The Putnam County Band and Choir Concert was held at Ottawa-Glandorf’s Robert J. Hermiller’s Gymnasium at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, 2013. The All- County Band and Choir was comprised of a total of 157 students (87 choir, 70 band) from all nine Putnam County high schools. These students were selected through an audition process earlier in the school year. They rehearsed at Ottawa-Glandorf, Bluffton University and at their home high schools since mid-January.
The guest choir director was Dr. Crystal Sellers Battle, assistant professor of music at Bluffton University. Selections that were performed by The All-County Choir included:
Set Me as a Seal by Joseph M. Martin,;
We Shall Overcome, arr. Raymond Wise;
I’m Gonna Sing “Til the Spirit Moves in my Heart” by Moses Hogan;
Shine the Light by Raymond Wise;
E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come, Paul Manz;
The guest band director was Mr. Tony Alessandrini, retired Director of Bands at Van Wert City Schools. Selections that were performed by The All-County Band included:
Themes from La Belle Hélène by Jacques Offenbach (arr. Jim Mahaffey);
Prospect, The Southern Harmony by Pierre LaPlante;
Adrenaline Engines by Randall D. Standridge;
Men of Ohio by Henry Fillmore (arr. Loras Schissel);
Amber Waves of Grain (Symphonic rhapsody on “America the Beautiul” by James Curnow;
(Combined Band and Choir)
United We Stand, An American Medley by Samuel Augustus Ward.
Eighteen students were recognized for being participants of the All-County Band and Choir for four years. These students were:
Kelzey Kuch – Columbus Grove
Jocie Scott – Columbus Grove
Whitney Seyer – Columbus Grove
Chaz Slattman – Continental
Kiersten Belrose – Fort Jennings
Alaina Deepe – Miller City – New Cleveland
Torie Allgire – Ottawa-Glandorf
Levi Burwell – Ottawa-Glandorf
Molly Closson – Ottawa-Glandorf
Ashley Heckman – Ottawa-Glandorf
Tyler Karhoff - Ottawa-Glandorf
Allie Maas – Ottawa-Glandorf
Matthew Meyerhoffer – Ottawa Glandorf
Jacob Otto – Ottawa Glandorf
Kayla Smith - Ottawa-Glandorf
Audrey Rieger – Ottoville
Abby Siefker - Ottoville
Elicia Fagan – Pandora-Gilboa
These students are advised and supported by their local directors including: Jim Oberhaus, Kathleen Kuch, and Carla Rae Wyant (Columbus Grove); Kyle Knapke (Continental); Rose Mary Warnecke (Fort Jennings); Mary Glick and Lori Klausing (Kalida); Devin Bramel and Miriam Gibson (Leipsic); Jennifer Keeler and Nicholas Mitchell (Miller City-New Cleveland); Brent Deskins and Ted Ellerbrock (Ottawa-Glandorf); Warren Bowery (Ottoville); and Erica Lucas and Kelly Ortiz (Pandora-Gilboa). The All-County Band and Choir Concert is sponsored by the Putnam County Educational Service Center.
