Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Winter Concert: Upcoming Events
Winter Concert: Upcoming Events
The Band Aides meet the 4th Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in With music in schools, students connect to each other better—greater
the right audion of the high school auditorium The next meeting is camaraderie, fewer fights, less racism and reduced use of hurtful sarcasm.
January 28th. —Eric Jensen, Arts With the Brain in Mind, 2001
For more information, to donate or volunteer, or to get information Students who participate in school band or orchestra have the lowest
about sponsorship opportunities, visit http://norwinbands.net/nba. levels of current and lifelong use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs
among any group in our society.
—H. Con. Res. 266, United States Senate, June 13, 2000
If you won’t be taking your program book
home as an autographed keepsake, Music training helps under-achievers. Students lagging behind in
scholastic performance caught up to their fellow students in reading
please recycle it in one of the bins as you leave. and surpassed their classmates in math by 22% when given music
Thank you! instruction over seven months.
—Nature, May 23, 1996
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matic leadership, between 1980-1996 the Norwin Band placed in the
About the directors top twenty bands at the Bands of America Grand National Champi-
onships. Under his direction the band took first place at the Bands of
Michael Szymanski is a 1991 graduate of Norwin High School and America Grand National Championships in 1982, and achieved the
received a B.S. in Music Education from Duquesne University in 1995. Sudler Shield award for musical excellence from the John Philip Sousa
Mr. Szymanski has been the Middle School Orchestra director since Foundation.
being hired in 1996 and became the High School Orchestra director
in 1998. In addition to their annual winter and spring concerts, the H.S. From 2002-2006 Mr. Ian Morrison was appointed band director. Under
Orchestra often performs with the Norwin Chorus, at invitational fes- the direction of Ian Morrison the Norwin Marching Band remained
tivals and for various community and scholastic events. In recent years, competitive and a new focus was brought to the Concert Ensembles
the H.S. Orchestra has received numerous Superior ratings at PMEA of the Norwin Band Program paving the way for the successes of the
Music Performance Assessments and other adjudicated festivals. During current Wind Ensemble and Concert Band.
his time at Norwin, Michael has also taught elementary band and
orchestra, elementary and middle school general music, music theory, In 2007 Mr. Robert Traugh was appointed band director, receiving
and guitar. He has been the Music Department Head since 2011. In his media attention including the Tribune Review’s article “Norwin Band
time away from school, Mr. Szymanski enjoys reading, hiking, camping Leader ‘An Ideal Fit.’ ” This article introduced Mr. Traugh to the Norwin
and long road trips. He continues to be an active freelance performer community. Mr. Traugh is assisted by Mr. Gregory Ondayko and Asso-
on violin and viola. Michael and his wife Jennifer currently reside in ciate Director Mrs. Kimberly Glover. The Norwin Percussion Ensemble
North Huntingdon with their daughters, Betsy and Abby. performed at the PMEA State Convention in 2009 and will again in
2013, as well as at the 2011 MENC All-East Convention. The Norwin
Robert Traugh is Director of Bands at Norwin High School where Concert Band received excellent ratings in 2008, 2009, & 2010 at
the Norwin Wind Ensemble, Norwin Jazz Ensemble, and the Norwin PMEA State Adjudications. In 2011 The Norwin Concert band re-
Marching Band are under his leadership. In addition, he also teaches ceived a superior rating. The Norwin Wind Ensemble received superior
AP Music Theory and Repertoire Classes as well as an after-school ratings in 2008, 2009, 2010, & 2011 at PMEA State Adjudications. The
music-based leadership forum. Under his direction, the Norwin Wind Norwin Jazz Ensemble in 2008 received accolades at the Slippery
Ensemble has received Superior Ratings at the PMEA adjudication Rock Jazz Festival for best Saxophone Section, Best Rhythm Section,
festivals in 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 and was asked to perform at Best Trombone Section, and Best Trumpet Section. In 2008 the Norwin
the 2011 YSU Wind and Percussion Invitational. The Norwin March- Marching Band performed at the Bands of America Super Regional
ing Band was recently named a Bands of America Grand National in St. Louis and placed in the top ten at finals. In 2012 the marching
Semi-Finalist, Super Regional Finalist, Regional Class AAA Champion, band swept Bands of America Regional Championships in Monroeville
and is a consistent Bands of America Regional Finalist. Mr. Traugh (PA), Akron (OH), and Towson (MD), including high music, visual, and
received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Youngstown general effect captions. . The Band program continues to grow and
State University. Mr. Traugh has twice been recognized by the St. Vin- new levels of performance excellence are set every year and in every
cent College Great Teacher Recognition Program. He is a composer, ensemble at Norwin High School.
