<![CDATA[GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS BAND & ORCHESTRA BOOSTERS - PAST NEWS]]>Thu, 14 May 2026 11:36:00 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[CELEBRATING ANOTHER AMAZING BOBCAKE BASH WEEK!]]>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.grandviewhtsband.org/past-news/celebrating-another-amazing-bobcake-bash-weekFriends, now that the BOBCAKE BASH week is in our rearview mirror, we are thrilled to share that we will once again clear $10,000 in funds raised in support of our ​
band and orchestra students! GHBOB sends out a huge thank you to BOBCAKE BASH co-chairs Terra Welsh and Natalie Glenn, CAKEPOPS organizer Tessa Carrel, and the many many committee chairs and volunteers who once again helped us create the magic of this beloved community event and the important fundraising that comes with it.
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We even want to thank Mother Nature, as we were so excited that the weather permitted the use of the GH Public Library's outdoor stage for the first time in the three-year history of our CAKEPOPS kickoff event! You can check out the photos of the beautiful weather, huge crowd of fans, and talented young musicians below.
  
Then the mayhem of the Friday night BOBCAKE BASH took over, and we gave away more than 350 cakes and probably a thousand times as many smiles, as you can see in these photos below.
  
GHBOB also appreciates the support of our Maestro Level sponsor School of Rock Columbus, and our Soloist Level sponsor Musicologie, as well as the dozens of local businesses who donated cakes, gift cards, and other great prizes for sale at our silent auction. Every little bit helps, and we are grateful for all of it. Congrats to all, for another amazing event! 

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]]><![CDATA[GHHS JAZZ ENSEMBLE PERFORMING WITH THE PROS]]>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.grandviewhtsband.org/past-news/ghhs-jazz-ensemble-performing-with-the-prosRight before spring break this year, our GHHS Jazz Ensemble students had not one but two amazing opportunities to perform with amazing central Ohio professional jazz ​
talent. 

First, our students shared the stage with Vaughn Weister’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, a 22-piece powerhouse known for its massive sound and dedication to the big band tradition. Wesiter's group performs regularly at Boulevard Presbyterian in Grandview Heights, but it is rare for high schoolers to collaborate with a professional ensemble of this caliber. And it was an electric atmosphere!
 
The next night, the students capped off their annual residency with the Jazz Arts Group with a home concert featuring a legend of the Columbus jazz scene, Bobby Floyd on piano. Performing with Bobby Floyd is a true "bucket list" moment for any musician. Floyd is a world-renowned organist and pianist who has toured with the Count Basie Orchestra and Ray Charles, and his soulfulness and virtuosity are unmatched. Along with Floyd, Zach Compston (percussion) from JAG mentored and performed alongside our students. It was an opportunity they will not soon forget! 

Please enjoy a few photos below from both events, and join us in congratulating the GHHS Jazz Ensemble for these impressive collaborations!
]]><![CDATA[WINTER BAND WHIRLWIND!]]>Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.grandviewhtsband.org/past-news/winter-band-whirlwind​Mrs. Olis recently shared the following update:
The third quarter has been busy for the Grandview Heights Band Program
Both Isla Swisher (tenor sax, 10th grade) and Rose Ritzman (alto sax, 9th grade) were selected to participate in The Ohio State University Honor Band Festival. Over 900 individual student nominations were submitted by band directors from nine states for this year's event. 270 musicians representing over 150 high schools were selected for the three honor bands. Unfortunately the event ended up being cancelled due to weather, however, both ladies will be invited back to perform next year.
 
Over President's Day Weekend, three GHHS band students and five LMS band students participated in the Ohio Wesleyan Honor Band.
 
LMS musicians Audrey Connell (clarinet, 8th grade), Avery Szabo-Ramsey (bassoon, 8th grade), Ellie Bills (euphonium, 8th grade), Ivy Edwards (clarinet, 7th grade), and Katie Edwards(clarinet, 7th grade) and GHHS musicians Charlotte Ritzman (flute, 11th grade), Isla Swisher (tenor sax, 10th grade), and Rose Ritzman (alto sax, 9th grade) were all selected by director nomination. 
 
