Welcome to the West Liberty Band Website! Inside you will find information regarding performances, class materials the students will learn throughout the course of the year, opportunities to get involved and much more!
Check back often as information is updated frequently during the course of the school year.
State Solo/Ensemble Festival
Congratulations to all of our participants last Saturday in the State Solo/Ensemble Festival in North Cedar! We received 1 Division II (excellent) rating, and 4 Division I (superior) ratings! Congratulations to Payton Danner as he was awarded Best of Center and is invited to perform at the Iowa State University campus in May.
Our choir students also had a successful day finishing with 4 Division II ratings and 7 Division I ratings!
Up next we have our Spring HS Band and Choir Concert the evening of Thursday, May 2nd, and State Large Group Contest at Highland High School in Riverside on Saturday, May 4.
Coe College Jazz Summit video and comments
Video of our performance at Coe College is uploaded in the videos section on the home page and the judges' comments are available here for students to listen and digest for next week's rehearsals:
https://sites.google.com/a/coe.edu/jazz-summit/frirm10830westlibertyjazzoneensemblex02nci
Keep up the good work!
Coe College change of schedule
Hello everyone,
Due to the predicted weather for tomorrow we will be performing at 11:30AM instead of 8:30AM (pending school cancellation). Jazz Band members will leave the high school at 9:45 and return around 2:30. Attached to the homepage is an updated itinerary. If you have any questions or comments please let me know!
Jazz Band and Florida Trip
The itineraries for the Coe College Jazz Summit (Fri. Feb. 22) and SEIBA Jazz District at Iowa City West High School (Sat. Mar. 2) are up on the homepage. We perform at 8:30 AM at Coe College, and 3:55 at SEIBA.
If your child is attending the HS Band & Choir Trip to Florida, the Florida Trip handbook (attached to homepage) needs to be signed by you AND your child, and returned to Mr. Aliga by Friday, February 22. In the handbook are details concerning procedures for the trip, travelling tips, and other valuable information. There will be a mandatory parent meeting immediately following Dessert Theater in the auditorium on Friday, March 15 at 8:30.
Jazz Band!
Jazz Band is now in full swing! We have our first performance coming up this upcoming Monday, November 19 at the Englert Theater in Iowa City. Other schools performing will be Iowa City High, Linn Mar, Moline, and the New Horizons Silver Swing Band. Posted on the home page is a complete schedule of The Jazz One Ensemble.
State Marching Band Cancelled (10/17)
Hello everyone,
I just received word from our site manager in Davenport that today’s State Marching Band Festival will be cancelled today due to weather. There are no plans for rescheduling it from the Iowa High School Music Association at this time. If there are plans to reschedule I will let everyone know ASAP.
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email me.
Thanks
-Mr. Aliga
State Marching Band Festival!
Hello everyone,
As you may know, The Iowa High School Music Association cancelled the State Marching Band event due to weather. While we were at the event I was informed that the Festival will be rescheduled for this upcoming Wednesday, October 17. Our band would perform at 4:30. According to our Superintendent Steve Hanson, it does not conflict with the district's "Church Night policy."
Our schedule is as follows:
2:00pm Depart West Liberty
3:00pm Arrive at Brady Street Stadium
3:30pm Warm up
4:00pm Depart for Gate
4:15pm Performance
4:30pm Pictures
5:00pm Depart
6:00pm Arrive at West Liberty
We will watch the weather and make the appropriate decisions. At this point, we are on for Wednesday. We will need parent help this Wednesday more than ever so please spread the word for available volunteers!
Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.
Band Parent T-Shirts!
Updated with a new design, Band Parent T-Shirts are back! Attached to the front page are order forms. Orders are due by this Friday, September 28 and will get here in time for the Wilton Festival of Bands. These shirts can be worn at all band events!
Wilton Festival of Bands & State Festival in Davenport
Itineraries are now up for the Wilton Festival of Bands on Saturday, October 6, and the State Festival in Davenport (Brady Street Stadium) on Saturday, October 13. Hope to see you there!
Little Hawk Invitational
Saturday, September 29th is our first competition at City High! Our performance time is 11:00AM sharp, but students need to report to the WLHS Band Room at 9:00AM. The full itinerary is on the home page. Hope to see you there!
Playing Test Materials
Playing Tests are to be completed by the following dates:
West Side Story Opener by Friday, September 14
Maria/Cool by Friday, September 21
West Side Story Finale by Friday, September 28
Remember, extra credit is offered if you complete your playing test the week before it is due (ex: Opener by Friday, September 7)
Below are links to streaming recordings to help you practice and prepare for you playing tests and performances.
WSS Opener: http://rockstar.jwpepper.com/mp3/2464022.mp3
Maria/Cool: http://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/mp3player.jsp?productID=2464030&song_url=http://rockstar.jwpepper.com/mp3/2464030.mp3
WSS Finale: http://rockstar.jwpepper.com/mp3/2464055.mp3
Summer Band Lessons
The schedule for summer band lessons is also up. Please note that the dates for the lessons are:
Week of May 30 – June 1
Week of June 4 – 8
Week of August 1 – 3
Week of August 6 – 10
Make sure your student has their instrument, lesson book, and anything else they might need (valve oil, reeds, etc.)
2012 Marching Band Schedule
Posted on the home page is the schedule for Marching Band this summer and fall. Bold events are events that are required for all marching band members. The first marching band performance will take place for the Muscatine County Parade on Sunday, July 15 with rehearsals on the Friday and Saturday prior to the parade.
On Saturday, June 30 there will be a band potluck at The Haskell Residence at 6PM. All band members and incoming freshmen are encouraged to come, eat, and hangout!
The evening of Sunday, July 1st there will be a Drum Corps International Competition in Muscatine. During the day however WLHS will be hosting The Legends Marching Band! All of their rehearsals are open to the public and free to watch at the football stadium! This is a great opportunity for our band and community to observe an elite marching band at the highest level of competition. More details to follow.
If you have any questions regarding our schedule or band events, please don't hesitate to email me at caliga@wl.k12.ia.us or call (319) 627-2115
December Update
Hello everyone!
Last week we had our Junior High and High School Band Concert which was a huge success! We are in the midst of starting Pep Band, reading new music for our next concert, and Jazz Band is now up and running as well!
I have included our Pep Band and Jazz Band schedules to the home page, so mark your calendars!
Marching Band Update
Hello Everyone!
Last Saturday The Comet Marching Band finished 3rd out of 10 bands in their division, and scored the highest in music execution out of 16 bands! The band received awards for outstanding drumline, color guard, marching execution, and drum majors!
We are continuing to push forward through our last few performances for the marching season:
-Saturday, Oct. 15. State Marching Band Festival at Muscatine. Performance at 10:25 AM (students report to high school at 8:15 AM and return to West Liberty HS at 11:50 AM).
-Monday, Oct. 17. High School Band and Choir Concert. 7:00 PM
-Friday, Oct. 21. Home Football game. Kick-off TBA
Meet the 2011-2012 Marching Band Leadership for the Comets Marching Band!
The leadership for the 2011-2012 edition of the Comets Marching Band is:
Hannah Miller & Emily Archer - Drum Majors
Katherine McGowan - Flutes & Clarinets
Payton Danner & Bryce Browning - Saxophones
Mikayla Ward - Trumpets & Mellophones
Nick Brown - Low Brass
Boyd Haskell - Percussion
Gerri Meraz - Colorguard
Congratulations to these young people on their appointments. It will be an exciting start to a great season as they gear up to bring Midnight in Transylvania into full creation this fall. Don't miss it!
Summer Lesson Schedule Available
On the website is the summer lesson schedule. Lessons begin Wednesday, June 1 and last until Tuesday, June 21. Lessons take place in the High School Band Room. Students that wish to get a lesson are encouraged to contact Mr. Albarracin and arrange a time that works.
Memorial Service Update
Reminder that the Memorial Service is tomorrow. Students are to wear their black marching band t-shirt, jean shorts, and gym shoes. Hat and sunglasses are recommended.
Schedule for tomorrow is:
10:30am - report at the cemetery (end of Calhoun Street in West Liberty)
10:55am - parade into the cemetery, then service
12pm - Lunch at MidWest One Bank.
1:15pm - Warmup for Memorial Park Service
Students will need their instruments, flip folder, lyre, and the following music:
America the Beautiful
Star-Spangled Banner
Service Songs Set 1
Meet Chet Aliga, the new High School Band Director for West Liberty!
After careful search, West Liberty will have a new director this coming fall. Chet Aliga from the University of Iowa will take over the high school responsibilities for West Liberty. Chet has a wealth of experience to bring to the program and many exciting things are in store for the 2011-2012 school year.
During Chet's time at the University, he was a member of the Hawkeye Marching Band all five years and was the Drum Major for the band during his last two. His major instrument is the Baritone (Euphonium) and has had the privilege of working with a variety of professors at Iowa. During this past spring semester, Chet served as the long-term substitute for Mrs. Albarracin at the Junior High level while she was on maternity leave.
We are excited to have Chet in our community and looking forward to many exciting things coming up this next school year. Consider attending the Parent Meeting this Thursday night at 7pm in the choir room and have a chance to meet Mr. Aliga.
Be Afraid of the Dark
The 2011 program for the Comets Marching Band is Midnight in Transylvania. The program explores the darker side focusing on the adventures of Count Dracula. The program opens with the one main character alone surrounded by the "gentle folk." Throughout the program, members of the band will turn over to the dark side visually and musically. The band will compete at City High, Wilton, and State Contest again in the fall. Check out the Comets Marching Band this fall!
Hannah Miller and Emily Archer named the 2011-2012 Drum Majors
The leadership for the West Liberty Band is shaping up. The Drum Majors for the 2011-2012 school year are Hannah Miller and Emily Archer. Both Hannah and Emily will be Seniors next year and have been student leaders in their respective sections. These two young women will bring the direction and focus that the band requires for next year and there is no doubt that the band will thrive as a result of their leadership. Section Leaders for the Comets Marching Band will be conducted next week during band class. Look for the announcements of the student leadership team next week!
