Hempfield Area Bands

Hempfield Area Spartan Bands

Hempfield Area Spartan Marching Band

Hempfield, Pennsylvania is home to the Hempfield Area Spartan Marching Band. The band has ranged over time from 120 to 278 members yearly since becoming a 9-12 school. It has performed in Texas, Florida, Colorado, California, New York, Washington DC, Virginia, Kentucky, and many other places. The band has received invitations to perform in Australia, France, England, and China; the band was invited to perform in China for the 2008 Olympics as well as Rome to perform for the Pope in his New Year's parade. The HAHS Marching Band also marched in the 2005 Tournament of Roses Parade with director Dr. Roderick T. Booker, who retired in 2006. Dr. Booker was a teacher for 35 years in the Hempfield Area School District, and he served as the director of high school bands for 29 years. Since 2006, the band has been under the direction of Brian A. Tychinski. He is assisted by assistant directors Michael Matteo and Nancy Flinner. Tychinski is a published author, professionally recorded musician, and has been a conductor of bands both here and abroad. Under his direction the Marching Band has taken a more innovative turn, with the entire band dancing to "Thriller" in 2007, and featuring vocals in this year's show. The Jazz and Concert Band programs have received accolades (the concert band was recently invited to perform in Shanghai, China), and have joined the Marching Band as exceptional ambassadors of Hempfield.

In March 2009 the band will be performing in the Honolulu Festival on Parade in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Hempfield Band has been selected to be the official representative of Pennsylvannia celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's statehood. The 2007-2008 band is lead by drum majors Janelle Smalley, Bethany Banaszewski, and Nathan Hercula. The field show selections for the 2008-2009 Spartan Band are Jmpin' Jack by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Cab Calloway's Minnie the Moocher featuring Vocalist Pat Jackson, A Medley of Happy Days are Here Again and You are My Sunshine, I'm Getting Sentimental Over You, and Glenn Miller's Classic, "In The Mood". Parade songs include Battle Hymn and the famous circus march "Bravura" by Charles E. Duble.

tudent Leaders and Officers

The Hempfield Area Spartan Marching Band has a proud history of high-class student leadership including executive student officers (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer) as well as assistant officers. Over the years the district, high school and student body have recognized these student leaders as exceptional assets to Hempfield. Recent examples include former band president Travis Todd (2004-2005), trumpet section leader and former president Josh Ross (2005-2006) and former vice president Elizabeth Bartles for being inducted into the Hall and Fame Among Hempfield Seniors. Many past and present leaders, mostly drum majors have been named to HAHS’s literary magazine’s annual Top 20 Most Powerful Spartans List, a list compiled of the most “powerful” seniors and juniors of class, prestige and influence in the school. Drum Majors Cara Plundo and Alex Petrunyak have placed 10th and 7th on the list in their respective graduating years. Drum Major Tara Hershey placed 18th during her junior year, and Drum Major Jared Gogets placed 10th his junior year. Hershey failed to place her senior year. In February 2007, Drum Major Mary-Lynn Robosky earned the highest mark of any drum major on the list by finishing 5th, that is until Senior Drum Major Jared Gogets took a close 2nd place finish to Senior Class President/Officer Amber Stahl in late February 2008. Robosky's 5th place finish also marked the first time that a band/music member finished ahead of a football/athletic team captain. Predicited to finish in the Top Five in 2008, Gogets' 2nd place finish was also quite the surprise.

Drum Majors named to Hempfield's "Top 20 Most Powerful Spartans" (Est 2005)

*2005 (6th) Jesse Milowiki (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
*2005 (10th) Cara Plundo (University Park, Pennsylvania)
*2005 (18th) Tara Hershey (New Wilmington, Pennsylvania)
*2006 (7th) Alex Petrunyak (Altoona, Pennsylvania)
*2006 (19th) Mary-Lynn Robosky (Altoona, Pennsylvania)
*2007 (7th) Alex Petrunyak (Altoona, Pennsylvania)
*2007 (5th) Mary-Lynn Robosky (Altoona, Pennsylvania)
*2007 (10th) Jared Gogets (Houston, Texas)
*2008 (2nd) Jared Gogets (Houston, Texas)

partan Marching Band Honors and Awards:

