By Zachery Riggins ’72, March 2020
In this New Year, things are progressing very nicely in the Fine Arts at Withrow. The Beginning Band program now has 66 students, which is a nucleus of a good band program. There are three bells of beginning band with approximately 22 students in each class. There are several advanced students who can already play multiple instruments. The Instrumental/Marching Band is holding steady at 16 members in the instrumental band with a total of 33 including the Tigerettes. Mike Wade has started a Marching band instrument class and a Jazz Ensemble. The ensemble consist of a guitar, sax, flute, trumpet, 2 trombones, an excellent drummer, vibraphones, and piano. Mr. Wade’s goal is to expand this group into a full-size Jazz band. Mike Wendeln teaches two Steel Band classes with of 8 students each. Their performances in the Holiday show was well received. Improvements in playing and intonation continue for the students in Mr. Beasley‘s string classes.