There were 2 middle school honor bands and 1 high school honor band at this event, with each group featuring around 90 gifted musicians from across the state of Ohio. 
 
That same weekend, Max McCollough (horn, 11th grade) performed in the Wright State University Honor Band Festival. Max was selected by taped audition as the top horn player in the top ensemble!
 
On Monday, February 23, the Bowling Green Wind Symphony came to GHHS to perform a concert and participate in a side-by-side rehearsal with our high school musicians. It was quite the experience having 120+ musicians make music together in our high school gym! A BIG THANK YOU to our administration and LMS/GHHS teachers for their support of this event as well as our amazing custodial staff who were instrumental in getting the equipment set-up and torn down in the gym.
 
Closing out this update, this past Tuesday, March 3rd, the president of OMEA (Ohio Music Education Association) and retired Dublin Jerome HS band director, Brian Stevens, came to GHHS to clinic the high school band as they prepare for their OMEA District Contest performance on Friday, March 13. The students were focused and absorbed as much information as possible to improve their performance. Again, very proud of our students!
 
As always, we love seeing our Grandview band students going above and beyond and appreciate all of the support from the community, parents, administration, staff, et al!
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She was right about those concert band students being focused - as they brought home a superior rating from their OMEA performance this past Friday! 

(Updated March 14, 2026)
]]><![CDATA[SWEET, SWEET SOLO & ENSEMBLE SUCCESS]]>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.grandviewhtsband.org/past-news/january-25th-2026On Saturday, January 17, eleven of our GHHS instrumental music students performed solos or in ensemble groups during the OMEA adjudicated events solo and ensemble 
day at Pleasant View Middle School. And we are thrilled to report that every single one of them received a "superior" rating for their performance - the highest rating available!  GHBOB congratulates the following students for putting in the time and effort necessary to achieve this amazing result:

Axel Farnham (freshman) - viola solo
Sydney Heren (freshman) - tenor sax solo
Max McCollough (junior) - horn solo
LouLou Rafailidis (sophomore) - violin solo
Charlotte Ritzman (junior) - flute solo
Rose Ritzman (freshman) - alto sax solo
Maura Yates (junior) - cello solo
Sydney Heren, Luke Lobao (senior), Rose Ritzman, Isla Swisher (sophomore) - sax quartet
Maddi Barger (freshman), Charlotte Ritzman, Callie Rutter (sophomore) - flute trio

GHBOB also gives a big shout out to our directors, Jennifer Olis and Thomas Stanley, for helping our students be so well prepared!
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Interested in learning more about how your student can get involved in extended learning and performance opportunities like this? Talk to your student's director for details!
(Updated January 25, 2026)
]]><![CDATA[CONGRATS TO OUR HONOR BAND PARTICIPANTS!]]>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.grandviewhtsband.org/past-news/congrats-to-our-honor-band-participantsOn Saturday, November 8, 8th graders Avery Szabo-Ramsey (flute) and Ben Truett (trombone), and 7th graders Onahlee Markham (alto sax) 
and Olivia Lindamood ​(trumpet) performed in the Ohio Music Education Association District 15 Middle School Honor Bands. They joined 200 musicians from around central Ohio for this special one day event.

In addition, on the weekend of November 14-15, sophomore Mira Bondy (clarinet), sophomore Isla Swisher (tenor sax), and junior Max McCollough (horn) all performed in the Capital University Honor Band Festival. They too joined over 200 dedicated and talented student musicians across the State of Ohio and beyond. Acceptance for this year’s Capital event was extremely competitive, with nearly 400 nominations from over 70 schools!

GHBOB congratulates all of these students for embracing these extended learning and performance opportunities! 
]]><![CDATA[FUN TRIP FOR OUR 5TH AND 6TH GRADE STUDENTS]]>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.grandviewhtsband.org/past-news/fun-trip-for-our-5th-and-6th-grade-studentsOn Friday December 5, our 5th and 6th grade band and orchestra students headed over to Ohio State University to enjoy their annual Holiday Celebration of Music concert. ​
Presented in collage style with groups performing all around the auditorium, our students got to see and hear orchestra, jazz, band, and choral performances, and even got a peek at the OSU Marching Band. A few photos are below.

