OHS PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
The Concert Percussion Ensemble is made up of all percussionists who perform some challenging and exciting percussion ensemble literature. The members of this ensemble have the opportunity to explore numerous percussive instruments and various styles and techniques. OHS is privileged to have a variety of traditional and nontraditional percussion and mallet instruments on which the students learn and perform.
The Concert Percussion Ensemble is made up of all percussionists who perform some challenging and exciting percussion ensemble literature. The members of this ensemble have the opportunity to explore numerous percussive instruments and various styles and techniques. OHS is privileged to have a variety of traditional and nontraditional percussion and mallet instruments on which the students learn and perform.
Owensboro High School Percussion Ensemble bring their Percussion Show to Louisville - KMEA 2023 State Conference
Jan 29, 2023 Owensboro High School’s Percussion Ensemble has been selected to perform at the 2023 Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference in Louisville, KY at the Galt House, Archibald Cochran Ballroom, on Feb. 9 at 12:45 p.m. EST. This is their third time being invited to this prestigious event, being selected this time to perform their annual percussion showcase concert. After a rigorous audition process, OHS students will perform at the conference with 3 other selected percussion ensembles. Under the direction of Aaron Klausing, students will perform a wide variety of selections including technical pieces, to 6 original works arranged by both their directors. “We found out last July that we were not only selected for the conference but we were approved to perform a 50 minute concert set of our percussion concert, something we had to get special approval for. As soon as I heard we would be playing at the conference it didn't take long to come up with a concept for the program, something we do every year." The idea of the show is to create a theatrical performance that was wildly entertaining, with seamless transitions, utilizing lights and sound in creative ways. The music for each show is selected to highlight the strengths of the individual students while exposing the group to a wide variety of musical genres. Throughout the years, the show has broadened to incorporate many of the outstanding performing arts at OHS including solo singers, choir ensembles, strings, winds, marching percussion, handbell choir, slam poets, and a cast of theater students to deliver a unique story created by Abby Lane. The title of this year’s show is “Reimagine”. It’s about reimagining or redefining oneself as we traverse through life. As the creators of the show, we challenge ourselves every year to reimagine unique ways to create music that is challenging, engaging, and fun for our students. Much of the music presented in our percussion concerts has been written or arranged by the directors allowing them to write with students’ abilities in mind, but more importantly gives the opportunity to experiment with creative instrumentation, involving a wealth of students in the performance. It takes a village to put on a production like this, utilizing drama students, choir members, orchestra members, band members and audio and light design by The Eric Group. If you can’t attend the KMEA conference in Louisville, you can still watch the Owensboro High School Percussion Ensemble in action. The group will perform a pre-view concert on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Owensboro High School auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public. Those wanting to catch the OHS Percussion Ensemble in Louisville can do so at no cost.
OHS Percussion Ensemble to Perform at 2016 KMEA State Conference
Owensboro High School’s Percussion Ensemble has been selected to perform at the 2016 Kentucky Music Education Association Conference in Louisville, KY at the Louisville Convention Center on Feb. 4 at 1:05 p.m. EST. After a rigorous audition process, OHS students were chosen as one of only two percussion ensembles in the state to perform during this prestigious event. Under the direction of Aaron Klausing, students will perform some of the most advanced and technical ensemble compositions at the conference. “We found out last July that we were selected for the conference. With the high level of talented students in our band program, I knew right then I wanted to program some really challenging music for the ensemble. The kids have responded to the challenge, playing at levels they never thought was possible,” said Aaron Klausing, percussion ensemble director. If you can’t attend the KMEA conference, you can still watch the Owensboro High School Percussion Ensemble in action. The group will perform their program for parents, friends and the community on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Owensboro High School auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public. Those wanting to catch the OHS Percussion Ensemble in Louisville will need a ticket for access to concerts in the 200 level. Concert tickets are available at the KMEA registration desk in the Bridgeside Lobby. Red Steel plays with the Owensboro Symphony OrchestraThe Owensboro High School steel drum group, Red Steel, playing with the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra. They opened up the Holiday Pops concert 2015 with the orchestra. Bravo Red Steel!
A message from Maestro Nick Palmer: Dear Aaron Thank you and all of your students for a wonderful pair of concerts this weekend! Kids were awesome they played with enthusiasm, great musicality and wonderful showmanship I so appreciate all of the work you put in preparing them please tell them how much I enjoyed working with them all! Happy holidays to you and your family Nick |
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2019 OPS Percussion Show
spark
2019 OPS Percussion Concert
This is the sixth year for the OPS Percussion Production. The concert includes students from our percussion program, concert band, drama department and choir department.
Background Story
This year’s show is called “Spark” and it focuses on the creative energy and imagination children have and how to tap back into that “spark” as we age.
Each song is paired with passages from memorable childhood stories. The stories are shared through media images as well as analysis to take you through the narratives as musicians play relatable songs using traditional instruments and more creative and non-traditional instruments.
2018 OPS Percussion Show
The Collector
This is the fifth year for the OPS Percussion Production. The concert includes students from our percussion program, concert band, drama department and choir department.
Background Story
The Collector is a show about time, defined as the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past present and future regarded as a whole. In our lives, time can feel like it is moving quickly, steadily or slowly – as if time is a living and breathing entity. As we change in our lives the one constant is time. It is there when we are born, it is there as we grow, and it is there when we die. Time shows no remorse and shows no sympathy for its existence.
The Collector is about time. It is about how we perceive it and how we use it. It is about how it can be our ally and our worst enemy. As Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote:
Shun such as lounge through afternoons and eves,
And on thy dial write, “Beware of thieves!”
Felon of minutes, never taught to feel
The worth of treasures which thy finger steal,
Pick my left pocket of the silver dime,
But spare the right, -- it holds my golden time!
2017 OPS Percussion Concert
connected
This is the fourth year for the OPS Percussion Production. The concert includes students from 5th grade through 12th grade. This production is different from the traditional band concert.
Background Story
A group of friends at Davidson High School are waiting for class to start when they become aware of the latest in a recent string of media blackouts strike. The information blackouts affect all broadcast media and internet communication, and people all over the country are discussing their theories and worries about who is behind them—but struggling to communicate them with others. When evidence of a plan to close their school as part of a mysterious new government training program arrives at the office, the friends begin to form their own plan to make their voices heard above the strange new silence.
connected
This is the fourth year for the OPS Percussion Production. The concert includes students from 5th grade through 12th grade. This production is different from the traditional band concert.
Background Story
A group of friends at Davidson High School are waiting for class to start when they become aware of the latest in a recent string of media blackouts strike. The information blackouts affect all broadcast media and internet communication, and people all over the country are discussing their theories and worries about who is behind them—but struggling to communicate them with others. When evidence of a plan to close their school as part of a mysterious new government training program arrives at the office, the friends begin to form their own plan to make their voices heard above the strange new silence.
2016 Percussion Concert
Love in Quarantine
This is the third year for the OPS Percussion Production. The concert includes students from 5th grade through 12th grade. This production is extremely different from the normal “band concert”.
Background Story
The R13 Virus has spread through most of America rapidly, decimating the population and shutting down regions entirely. A group of high school friends has left on foot in search of help and supplies for their few remaining ailing relatives. They wander for weeks, collecting small amounts of food and first aid equipment on the way but find no help. They decide to return with what they have, but they’ve been temporarily stranded by a large storm. After the storm, there are no crews to repair the damaged buildings or roads or restore what had been left of the utilities. Their town is unrecognizable and nearly impassable. There is no one left. They agree to stick together and set out in the other direction, looking for any shelter or friendly faces they can find. A couple of childhood sweethearts, Ty and Miranda, hold hands and lead the way.
2015 Percussion Concert
Sky Tower One
2015 OPS Percussion Concert
This is the second year for the OPS Percussion Production. The concert includes students from 5th grade through 12th grade. This production is extremely different from the normal “band concert.” The show includes a story and percussion ensembles to match the plot.
The show this year is titled Sky Tower One, a story told by a teenage girl that lives in Sky Tower One, a tower that hovers above the abandoned damaged earth. The Angels, or people that live in the clouds, are sustaining life in hopes that earth will be rejuvenated to its prior beauty, known as Paradise.
The OPS Percussion Ensembles are excited to present to you this year’s production, Sky Tower One.
2015 OPS Percussion Concert
This is the second year for the OPS Percussion Production. The concert includes students from 5th grade through 12th grade. This production is extremely different from the normal “band concert.” The show includes a story and percussion ensembles to match the plot.
The show this year is titled Sky Tower One, a story told by a teenage girl that lives in Sky Tower One, a tower that hovers above the abandoned damaged earth. The Angels, or people that live in the clouds, are sustaining life in hopes that earth will be rejuvenated to its prior beauty, known as Paradise.
The OPS Percussion Ensembles are excited to present to you this year’s production, Sky Tower One.
wonder
2014 OPS Percussion Concert
This was the first year for the OPS Percussion Concert. The concert includes students from 5th grade all the way to 12th grade. Each grade level is represented in the concert.
The inaugural production is titled wonder, based on the wonderment you have when growing up from childhood to adulthood. The show is designed to bring to light things you may have thought about while growing up, things you may have felt, and ideas you may have had.
From the writer, Abby Lane, she states:
2014 OPS Percussion Concert
This was the first year for the OPS Percussion Concert. The concert includes students from 5th grade all the way to 12th grade. Each grade level is represented in the concert.
The inaugural production is titled wonder, based on the wonderment you have when growing up from childhood to adulthood. The show is designed to bring to light things you may have thought about while growing up, things you may have felt, and ideas you may have had.
From the writer, Abby Lane, she states:
- From looking at the world with fresh wonder to wondering about the big questions in life, this is a musical exploration of coming of age through the eyes of one modern student.