encourage you to get involved with the Adrian Music Boosters, whether it's as an active member, an officer, an occasional volunteer or a financial supporter. 

I will continue to work on spreading the good news about the Boosters, and hope to generate new opportunities for Adrian students to contribute articles, videos, photos and graphics to this website and our Facebook page. 

Thank you for your continued belief in Adrian Music!

Scott Greggory
Past President

Since our 2020 Apple Pie Sale was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we offered virtual pies for sale in November. We are so grateful to the following people who donated to Adrian music programs. Thanks to all of you for believing that music education is worthy of your support. 

Maple Family                         Barbara Vredeveld 
The Darr Family                    Brindamour Photography 
The Pino Family                    Annie Howard  
Bill & Shirley Ehnis              Fred & Barb Nurmi 
Aaron & Amanda Sage         David & Nancy Mehan 
Sue and Jerry Strayer           Grant & Beth Wood, Liana & Nolan 
Anessa Nelson                        Joy Clegg 
Anna Clegg                             Gillin Family 
Kara Vargas                            Sharon Vargas 
Candy & Lou Aldrich            Don & Mary Pitock 
Wes & Theresa Powers         Juanita Van Opynen 
Linda Gentry                          Honey 
The Olsavers                          The Dickersons 
Tommie Sprague                   Carol Hoag 
Pam & Gerry Burg                Mike & Susan Tobey 
Bob  Behnke                           Brian & Amy Olsaver Family
Anne Gascoigne                    Sherman & Julie Shultz
Jim & Von Walsh                    Mike & Melinda Ahleman
Angela Martinez                   Ella Salenbien & Family  
John Robison                         Mrs. Susan E. Vellanti 
Bill & Beth McCaulley         Evan & April Gutierrez 
Beth Pearcy Bowden            Kathy Brewer 
Darci Francoeur                   Tammie Brainard  
Cheri Easler                           Connie Benz 
Mikhail Zolikoff                    Cassandra Jennings 
Laura Morris                          The Staib Family 
Amy Palmer                            Brandy Bice 
Kristen Howard                    Aaron Mykeloff 

It's never been so easy - or affordable - to support music education in Adrian Public Schools. 

In fact, after you click on our exclusive AmazonSmile access link - https://smile.amazon.com/ch/30-0859623 -  you may completely forget about all the good you're doing just by shopping. That's how simple it is to make a positive difference for Adrian music students.

Here's How It Works

Whenever you want to shop on Amazon.com, get to the website by clicking our AmazonSmile link. That way, Amazon knows immediately to send a percentage of your total payment to the Adrian Music Boosters. (You don't pay any extra!)

You can also access our page by visiting www.Smile.Amazon.com and then searching for us as the non-profit organization you want to support. By the way, the official name of our organization is Adrian High School Music Boosters. If you misplace our access code, you can always visit Smile.Amazon.com and search for us by that name. 

And to multiply your fundraising power, please share our AmazonSmile link with family members, friends, co-workers and anyone else who likes supporting a great cause while shopping online. 

Questions? Email Scott Greggory, Music Boosters President. 

Thank you in advance for using this convenient tool to support our city's music students. 

​This update on Band Camp 2020 is from Director Aaron Mykeloff. 

The state of Michigan is still in Phase 4 of the Safe Start Plan. At this point, so much of what the Adrian Marching Band will be allowed to do during the coming school year is up in the air. 

Currently, we're bound by the same limitations as Adrian athletes: fewer students are allowed on the high school campus for practices, and only one student at a time is permitted to use the in-school restrooms. 

In Phase 4, only 100 people are allowed to gather for a purpose such as a sporting event. Even in Phase 5, only 250 people could enter Maple Stadium for a game. With both football teams, coaches, refs, crew, press box staff and football parents, there would not be enough room under the cap for our marching band. 

The football season may even be moved to the spring months. If that happens, the marching band will definitely not be performing at games. 

Even with all those negatives, we are still planning to have band camp at the high school so we can work on our music and parade marching. 

Camp will be held August 3rd through the 7th. Times to be announced. 

The details, however, are changing weekly. It's possible we might be able to rehearse with our full band. We might only be allowed to practice with half the band at one time. Or, still, band camp could be cancelled. Ultimately, those decisions will be made by the APS administration. 

