Perry Middle School is once again pleased to announce this year’s talented group of music students who participated in the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) District 7, Middle School and Junior High Honors Band. The event was held in the Mentor High School Fine Arts Center on February 23th and 24th.
Selected to perform in this year’s Honors Band were 8th grader Augusto Nagy on flute and 8th grader Luke Steverding on trumpet. The Perry Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Bands are under the direction of Mr. Jeff Miller and Mr. Brad Hruska. These two students, along with students from 24 other middle and junior high schools, met for two days of rehearsals followed by a Friday evening concert for family and friends.
The Honors Band was conducted by Jon Waters. Mr. Waters is an internationally known music educator and band director. As the former Director of Marching Band and Athletic Bands at The Ohio State University, his innovative use of iPads in creating unprecedented animated marching formations led to worldwide recognition and millions of YouTube hits. In 2014, he delivered a TEDx talk on “Tradition thru Innovation.” He joined the Bowling Green State University CMA Faculty in 2022 as Assistant Teaching Professor of Athletic Bands and Music Education, and directs the Falcon Marching Band.
Waters is a Northwest Ohio native and a graduate of Woodmore High School in Elmore, Ohio. He received a Bachelor of Arts In Music Education, Master of Music in Conducting, and Master of Arts in Music Education from The Ohio State University.
Jon joined Heidelberg University in 2016, where he taught Symphonic Band, Athletic Band, Brass Methods, Instrumental Conducting, Tuba Applied Lessons and Instrumental Music Education in the Secondary curriculum. In 2022, he directed The Band Directors Marching Band in the Tournament of Roses Rose Parade, and he will reprise this role in 2023 at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
The OMEA is the third largest of the fifty-two federated state affiliates of The National Association for Music Education. OMEA members are involved at all levels of music education, serving more than 1.8 million public school students and fifty-one colleges and universities.
First formed in 1924 in Fostoria, Ohio, the Ohio School Band Association was designed to “promote high school band contests” in Ohio, but in 1929, had expanded its emphasis to include all areas of music study.