KINGSTON — For the last 13 years, Kingston Junior High band’s performances have wowed audiences in the North Kitsap area and beyond. In a sense, KJH’s band has built a dynasty few junior high bands can ever dream of matching.
KJH band members are currently in preparations for their final performance of the 2006-07 school year, the “End of the Year: End of an Era” concert slated to begin at 7:15 p.m. on June 11 at the North Kitsap School District Auditorium. Every band at KJH (wind ensemble, symphonic band, concert band, two jazz bands and a seventh grade band) will show their skills in front of an eagerly awaiting audience.
The well-trained bands are recently seasoned, competing in four parades in three days from May 19-21.
“We were at Viking Fest, Armed Forces Day in Bremerton, and were in two parades in Victoria in Canada,” said KJH band director Jeff Haag.
With the newly reconfigured grade levels at the North Kitsap School District next fall, KJH will become a middle school making this the final year for the band as the community knows it.
“It’s been a pretty incredible program for the last 13 years,” Haag said. “Our concert (June 11) is going to highlight the successes of the program. I have invited all past KJHS alumni to come and perform ‘Louie, Louie.’ We want our former students to come back for this.”
Over the years, KJH band program has racked up numerous awards and accolades.
Haag said the band program at KJH has won 25 first place, 10 second place and three third place awards during its tenure. In addition, the KJH band members have traveled to Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. for performances four times in the past decade.
“I have been so pleased and proud of all of the bands,” Haag said. “We are and have been one of the best junior high programs in western Washington.”
Symphonic band member drum major John Thomas said he enjoys participating in every performance.
“There’s always lots of excitement and a high level of energy when you get in front of other people during performances,” he said. “A drum major’s responsibility is to get everyone in position to play their instruments. When you get help from fellow band members, it makes it easier.”
Fellow drum major Jaime Schultz agreed, but added that performing in front of large audiences isn’t as difficult as it seems.
“We have put in so much work that it’s engraved into our brains,” she said. “We have it all down and never have to worry. It’s so much fun.”
The awards just add to the group’s prowess. In March, KJH’s wind ensemble band was voted the top band by the Olympic Music Education Association.
“We were awarded a certificate as the top junior high band in our league by the OMEA,” Haag said, adding the band beat out 11 others in the region to take the honor.
This year has been an exciting one for the Cavaliers and has showcased thee young musicians on stages, streets and even on the court at KeyArena in Seattle.
“They got a chance to perform the ‘National Anthem’ at a Sonics game in June,” Haag said of the March performance. “There was 17,000 people in the crowd. It was definitely a high visibility event.”
“There was nothing else like seeing them perform in front of that kind of a crowd,” he said. “I told them before hand that they needed to hit a home run and they did. They hit a home-run and performed beautifully. Steve Pool (KOMO 4 news weatherman) came up to us afterwards and said that our band sounded great.”
Haag said the KJH bands execute their performances at a level few other bands in their age group can do, adding, “The things our bands do are things most junior high bands can’t do. Our kids can do more than the junior high standard. I believe in our kids. They put on quite a show.”
The “End of the Year: End of an Era” concert won’t be the last time junior high students will perform in this year.
“The very last thing we do together as Kingston Junior High School will be the Fourth of July parade in Kingston,” Haag said. “It should be a lot of fun.”