Mrs. Powers and I will keep everyone up to date with new information as soon as it's available to us. Please sign up for Remind, our message service, so you'll receive the latest details by text. The list of recipients is re-set each year, so even if you were signed up last year, you'll have to re-up this year. Text @ahsmarch to the number 810-10. 

Springbrook music directors Sheri Powers, Lorri Wittenkeller and Barbara Schenck joined host Dale Gaertner on WLEN radio's Community Conversation to provide details on how incoming 6th graders can join the school's band, orchestra or choir. The show aired June 10, 2020.

​Our thanks to Dale and the WLEN team for their continuing support of Adrian Music. 

The Michigan Marching Band will host a high school student game-day experience called “Michigan Band and Spirit Day 2020.” The event will take place September 19, 2020 during the UM vs. Arkansas State football game in Ann Arbor's Big House.
 
Nominated band members (including flags) will participate in a typical pre-game rehearsal, the parade to the stadium and the halftime performance. They'll also play in the stands and during the traditional post-game concert.

Selection for participation will be determined by instrumentation and seniority. Students selected to participate will be notified by email on April 15.

Eligibility requirements:

• Current high school freshmen, sophomores, or juniors are welcome
• Drum majors may participate with their primary instrument
• Unfortunately, members of the front ensemble and pit are ineligible
• You must submit your email address and the type of instrument you'll play to Mr. Mykeloff by March 31st. 

The Michigan Band marches with the following instruments: Piccolo, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Trumpet, Horn / Mellophone, Trombone (Tenor and Bass), Euphonium / Baritone (BC and TC), Sousaphone / Tuba, Drumline (Snare, Tenor, Bass and Cymbals) and Flag (Color Guard). No instruments will be provided.

Participants must attend the rehearsal to participate in the game. Here are the tentative rehearsal schedules depending on the start time of the game:  
• 12:00pm Game Start - Marching band rehearsal will run 7:30 - 9:30am  
• 3:30pm Game Start - Marching band rehearsal will run 10:00 - 12:00pm  
 
Because of NCAA compliance and regulations regarding targeted recruiting of high school students, each participating student will be charged a $77 participation fee payable by May 15, 2020. This fee covers the cost of a game ticket, a t-shirt and lunch. While we understand that cost may limit participation, the University of Michigan must follow all NCAA guidelines. Within that compliance, U of M cannot offer any financial assistance.  

Tickets for family and friends to attend the football game will be available for sale. Participating students will receive detailed ticket information on April 15.

If you'd like to participate, email Mr. Mykeloff your name, your marching instrument, and the email address you'd like U of M to use to contact you by Tuesday, March 31st. 

On February 24th, Lorri Wittenkeller led the 7th & 8th grade combined Orchestra and the combined Concert and Symphony Orchestra in preparation for the 2020 MSBOA festival competition. ​Enjoy a few moments of highlights in the video above. 

Each year, the Adrian High School Orchestra travels to the city's four elementary schools to share their talents with our younger music fans. In the video above you'll see a few highlights from the performances. Check out the slide show below, too. All APS Orchestras are under the direction of Lorri Wittenkeller. ​

Each year, the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) presents the District Solo and Ensemble Festival at schools across the state. It's a chance for students to perform on their own or as a duet or small group, playing music that they've selected. Professional music educators serve as judges who rate their performances and often provide feedback. 

The highest possible score of 1 is recognition of a superior performance for the grade level. Students who earn a 1 qualify for the State Solo and Ensemble Festival which will take place Saturday, March 14th in Chelsea.

At the 2020 festival held January 25th at Onsted High School, 16 AHS Band members and 8 Orchestra members qualified for the state competition. 
 
