Wind Symphony 1 earns ISSMA State Championship!
Carmel High School’s Wind Symphony I earned top honors at the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) State Concert Band Finals on Saturday! Wind Symphony 1 performed beautifully in front of a 3 judge panel for the competition. Judges included: Mr. John Whitwell, Director of Bands Emeritus at Michigan State University, Dr. Donald Ryder, Associate Director of Bands at University of Tennessee and Dr. Joseph Manfredo, Associate Professor of Music at Illinois State University.
Saturday’s performance is especially memorable for Director of Bands, Mr. Richard Saucedo, who is retiring at the end of this year. Mr. Saucedo penned this note to the ensemble on Sunday evening…
Dear Students, Parents and friends of Carmel Bands,
Even after 30 years, conducting Wind Symphony I is still like a dream come true, but this past Saturday was definitely a whole new level for this amazing group of young musicians! I’m not sure I’ve ever been a part of such an emotional and inspiring performance! Many thanks to the students in Wind Symphony I for their tireless efforts and for being great young men and women as well as being great musicians.
I will so miss sharing the podium with my great colleague and friend, Michael Pote, from whom I have learned so much over the years. Mr. Pote will lead the Carmel Band Program to outstanding new heights in the future as the new director of bands.
Thanks to associate directors Chris Kreke, Andy Cook and percussion instructor Jeff Queen for their efforts in developing all of our bands this year!
Congratulations also goes to the CHS Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Soo Han for another state championship! Our orchestra program is beyond amazing and Soo Han is, in my opinion, one of the greatest high school conductors in the country.
Thanks to all of our parents, administrators and fans for the wonderful support this concert band season!
Sincerely,
Richard Saucedo
Director of Bands
Mr. Michael Pote, who will be taking over as Director of Bands at the end of this year, composed this note to students, parents and fans of the band program.
Dear Students, Parents and friends,
It was great to see all the hard work of these phenomenal young musicians come to fruition in that wonderful performance. The feeling we all had coming off the stage was worth a thousand championships.
I have had the honor of sharing the stage with Mr. Saucedo and that ensemble for 17 ISSMA State performances and it was fitting the finest performance of that group occurred in his final performance with them. I have learned more than anyone could ever know form Mr. Saucedo: from being my first high school band director, hiring me as a staff member as a geeky college student, encouraging my composing career and finally hiring me at Carmel as a band director.
I will miss sharing that stage with him but am grateful for the performances we have had!
Sincerely,
Michael Pote
Associate Director of Bands
Congratulations to all of the Wind Symphony I students and directors on their incredible performance! You’ve definitely earned the title of ISSMA Concert Band State Champion!
Wind Symphony I qualifies for ISSMA State Finals!
Carmel High School’s Wind Symphony I qualified for the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) Concert Band State Finals this past Saturday. Wind Symphony I received superior ratings from all three judges for their performance of three concert band pieces.
Director of Bands, Richard Saucedo said, “I am thrilled at the emotions that this group is capable of presenting to our audience next Saturday!” Only the top 16 concert bands in the state qualified to perform in finals next Saturday at Butler University’s newest venue, the Schrott Center for the Arts. Carmel performs at 3:40pm
Carmel’s Wind Symphony 2 earned superior ratings as well on Saturday and barely missed qualifying for State Finals. “We are so proud of our second band Wind Symphony II. Their performance was probably the best by a second band that we’ve had in a long time!”, said Saucedo.
Other state finalist concert bands from the area include: Lawrence Central, Hamilton Southeastern, North Central, Center Grove and Avon HS. For a full schedule of the ISSMA State Concert Band finals, go to: