Next Year

Dear band students,

It is with sadness that I’m writing to let you know that I will not be returning to New Berlin next school year. It was an extremely tough decision, but I have accepted a new teaching position that will allow me to be much closer to my family in the Chicago area. I wish that I could have told everyone in person, but unfortunately the summer months did not allow for that.

The past four years leading the band program at New Berlin have been nothing short of amazing. I have loved every single minute of being your teacher, and I hope that I have instilled a life-long love of music in you. It is my deepest hope that you all continue with band and music in your lives. The program is destined for great things, and I can’t wait to see where the future takes you. I will always cherish my time at New Berlin and remember each and every one of my students fondly– once a pretzel, always a pretzel!

I will be in the band room on Tuesday, July 19^th from 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM if anyone would like to stop by. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you ever need anything or would like to stay in touch– I can be reached at my personal email: elisa.lieb11@gmail.com.

Wishing you all the best,

Ms. Lieb 

End of Year Concert

Congratulations to all of the bands who performed at our End of Year concert last week! It was a wonderful night of music and all of the groups really showcased all of the amazing progress they have made this year! A special thanks goes out to our seniors Jacob Turner, Denee Wyatt and Sydney Wyatt for their 4 years of dedication to our band program - you will be missed! Thanks to Daniel Winningham from the New Berlin Bee for the great photos below!

Six Flags St. Louis Music in the Parks Festival

Congratulations to the Junior High Band on their wonderful performance at the Six Flags St. Louis Music in the Parks Festival yesterday! The students had a blast hanging out in the amusement park all day and performing for the panel of judges. Thank you to our chaperones Carrie Mudd, Michelle Mlinar, Amy Buchino, Kathy Kloppe and Dawn Wilson for their help through out the day! 

High School Band Receives Superior Rating at IHSA Contest

Congratulations to the High School Band for receiving all Division 1 "Superior" ratings from all three judges at IHSA contest last Friday! Every single student had an important part in this achievement. This is a huge accomplishment, and shows the hard work, dedication, and musical talents of our high school students!

March Mania!!

Congratulations to our winners of our Junior High Sousa March Mania contest, hosted through the President's Own United States Marine Band! Our top winners were Daniel Kloppe (1st place), Jordyn Colwell (2nd place), and Grace Savage (3rd place)! All junior high band students had a blast voting for their favorite marches and learning more about the history of concert bands and marches! The students pictured below had the best guesses on their "brackets" and received some awesome prizes courtesy of the US Marine Band!

IHSA Solo and Ensemble Contest

Congratulations to the high school band students who performed at the IHSA Solo and Ensemble competition last Saturday at PORTA. An extra special congratulations goes to Monique Brown, Kaylee Casson, Emily Curry, Bailie Dill, Averie Innes, Jessica Markley, Ashley Stephens, Emily Tipsword, Tabitha Redick, and Alex Wilkinson for earning Division 1 ratings!

Tri-County Honor Band

Congratulations to the high school band students who participated in the Tri-County Honor Band last Thursday! New Berlin hosted students from Auburn, North Mac, Northwestern, Pawnee, Riverton, and Waverly and rehearsed all day with guest conductor Steven Schwaegler. The culminating performance in the pretzel dome that night was a real treat to hear!

An extra special congrats goes to Jessica Markley for receiving the conductor's choice award for Outstanding Percussionist and to Denee' Wyatt for Outstanding Woodwind Player!

SEMA Solo and Ensemble Contest

Congratulations to the junior high band students who competed at the SEMA Solo and Ensemble contest at Tri-City yesterday. We earned a total of 21 division 1 ratings! Congrats!!

Community/Alumni Pep Band Night

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our Community/Alumni Pep Band night last Saturday! It was great to see so many alumni back and playing with us! Make sure to join us again next year! Thanks to Daniel Winningham from the New Berlin Bee for the awesome photos!

5th Grade Band Concert

Congratulations to all 46 members of the 5th grade band on an outstanding first performance! Thanks to Daniel from the New Berlin Bee for his great close-up pictures, as always!

                                 

Recent Performances

Congratulations to all the members of the junior high and high school bands on wonderful recent performances at our Winter Concert, first pep band performance, and jazz band concert! Here are some pictures from the events! Thank you to Daniel Winningham from the New Berlin Bee for the Pep band pictures!

District 4 ILMEA Honors Festival

Congratulations to junior high student Malena Bixby and high school students Bailie Dill, Luke Emmert and Alex Wilkinson for being selected to the District 4 ILMEA Honor Festival that took place yesterday at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL. These students auditioned back in October along with hundreds of other students from across central Illinois and were talented enough to be selected! Malena, Bailie and Luke were selected for the honor band ensembles and Alex was selected for the honor choir. Congratulations!

 

Senior Night

Thank you to our seniors Jacob Turner, Denee' Wyatt, and Sydney Wyatt (not pictured) for their dedication over the past 4 years to our marching band program! You will be so missed next year!

SEMA Junior High Honor Band

Congratulations to Jaxson Taylor, Kali Marvin, Justin Royer, Malena Bixby, Tessa Peecher, Sierra Eigenmann, Rudie Logerquist, Grace Savage, Hunter Wells, Wyatt Spradlin, and Daniel Kloppe for participating in the SEMA Honor Band last Thursday at Glenwood High School. The students rehearsed all day with guest conductor Dr. David Vroman from Bradley University and put on a culminating concert later that night. A special congratulations to Malena Bixby for playing the only solo of the evening!

Tessa and Rudie with Dr. Vroman

Friday Night Football and Fall Festival

Congrats to the Marching Pretzels on another great performance last Friday night at the big game against Williamsville! Thank you also to the students who volunteered to play at the St. John's Fall Festival today. The community appreciates your support!

6th Grade Fundraiser Reward

The 6th grade band did an amazing job selling items for our annual fundraiser, and as a reward for meeting their goal, we went to the park yesterday and ate lunch! It was a beautiful day!

First Home Football Game

Here are some great pictures from last Friday night's game! Thanks to Daniel from South County Publications for the two photos of the band on the field! We're looking forward to this Friday's game against PORTA. Go pretzels!

First Marching Band Performance

Congrats to the Marching Pretzels on a great first performance this weekend at the back to school festival! 

2015 High School Marching Band Camp

Band camp is required of all Marching Band members, and will be held at New Berlin High School (there is no cost). Students should meet in the band room at the start of each rehearsal. Students may pack a lunch to eat on the breaks in the band room if they wish. Please clear any potential work conflicts in advance.

DATE                                   TIME                            WHO     
Tuesday, August 11           8AM – 9AM               Percussion                
                                              9AM – 12PM              All Students              
                                              1PM – 3PM                All Students              
Wednesday, August 12      8 AM – 9AM              Percussion                
                                              9AM – 12PM              All Students              
                                              1PM – 3PM                 All Students              
Thursday, August 13         8AM – 9AM                Percussion                
                                              9AM – 1PM                All Students              

Happy Memorial Day

Thank you to the high school band for performing at the New Berlin Memorial Day Ceremony yesterday. The band played an Armed Forces Medley, as well as the National Anthem and a Patriotic Medley. Hunter Mitchell also played taps at the end of the ceremony after the rifle salute. An even bigger thank you goes to all of the members of the armed forces who have served our country and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you for your service!