*2005 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California
*1971 Cotton Bowl Parade in Dallas, Texas
*1998 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Washington, DC, as the official representative for Pennsylvania, selected by Governor Ridge
*14 Walt Disney World performances
*3 Kentucky Derby Parades in Lexington, Kentucky
*2 Burbank on Parade in Burbank, California, as the featured band
*1 Disneyland performance in Anaheim, California
*1 Magic Mountain Parade in Los Angeles, California
*2 Apple Blossom Festival Parades in Winchester, Virginia
*2 Azalea Blossom Parades in Norfolk, Virginia
*5 Fiesta Flambeau Parades in San Antonio, Texas, winning First Place four times
*1 Battle of the Flowers Parade in San Antonio, Texas, winning first place
*2 Blossom Festival Parades in Cañon City, Colorado
*1 Orange Blossom Parade in Riverside, California, as the official band
*3 Pittsburgh Steelers football games in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
*5 Buffalo Bills football games in Buffalo, New York
*3 Veterans' Day Parades in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, winning first place in the Seven-Star Division

Trips by Year:

2008 Burbank on Parade in Burbank, California
2007 Magic Music Day Parade in Orlando, Florida
2006 Fiesta Flambeau Parade in San Antonio, Texas
2005 Azalea Blossom Parade in Norfolk, Virginia
2005 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California
2004 Magic Music Day Parade in Orlando, Florida
2003 Burbank on Parade in Burbank, California
2002 Fiesta Flambeau Parade in San Antonio, winning First Place
2001 Magic Music Day Parade in Orlando, Florida
2000 Orange Blossom Parade in Riverside, California, as the official band
1999 Blossom Festival Parade in Cañon City, Colorado
1998 Fiesta Flambeau Parade in San Antonio, winning First Place
1997 Magic Music Day Parade in Orlando, Florida
1996 Magic Mountain Parade in Los Angeles, California
1995 Fiesta Flambeau Parade in San Antonio, Texas, winning First Place
1994 Blossom Festival Parade in Cañon City, Colorado
1993 Magic Music Day Parade in Orlando, Florida
1992 Kentucky Derby Parades in Lexington, Kentucky

partan Marching Band Local Events:

*23 Ligoneir Days Parades
*32 Kennywood fall Fantasy Parades
*26 Labor Day Parades
*31 Halloween Parades
*24 Christmas Parades
*2 Pennsylvania State Firemens' Parades
*1 Clarion Autumn Leaf Festival Parade
*1 Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade
*1 West Virginia University Band Day
*2 Indiana University of Pennsylvania Homecoming Parades
*2 Indiana University of Pennsylvania Football Games
*2 University of Pittsburgh Homecoming Parades
*Washington and Jefferson College Homecoming Pregame and Halftime Shows

2007-08 Band Staff:

Band Director: Mr. Brian Tychinski
Assistant Band Director: Mr. Michael Matteo
Assistant Band Director: Mrs. Nancy Flinner
Colorguard Instructor: Mrs. Kim Haile
Majorette Instructor: Miss. Kristy Rees

Past Band Directors:

Dr. Roderick Booker 1977-2006
Mr. Jack Irwin 1965-1976
Mr. Aldo Dilanni 1957-1964

Past Assistant Band Directors:

Mr. Brian Tychinski 1997-2006
Mr. Doug Skorets -1997
Mr. Richard Wilson
Mrs. Donice Beitel -2006
Dr. Roderick Booker 1971-1976

2007-2008 Hempfield Spartan Band Instrumentation:

*10 Bass Drums
*8 Snare Drums
*5 Quads
*10 Cymbals

2008-2009 Hempfield Spartan Band Non-Playing Members:

*3 Drum Majors
*27 Colorguard
*8 Majorettes

Hempfield High School Jazz Band

Hempfield is also the home of the Hempfield High School Jazz Band. This group has performed in Kentucky, California, and all over Pennsylvania. The Hempfield Jazz Band also had the special opportunity to play for President Bill Clinton during his visit to Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

Hempfield Area High School Jazz Band Instrumentation:

*3 Alto-Saxes
*2 Tenor-Saxes
*1 Bar-Sax
*1 Tuba
*3 Trombones
*6 Trumpets
*1 Electric Bass
*1 Electric Guitar
*3 Percussionists
*3 Pianists
*6 Vocalists

Hempfield Area High School Jazz Band Special Appearances

*Kentucky Derby
*President Bill Clinton's visit to Greensburg, Pennsylvania
*3 special performances for former Governor Robert Casey
*Palcae Theatre shows for the Westmoreland Trust
*Pennsylvania Superintendent's Convention
*Pennsylvania State Education Association One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary
*5 "Winterlude" shows for the Trust where the band was the house band for the other artists
*Respiratory Foundation Concert at the IC Light Amphitheater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
*Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation Citation of Excellence Banquet
*Pennsylvania State School Board Association Banquet
*5 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association State Concentions
*Middle State Association Banquet
*Santa Monica Mall in Santa Monica, California for the Rouse Company