GHBOB is proud to support this annual activity, and grateful to all of you - our dedicated volunteers - for heeling raise the funds to make opportunities like this possible for our students!
]]><![CDATA[WEEK ELEVEN: A LONG JOURNEY AND A FUN SHOW TO END THE SEASON]]>Sun, 09 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.grandviewhtsband.org/past-news/week-eleven-a-long-journey-and-a-fun-show-to-end-the-seasonOur GHHS Marching Bobcats took a six-hour round-trip bus ride to Toronto High School on Friday October 31, on the border of Ohio West Virginia, to support our football ​
Bobcats in the first round of the OHSAA football playoffs. The game didn't come out as we'd hoped, but our band students still had plenty of fun putting on their senior show in full Halloween costumes - including two band directors who dressed as GHHS Marching Band members! 
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Enjoy some photos below from the Marching Band's last performance of the fall 2025 season. 

​Not to worry, concert season is in full swing at Grandview, and we have plenty of upcoming opportunities to see all of our groups in action, so stay tuned!
]]><![CDATA[CONGRATULATIONS, LOULOU!]]>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.grandviewhtsband.org/past-news/congratulations-loulouSophomore violinist LouLou Rafailidis participated this past weekend in the Ohio State University High School Honor String Orchestra Weekend. Outstanding high school ​
strings students from all over the state were selected by director nomination and placed into one of two orchestras after video auditions.

​Students then spent the weekend in master classes and rehearsals with OSU school of music faculty, got to see the OSU symphony orchestra perform twice, and each group gave their own concerts to close the weekend on Sunday afternoon. LouLou was placed the top group, the Scarlet Orchestra, which is pictured below during their closing performance.

​GHBOB congratulates LouLou for embracing this extended learning and performance opportunity! Want to learn more about how your student might get involved in opportunities like this? Talk to your student's director for details.
]]><![CDATA[WEEK TEN: SEASON IN REVIEW, A BIG WIN ON THE ROAD, PLUS DINNER FROM DEWEY'S AND NOTHING BUNDT CAKE!]]>Sat, 25 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.grandviewhtsband.org/past-news/week-ten-season-in-review-a-big-win-on-the-road-plus-dinner-from-deweys-and-nothing-bundt-cakeOur GHHS Marching Band performed pregame and all three 2025 halftime shows last Thursday night to an adoring crowd during their annual "Season in Review" ​
performance. Seniors and squad leaders were recognized in the moments between shows, both to show our appreciation for their leadership and also to let the students rest their tired lungs, lips, and legs!

Then the end of a long, hard regular season came on Friday night at Mifflin High School - our football Bobcats brought home a convincing win and our GHHS marching Band performed their senior show to another appreciative crowd. Overall a good time was had by all! Enjoy a few photos from both events below. 

​The Bobcats' first playoff game will be next Friday, October 31 on the road at Toronto High School. See you there, GO BOBCATS!
]]><![CDATA[GAME NINE AT HOME VS. LUCASVILLE VALLEY: SENIOR NIGHT, AND DINNER FROM QDOBA!]]>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.grandviewhtsband.org/past-news/game-nine-at-home-vs-lucasville-valley-senior-night-and-dinner-from-qdobaOur GHHS Marching Band enjoyed a great night on Friday, first being hosted for dinner at the home of Karen & Adam Smith. The good people at QDoba donated a huge dinner, ​
and the Smiths and Lisa Gladman filled in with dessert and drinks. Our students got to enjoy an unseasonably warm October evening hanging out and relaxing together in the Smiths' back yard before heading over to school for the final home game of the season. 
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Along with seniors from the cheer and football teams, our nine Marching Band seniors were celebrated, along with their families before the pregame show. Photos taken by GHBOB member and volunteer photographer Sark Mahdasian should be available soon, and in the meantime you can enjoy some unprofessional snapshots below. Click here for full video from the senior night performances as well.

​Our bruised and battered but still battling football Bobcats have one more regular season game this week, at Mifflin High School on Friday October 24. Your GHHS Marching Band will be there to support them, and then on to the playoffs beginning on October 31!
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