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Welcome Bert Groover!
August 2, 2010
American Fork High School Marching Band is pleased to announce the recent addition of Bert Groover to the AFHS Marching Band staff. An accomplished percussionist and band instructor, Bert oversees the percussion and drum line at AFHS. Bert is a native of Peachtree City, Georgia.
Bert attended Auburn University in Music Education and completed his Bachelor's degree at Columbus State University. At Auburn University, Bert was involved in the marching band, jazz band, steel drum ensemble, and Afro-Cuban ensemble. At Auburn University and Columbus State University, Bert was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the Percussive Arts Society, The National Association for Music Education, and the Georgia Music Educators Association.
Following graduation, Bert worked for the Harris County Department of Education in Hamilton, Georgia. His responsibilities included teaching high school and middle school band with a specialization in percussion. During his time in Georgia, Bert started various band programs including the percussion ensemble, jazz band, brass choir, and woodwind choir. Students in his programs received superior ratings in solo/ensemble and large group performance competitions. Bert also taught for two years at Russell County High School in Seale, Alabama where his students received straight superior ratings in all competitions.
Bert is excited to work with the award-winning American Fork High School Marching band and says, "Music is essential to the growth of productive members of society and it is great to be somewhere that places such high priority on that growth."
Welcome Angela Myers!
August 2, 2010
American Fork High School Marching Band is pleased to announce the addition of Angela Myers to the AFHS Marching Band staff. Angela Myers' primary responsibility is woodwind instruction and her expertise and enthusiasm are a wonderful addition to the AFHS Marching Band family.
Angela attended high school in Sharpsville, Indiana where she participated in band and was drum major her junior and senior years. Additionally, Angela arranged her schedule to be a teaching assistant for the elementary and then the junior high bands. The band director gave her a unique opportunity to work with students individually and with the band as a whole. These experiences are what led Angela to pursue a career in music education.
Angela's education career began at Ball State University where she received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education. After graduation, Angela started the band and orchestra programs at a new middle school in Gainesville, Virginia. Her efforts over her five years in Gainesville resulted in an increase from 100 students to 450 students. In addition to her middle school programs direction, Angela spent her summers working at many high school marching band camps included Bands of American Summer Symposium at Illinois State University and the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy in various locations across the country.
Angela is delighted to work with the award-winning American Fork High School Marching band and considers band a beneficial activity for ALL students, stating, " Band teaches creativity and expression on both group and individual levels and helps students to succeed in other subjects as well. Students have leadership opportunities through large and small ensembles in the band program which facilitates a strong work ethic and awareness of responsibility."
Farewell to Mr. Arnold - 7/25/2010
Tuesday will be his last day with us and he will be sorely missed. We wish him great success in the doctorate experience and we will hold him to his Scout Oath and Pinky Swear that he will return to us next year even better than he already is.
Congratulations to this years Drum Majors!!
Congratulations to Mellaina Adams, Alex Andersen, Lauren Hafen, and Haylie Lund who were selected as this year's Drum Majors! They were selected from a group of great candidates by a panel of judges and a student vote.
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AFJH Wind Ensemble Honored (September 2008)
A unique honor has come to the American Fork Junior High Wind Ensemble and director, Jermie Arnold, in the form of an invitation to perform at the premiere of the Middle School National Music Festival in Indianapolis. The ensemble was invited based on a taped audition evaluated by a panel of educators. AFJH is one of four "outstanding" middle school bands invited, with Farmington Symphonic Band (UT) and two Texas bands.
Middle school ensembles attending the Music for All (MFA) National Festival participate in master classes with noted professional musicians, have opportunities to listen to bands from throughout the nation, are evaluated in a non-competitive environment, and receive input and clinics from a panel of leading music educators. Students attend a student social and dance, and an opening session and Gala Awards Banquet.
"A performance at this national event would validate to students, parents and school administrators the importance of musical achievement through goal setting and the motivation to excellence," says Ray Cramer, MFA Festival evaluator.
A Texas band director says, "I feel that by experiencing the MFA National Festival the seeds of excellence are planted earlier. There was a marked difference in musical maturity and professionalism."
"The MFA National Festival is unique in that no other music festival can provide such a life-changing experience for students and directors alike through so many different rewarding music-education activities at one event," says Richard Crain, coordinator of the festival.
Mr. Arnold and the AFJH Wind Ensemble spent a year working on the taped audition process. Mr. Arnold, who has also helped at the national event, said, "The MFA organization has got it right. The middle level ensembles have always been looking for a place to stretch their wings. Bands of America is now helping them strive for excellence."
Percussion News
The following American Fork Junior High School percussion students
received awards at this years Utah Percussive Arts Society
"Day of Percussion" on March 29th. We are very proud of all
of our participating students for representing the AF Band.
American Fork J.H.S.
- 1st place Percussion Ensemble (large percussion group)
- 1st place Marimba - Rachelle Anderson
- 1st place Snare Drum - Dillon Boss
- 2nd place Marimba - Kirsten Montgomery
- 2nd place Drumset - Mitchell Anderson (he's only in 7th grade and competed against 9th graders...WOW!)
- 3rd place Snare Drum - Alex Fishburn & Derrick Cannon
- 3rd place Multi-Percussion - Aaron Walters
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