These Orchestra members earned a score of 1:

• Nicky Jacobson - Cello Solo 
• Leif Knox - Bass Solo
• Gabriella Morris - Cello Solo
• Jalen Nieto-Smith - Cello Solo
• Dylan Sharp - Viola Solo
• Alyiah Fife, Jennavieve Russell and Caitlyn Tucker  - 1 Cello and 2 Violin Trio

These Band members earned a score of 1: 

• Leif Eklund - Tuba Solo
• Tyler Hinton - French Horn Solo
• Daisy Leal - Marimba Solo
• Thomas Maddox - Snare Solo
• Ella Slupe - French Horn Solo 
• Victoria Miller and Leah Sage - Flute Duet
• Matthew Antalek, Tyler Hinton and Maxwell Rhames - Trumpet Trio
• Emily Armentrout and Parker Farmer - Marimba Duet
• Rachel Bauer, Taylor Borton, Zach Duvall and Austen Howard - Saxophone Quartet 

"Solo and Ensemble Festival is a great way to work on tuning, listening, and ensemble sound in an intimate setting," said Aaron Mykeloff, Director of AHS Bands.  "It also motivates students to work on their own and become more proficient players."

"It takes a lot of dedication, practice and perseverance to participate in this event," said APS Orchestra Director Lorri Wittenkeller. "The orchestra students worked on their own and with me before and after school to master their music. Little, if any, time was taken during class." 

At the state level the standards are higher. Students must also perform musical proficiency exams, including scales and sight reading. The highest-rated participants are then asked to perform as part of the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Honors Band or Orchestra or as soloists or ensembles. 

Dan Kesterke is the Director of Bands at Siena Heights University and a long-time drummer / percussionist. We asked him to share his thoughts after the passing of Rush drummer Neil Peart.

*****

My love of Rush and Neil Peart’s drumming began when I was in high school. My friends and I would buy vinyl albums at New Moon Records in my hometown of Mt. Pleasant. There was a Rush section, and I would collect whatever was there. 

My introduction to Neil’s drumming was the song “Xanadu” off the “Farewell to Kings” album. I was astounded at his mastery of virtuosic fills, but also with his use of melodic percussion, including chimes and bells. 

I worked into the “Moving Pictures” album and, obviously, the most important track, "Tom Sawyer." It changed my perspective of what drumming in a band could be. If you watch the videos of thousands of Rush fans air drumming along with Neil you’ll see how important he was to the music.

Neil Peart’s life and his relationship with music was hard. He expected a lot of himself and his bandmates. At the height of Rush’s popularity, he lost his family to two random accidents. It took many long road trips and a reintroduction to drumming to bring him back to the music he loved. 

While Neil took his art seriously, he demanded space from his fans and bandmates, even though he created his art in front of millions of people. He was a deep thinker and a voracious reader of literature; a constant learner, too. He even changed his technique halfway through his career to achieve a higher level of playing.

Neil left Rush after the band's last tour to spend time with his family. My hope for all artists is that they're able to achieve that balance; a point where they can say they've accomplished what they set out to do and then can dedicate their remaining time on this planet to their children and spouses, partners, and other loved ones. 

May all of us embrace life, family and art as Neil Peart did.

- Dan Kesterke

For two weeks after his surgery, Brian Pickard could barely stand. 

But he could play the guitar. 

"I would play for hours on end," said Brian. "Sometimes full songs; sometimes just random chords."

The surgery happened in early November 2019. Brian needed it to ease the symptoms of Chiari 1 Malformation, a condition that occurs when part of the brain extends into the spinal column.

"Brian was actually diagnosed in 7th grade after he tripped and fell while leaving the locker room at school," said Darla Rychener, Brian's mom. "He gave himself a concussion, so he had a CT scan at Bixby Hospital. The Chiari was a secondary finding."

The diagnosis didn't surprise Darla, though, since Brian's sister had been treated for Chiari when she was only five.  

"In the beginning, Brian had no symptoms. But between 8th and 9th grade, he started having massive growth spurts," said Darla. That growth brought on excruciating headaches. 

"By the beginning of the 2019 school year, his migraines were so bad he couldn't make it through a full day of classes. His level of concentration was so reduced that he would forget things, and he was very irritable. He also had decreased sensation in his arms and balance issues when walking. Just standing up would increase the pressure in his head to unbearable levels."

"Yeah, sometimes I'd be playing [in orchestra class] and get a massive migraine," said Brian. "I'd forget where I was and what I was doing, but I would just try to keep going, though."

*****

Brian began playing music in 4th grade: the recorder. He took up the double bass in the 7th grade orchestra. Since then, he's learned to play guitar, bass guitar, piano and even ukulele.