adjudicator, consultant, clinician, drill designer and music arranger for
award-winning ensembles throughout the region, as well as a freelance The Norwin Band has come a long way from the first 28 member
trombonist in the Pittsburgh area. Mr. Traugh currently resides in West group under the direction of Mr. Winters. This organization has seen
Hempfield with his wife Bethany and son Gavan. thousands of students come through the program and each of them
take into their lives experiences only gained by participation in this
program.
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About the band program About the directors
The first Norwin High School Band was
Greg Ondayko has held the position of Assistant Band Director at
formed in the 1923-1924 school year.
Norwin for 10 years. His duties include directing the Concert Band,
It consisted of 28 members, all boys.
assisting with the Marching Band, Jazz Band and serving as supervisor of
The first director was Mr. Steven Win-
the woodwind program. Mr. Ondayko also teaches Music Technology I,
ter. The 1924 Norwin yearbook stated
II, & III as well as woodwind and brass lessons in repertory class. Under
“An organization, such as our Norwin
the direction of Mr. Ondayko, the Norwin H.S. Concert Band has been
Band turned out to be, is one that will
adjudicated at Musicfest Orlando in 2002 and 2005, earning a 1st and
make our high school known throughout
2nd place ranking in AAA, and has earned a superior rating at the PMEA
the state.” Little did they know how
Adjudication Festival in 2007. Most recently, the Concert Band received
prophetic that statement was, for the
Superior ratings in both Concert and Sightreading at the PMEA Adjudi-
Norwin High School Band has brought
cation Festival. He graduated with a Bachelors degree in Music Education
the notice of the entire nation to our community. By competing and
from Slippery Rock University in 2001. Before joining the staff at Norwin
receiving accolades nationwide, quality of Norwin’s band program and
High School, he served as a marching/ woodwind tech at both Mars
the outstanding efforts of the band students are a credit to not only
Area H.S. and at Thomas Jefferson H.S. in Pleasant Hills. Mr. Ondayko is a
the school district, but to the community that nurtures them.
member of PMEA and the Westmoreland County Music Educators As-
sociation. Greg also maintains a studio of clarinet, saxophone, and flute
Mr. “Jimmy” Weaver was instrumental in establishing the early Norwin
students. When Greg is not at school, he can be can be found restoring,
Band, acting as band director beginning in 1924-25. Mr. George Weav-
repairing, driving, or racing one of his many classic MoPar vehicles.
er was another influential individual to work with the band. With his
father, Jimmy as assistant band director, George directed the Irwin High
Kimberly Glover, a native Texan, is currently in her eighth year as the
School band from the late 1940’s through the 1950’s while the district
Associate Band Director/Director of Percussion Studies. Her responsi-
was temporarily divided into Irwin and North Huntingdon. He orga-
bilities include assisting with all band functions, percussion grades 5-12,
nized a junior band made up of elementary and junior high students to
and directing the Norwin Percussion Ensemble. Under her tutelage, Nor-
strengthen and continually improve the music program of the future.
win percussion students have earned placement in District, Region, State
and All-Eastern level ensembles. Most recently the Norwin Percussion
The Norwin Band Aides, the community support group of Norwin
Ensemble was invited to perform at the PMEA State Conferences in Erie
Band, was founded in 1961, with Glen Zockoll as band director. The
(2013), Valley Forge (2009), and at the MENC All-Eastern Conference
Band Aides have contributed enormously to the financial means of
in Baltimore, Maryland (2011). Prior to joining the Norwin Band team,
the band making it possible for the students to concentrate on their
she taught band in Texas for 2 years in the Pearland Independent School
performances.
District and the Austin Independence School District. Kim earned
her Bachelors of Music Education from the Conservatory of Music at
From the mid 60’s through the mid 70’s, band director Mr. Lawrence
the University of Missouri-Kansas City and her Masters of Percussion
Radzevic led the Norwin Band with a program that resembles that of
Performance from the University of Texas. Mrs. Glover currently plays
today. A student field conductor under Mr. Radzevic’s tutelage, L.J. Han-
with various groups including the Butler County Symphony, the Musi-
cock, would have an even greater impact on the band and the entire
cian’s Concert Band, and the Harmony-Zelienople Concert Band. She
music program at Norwin.
is a member of PMEA/MENC as well as Treasurer of the Pennsylvania
chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. Kim’s husband, David, teaches
From 1976-2001, L.J. Hancock directed the Norwin Band, inspiring the
Percussion at Slippery Rock University and they have two furry kids
students to some the program’s greatest successes. Due to his charis-
named “Keiko” and “Penny.”
