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!

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)