"If it wasn't for the instrument grant that first year, it wouldn't have happened," remembered Darla. "Ms. Wittenkeller helped us get that set up. Brian has been playing bass ever since."

And it's music that has helped Brian through his recovery. "After surgery, I got on my laptop and pulled up a piano. I forget what I played, but I remember feeling great."

"Music is important to me because it gives me an outlet for my emotions," he said. "Whether I'm sad, mad or happy, I always find myself either making or listening to music."

"We are a very musical family," said Darla. "I played many instruments through junior high and high school. Brian is like a musical sponge and can learn just about any instrument you put in his hands. His sister Heaven plays clarinet in the band, and his sister Jackie loves to sing. There is always music in our lives."

There's no cure for Chiari, but Brian's symptoms are under control. And now, no matter what struggles he may face, Brian understands he can always rely on music to help himself get through.

While he doesn't know if he'll pursue music as a career, "I have no plans to stop any time soon," he said. "I'm hoping that I never have to quit playing music because it's what makes me happy."

And Brian has the Adrian Music programs to thank. The school he used to attend doesn't have an orchestra. 

"Honestly, the musical education I've received at Adrian Schools is the best. Ms. Wittenkeller has been the best music teacher ever. I'm glad that life landed me in Adrian Schools."

The Balladiers, Adrian High School's show choir, took to the road December 19th, 2019 for their annual Elementary Tour. The group sang and danced for young students at Alexander, Lincoln, Michener and Prairie Elementary Schools. The Balladiers are led by Steve Antalek. 

On Monday, December 16th, the Adrian High School Bands and Orchestras treated the full house at the AHS Performing Arts Center to an evening of holiday music. The Orchestras were under the direction of Lorri Wittenkeller. The bands and combined groups were led by Aaron Mykeloff. Enjoy the video above and the slideshow below.

The busy concert season continued December 12th as the Adrian High School choirs shared their music at the Performing Arts Center. The evening also included a few snow flurries as you'll see in the video above. The choirs were lead by Steve Antalek and student teacher Garrett Glass. Laura Morris provided piano accompaniment. Enjoy the slideshow below as well. 

The Springbrook Choirs kicked off the 2019 holiday concert season December 10th in the Adrian High School Performing Arts Center. The groups were under the direction of Barbara Schenck and student director Jordan Golomb. Laurie Cunningham served as piano accompanist. Check out the video above and slideshow below. 

On Monday, November 25th, coverage of the Music Boosters' 2019 Pie Day made the front page of Adrian's hometown newspaper, The Daily Telegram. Reporter Brad Heineman and photographer Mike Dickie visited the AHS cafeteria the day we made 1,100 apple pies, then told the story of the annual event through pictures and interviews. They posted an online version of their article, too. See it here. 

Our Pie Day tradition continued November 23rd, 2019 as more than 150 student, parent and teacher volunteers came together to make 1,100 apple pies. (Watch some of the action in the video above.)

After preparing ingredients and loading thousands of apples into the AHS cafeteria the day before, many members of our music community worked for up to nine hours Saturday to pull off this annual feat.

Thank you for your support of our Apple Pie Sale and Adrian Music. We appreciate it so very much. 

The Adrian Maples got to be Wolverines for a day when they visited Revelli Hall on the University of Michigan campus, November 19th. The band worked with a post-graduate student director. Then, Mr. Mykeloff rehearsed the group for the benefit of U of M music education undergrads. The band also toured Revelli Hall, which is the rehearsal home of the Michigan Marching Band. 

On November 6th, the Adrian Maples Marching Band toured the city's elementary schools and Springbrook Middle School to perform their 2019 halftime show, featuring music from the movie "The Incredibles." This wonderful annual tradition brings together current members of the Maple Marching Band with the future members. Enjoy the highlights in the video above. 

"Michener students and staff love the marching band visit," wrote Principal Ann Lacasse. "These [band] kids are tremendously talented and a great representation of Adrian Public Schools."

Sam Skeels, Principal of Lincoln Elementary, agrees. "It was great. Lunchtime followed the performance, and it was the talk of the room." 

Prairie Principal Carl Lewandowski would like to see the band play at the elementary schools more often. "We need to make it a routine. Heck, even multiple times a year," he wrote. ​