Arts
Marching band has taught me incredible life skills--leadership, discipline, hard work and the feeling of success and overcoming challenges. Outside of these skills, I have experienced true friendship, excitement and a love for music that I thought I had lost before joining. All the hours of physical and mental strain were totally worth it, because they made me stronger, better, and, in the end, happier.
POLS Programs
Marching Band
The Pride of La Salle (PoLS) Marching Band has become a local leader in music and pageantry. Since 2010, the POLS has placed in the top three bands in Mid-States Band Association (MSBA) finals competition nearly every year, including a class AA championship in 2012 and a class AAA championship in 2015. The band also sees success on a national level, being awarded Bands of America (BOA) 2011 Mason Regional class champions and BOA 2011-2012 Grand Nationals Semi-Finalists. True success, however, is measured by more than just competitive results. Students who participate in the Pride of La Salle develop an outstanding work ethic, leadership skills and of course, about 80 brand new friends! Students will also continue to develop their musical talents and abilities, as well as prowess in visual skills such as marching and dance.
Students who perform with The Pride of La Salle are also granted extraordinary travel opportunities. Recent trips include Independence Day Parade (Washington, D.C.), Disney World (Orlando, FL), Bands of America Regionals (Dayton, OH, Louisville, KY, and more), Bands of America Grand National Championships (Indianapolis, IN) and traveling with La Salle High School’s championship-caliber football team on the road to Columbus!
Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble consists of students from La Salle, Mercy McAuley and other local high school and grade school programs. Students may participate in Wind Ensemble if they did not perform with the Pride of La Salle, but participation in both programs is strongly encouraged.
Students will rehearse twice a week during the spring following the marching season’s conclusion. Students will learn critical fundamentals to improve solo and ensemble playing whilst rehearsing traditional and contemporary wind band literature. Many illustrious guests have come to work with members including David Clemmer, David Bertman, Greg Mills, Wayne Markworth, Bob Bass, Brandon Barrometti and Mike Pickrell. Students participating in the program receive a truly world-class experience!
The Wind Ensemble has also earned prestige among the local community, achieving multiple “Superior” ratings at annual Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) adjudicated events, earning a score of “I” nearly every year since 2009. In addition to OMEA events, the Wind Ensemble performs at La Salle High School’s annual “Festival of Bands,” as well as an end-of-the-year spring concert. Students are encouraged to further their talents and skills with private lessons, participation in OMEA Solo and Ensemble events and performances at the annual “Bandcake Breakfast” and “Meatballs and Music” events.
Percussion Ensemble
We are proud to offer several ensembles at La Salle for students interested in percussion!
For new high school students who want to get a taste of percussion, we have a percussion class that meets during the school day as an elective. Students in the class learn many small ensemble pieces throughout the year and perform at our annual Night of Percussion concert in late April.
Students ready to get the full experience in our Marching Band and Wind Ensemble percussion programs should plan on attending an audition clinic in June. These are our most visible percussion ensembles and offer the most exciting experience for students!
Grade school students can get involved by joining our Junior Percussion program which meets after school on Wednesdays from 4:00 – 5:30pm and runs December through April. We teach a skill-set-based approach that, when applied, will develop musical skills that carry students beyond simply playing a piece of music!
For more information email our Percussion Director, Jonathan Pyrak at [email protected].
Winter Guard
The La Salle Winter Guard is a talented group of students that rehearse and perform from November through April. Winter Guard is the art of interpreting music through dance and choreography while spinning flags and other pieces of equipment. The show changes each year to reflect a theme which the students perform to.
The group competes in the Tri-State Marching Arts circuit and Winter Guard International competitions. Recently the group has been a WGI Championships Semi-Finalist and a TMA medalist in their class.
