January 20, 2019

Middleton HS Trumpet Ensemble Students Advance to the Pre-College Ensemble Division for the 2019 National Trumpet Competition in Lexington, KY

The Middleton High School Trumpet Ensemble is comprised of six student musicians will compete against eleven other pre-college ensembles March 14-16 at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, marking the inaugural appearance of a Middleton High School trumpet ensemble performing at a national competition.

A panel of professional trumpet players selected the MHS ensemble in January based on an unedited video of their performance. MHS made the final cut of the top twelve performers in their respective division. Student ensemble members are sophomore Alex Ashley; senior Abby Burns; junior Kyra Ginsberg; senior Ben Petersen; senior Rachel Roberson; and senior Alexis Stahnke.

Led by Halie Brown, the ensemble will perform “An Olcott Overture!” by Eric Ewazen. From the composer: "An Olcott Overture! is dedicated to my friend and publisher of several of my trumpet ensemble works, James Olcott. Stylistically and harmonically, the piece shows my Eastern European heritage, with rhythms that are in mixed meters and a texture which is gutsy and rustic. The bright, brilliant sound of the trumpet is yet another inspiration to me, with the sound of resonant fanfares and rich chords creating a heroic and celebratory sound."

Among the other ensembles represented at the 2019 competition are groups form Kentucky, Texas, Florida, Washington, Oklahoma and Maryland.

Best of luck to all the MCPASD students who will compete in the National Trumpet Competition in March 2019 at the University of Kentucky!

To learn more, please visit the National Trumpet Competition website.

January 18, 2019

The Board of Education recognized three staff members who are finalists for 2019 Kohl Eduational Foundation awards at its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 14.

Kromrey fifth-grade teacher Carol Pincombe and MHS band teacher Doug Brown are finalists in the Teacher Fellowship Program, while West Middleton principal Katrina Krych is a finalists for the Principal Leadership Award.

Since 2015, six MCPASD staff members -- Glacier Creek special education teacher Tim Ashe (2015), MHS and Kromrey German teacher Jolene Wochenske (2015), Kromrey principal Steve Soeteber (2016), MHS orchestra teacher Steve Kurr (2017), Glacier Creek band teacher Jeanne Hammes (2017) and Glacier Creek sixth-grade teacher Rhonda Veroeven -- have received Kohl Educational Foundation awards.

This year's recipients will be announced in late March or early April.

Courtesy of www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us

Middleton High School’s 7 O’Clock Jazz Band Performs at UW Madison’s 2018 Jazz Fest

Madison, Wisconsin – December 1st, 2018 –

On Saturday, December 1st, Middleton High School’s 7 O’Clock Jazz Band, directed by Doug Brown, performed at the 2018 UW Madison Jazz Fest. The 7 O’Clock Jazz Band spent the day learning and performing alongside jazz musicians from Madison West, Madison Memorial, and UW Madison. All players were able to work with the Jazz Fest clinicians in ensemble clinics, improvisation clinics, and sectional coaching.

This year’s guest artist was Dave Stamps, Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Professor of Music at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. Stamps is an active trombonist and composer-arranger and was able to work with the bands and give them feedback and advice on their playing. The Jazz Fest culminated with a Saturday evening performance at Music Hall that featured the three high school jazz bands along with the UW Jazz Orchestra and Professor Stamps.

Middleton 7 O’Clock Jazz Band

Doug Brown, director

Woodwinds

Max Newcomer, Ben Foster, Amanda Roesch, Jonathan Downs, Lucy Croasdale, Andrew Stine

Trumpets

Ben Petersen, Rachel Roberson, Alexis Stahnke, Kyra Ginsberg

Trombones

Jack Ohly, Tyler Huff, Greg Scheer, Aaron Stettner

Rhythm

Charlotte Buck, vocals, Rohan Shah, guitar, Althea Wincek, piano, Aaron Brenton, bass, Logan Frey, drums, Jude Fleischmann, drums