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About the directors Your child’s music education is important!
Denise Bilott has been teaching for 12 years. She received a Bach- “At this time when you are making critical and far- reaching budget
elor of Music in Music Education Instrumental at Capital University in and program decisions…I write to bring to your attention the impor-
Columbus (OH), and a Masters of Science in Education with an em-
tance of the arts as a core academic subject and part of a complete
phasis on technology in the classroom from Walden University. Before
working at Norwin, Mrs. Bilott taught 6-12 band at Charleroi Area education for all students.…The arts play a significant role in children’s
School District and 7-8 General Music at Reynoldsburg City School development and learning process. The arts can help students become
District in Reynoldsburg (OH). Mrs. Bilott plays clarinet in Westmo- tenacious, team-oriented problem solvers who are confident and able
reland Symphonic Winds and enjoys spending time with her husband, to think creatively.”
daughter Evelyn, and her two dogs, Mozart and Rocky. Her family is
—Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education,
celebrating the arrival of twin girls, Elouise Mae and Florence Emily.
Mrs. Bilott will return from maternity leave on May 1st.
Playing an instrument as a kid leads to a sharper mind in old age, ac-
David Wingenbach is filling in for Mrs. Bilott at the Norwin Middle cording to a new study conducted by Brenda Hanna-Pladdy, a clinical
School, where his position includes directing the 7th grade band, 8th neuropsychologist….The researchers gave 70 people between the ages
grade band and Jazz Band. He received his Bachelor of Music Educa-
of 60 and 83 a battery of tests to measure memory and other cognitive
tion degree from Slippery Rock University and continued school at the
University of Miami where he was offered a full scholarship studying abilities. The researchers found that those who had played an instru-
Jazz Performance. He performs actively as a freelance trumpeter in the ment for a decade or longer scored significantly higher on the tests than
Pittsburgh area where he has played for The Temptations, The River those with no musical background.
City Brass Band, McKeesport Symphony, The Latshaw Pops Orchestra, —Scientific American,
The Four Tops, Wayne Bergeron, Lucy Arnez, Benny Golson, and many
more. He holds professional memberships in the Music Educators Na-
tional Conference, Pennsylvania Music Educator’s Association and the College admissions officers continue to cite participation in mu-
American Federation of Musicians. He resides in the Pittsburgh area. sic as an important factor in making admissions decisions. They claim
that music participation demonstrates time management, creativity,
Ian Morrison is in his 13th year of teaching music. A life-long Norwin
expression, and open-mindedness.
resident, Ian played violin and tuba before attending Indiana University
of Pennsylvania, where he majored in music education. Prior to teach- —Carl Hartman, “Arts May Improve Students’ Grades,” AP
ing at Norwin, Ian taught in the Penn Hills School District. At Norwin,
Ian has taught general music at all levels, middle school & high school “The era of ‘left brain’ dominance, and the Information Age that
band, and music theory. He currently teaches elementary and interme- it engendered, is giving away to a new world in which ‘right brain’
diate school strings. In addition to his professional duties, Ian teaches
qualities—inventiveness, empathy, and meaning—predominate. That’s
private tuba and euphonium lessons, serves as an adjudicator for the
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association, and occasion- what business is about today.…Arts education is not ornamental but
ally performs professionally with some of the areas regional orchestras. fundamental for economic reasons. We should be adding and not
Ian is a member of PMEA and the NAfME and serves on the Board of cutting the arts.”
Directors for the Norwin School District Community Foundation. Ian — author Daniel Pink
resides in the Norwin community with his wife Kim and son Aiden.
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High School Jazz Band Special thanks to…
Viola
High School Select Orchestra Sarah Kerr
Lexi Reiter
Shepherd’s Dance from Amahl
Helena Richie
and the Night Visitors (1951) . . . . . . . . .Gian Carlo Menotti/arr. Conley
Casi Smith
Winter from The Four Seasons (1723) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Antonio Vivaldi Jacob Westwood
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