The Austin O'Brien
Music Program features a wide variety of curricular and extra-curricular
music and performance opportunities including our Senior and Junior
Jazz Bands, Jazz/Funk Combos, Rock Bands, Senior and Junior Concert
Bands, Wind Ensembles, Percussion and Guitar Ensembles, Choirs, Ethnic
Ensembles, the AOB Blues/Ska Band, and our Theatre Pit Bands. These
performance groups allow our students the outlet to experience, through
study and exploration of their more artistic and creative side, a great
spectrum of music from around the world and from many different periods.
The music program incorporates a flexible scheduling pattern in order
to allow students the opportunity to tailor their timetable to meet
their own particular needs. - AOB
FEATURE VIDEO
Highlights |
(click
on the pictures to enlarge) More Videos... (Grad
Song 2019 Video) (AOB
Band "My Shot" LIVE) ("Hallelujah")
(AOB CBC
Finalists!) |
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Creativity in Action! From the Winspear to the Fort
to the Suite to home-base, this year saw AOB Music rise to and surpass
every challenge. The fantastic talent and drive, and thoughtfulness
and generosity of our students shone brightly at each corner of
our city and province. Some of the highlights include; the surprise
birthday song and dance for our very own Mr. Nhi, by our AOB Teacher's
Rock Band and the Band 20 class. This year's winner of the AOB's
Got Talent Competition, Rapper 'Yohaan' - Check
out his performance video, Click Here! The AOB final concert
featuring our Jazz Bands and our full Senior Concert Ensemble, performing
a montage of movie, classical, opera, polka, Olympic, and rap themes,
a shared flying flute soli, and the most rockinous ruckus rock guitar
concerto ever rocked!!! |
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And the first (of hopefully many) Austin O'Brien Music
"BIG THINGS ALBERTA" Band Tour. We packed 2 buses with
AOB musicians and hit the road to connect with some of our favourite
neighbouring communities, and perform for their students and residents
under the town's famous BIG THING landmark. We made so many new
friends along the way (and got to re-connect with some old friends
too!). THANK YOU to Andrew, St. Paul, Glendon, Vilna, and Mundare
for being such wonderful hosts; can't wait to see you again! |
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Congratulations AOB music students on another fantastic year,
always so proud to take the stage with all of you and share the
outstanding work you do! YOU ROCK!!!
Check out the fantastic new student written, recorded, and performed
AOB 2018
GRAD SONG, Click Here!
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2016-2017 |
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An awesome year, 2016-2017,
starting with one of the coolest Band 30 classes ever!
Unbridled enthusiasm began the term with our
Feeder School Band Festival.
Songs of peace and joy flowed at the Festival
of Trees, complete with our own mini-Mr. K dance section.
The Christmas Band Concert showcased all of
our amazing semester 1 students, from tales of the Krampus to ukulele
tributes, the students shone brightly at this Christmas celebration.
In the studio with the Grade 12 Grad Song
Band was a treat; under intense pressure, their very own graduation
composition came together in a flash (to check out the
video of their adventure, Click Here! ).
Naturally noisy, notey guitars, bangin', blastin'
beats, booming basses, classy, kindred keyboards, and valiant, vigorous
vocals were showcased at our Rock Band December midterm performances.
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Our AOB African Ensemble joined
Namibian singer Garth Prince on stage for an elementary school dancing
and singing African festival in January.
Bands from all over Alberta were packed into
the Yardbird Suite for the JazzWorks festival 2017, featuring our
very own AOB Senior Jazz students electrifying the stage.
Rockin' a PACKED cafeteria in May for our
'AOB's Got Talent' Competition, we featuring all of our school rock
bands and a number of student led groups, with our Spanish singer
extraordinaire Sebastian winning first place!
In the Winspear our Concert Ensemble shone,
creating some of the most lively and entertaining songs of the day.
Entertaining our prospective grade 10s at
the AOB Open House is always a blast, with our Rappers and Garrett
stealing the show.
Nothing beats sharing your gifts for a good
cause, and the Heart of Glee for the Stollery Children's Hospital
was a treat with Garrett and our dancers leaving the whole packed
auditorium audience 'Feeling Good'! (to
see the video, Click Here! )
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Musical Theatre
at AOB this year allowed our pit orchestra to shine, receiving a
CAPPIES nomination for Most Outstanding Band, along with 17 other
nominations for the fantastic production of 'Catch Me If You Can'!
U ain't seen nothin' 'til you've seen our
AOB Grad Song Band perform their own composed grad song live for
their peers and a packed church; this year was the 12th original
AOB grad song in a row!
Southern California was calling, and out flew
our Senior Jazz Band and Concert Ensemble for our California band
trip adventure; hangin' with Western High School and Mickey and
Minnie, a big competitive music festival, Universal and an LA tour,
a Disney recording session, and, as told to us by Disney management,
the most entertaining and energetic high school park performance
of the whole year!, filled this trip with memories that will last
a lifetime.
Impowered AOB musicians cap off the year with
a fantastic Fort Saskatchewan Final Band Concert and school Celebration;
a bit of funk and a bit of soul finish another wonderful year in
AOB MUSIC!
Congratulations to all of our music students!!!
Have a wonderful summer; can't wait to see what craziness is in
store for next year! Cheers!!!
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2015-2016 |
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The 2015-2016 School Year was
yet another whirlwind of AOB Music triumphs, tribulations, and adventure!
From our Feeder-School Music Festival and Workshop, to the Shaw
Conference Festival of Trees, to our Christmas Concert celebration,
the year began with a flash, with some truly outstanding creative
student work. |
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And even though the 2nd semester brought
us the news that our planned States-side adventures this year were
not to be, the students still came together to create one of the
busiest and coolest musical semesters we have seen. The Senior Jazz
JazzWorks Festival's electrifying featured performance, our Open
House Disco Horn-Vocal Funk Band's crazy antics (including disco
ball!), the AOB Concert Ensemble LARGE Band energizing the Winspear,
our AOB Silent Theatre Players improv. acting with the ECS Senior
All-City Band at the Jubilee, and the "Urine-The-Pit-Band"
CAPPIES award nominated performance with this year's AOB Musical
'Urinetown', all showcased the best of what high school music can
be; outrageously entertaining, super hip and funky, and outstanding
musicianship made these performances a real treat, both for the
audience and for the band. |
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This year's "AOB's Got Talent"
competition showed off some of the lesser known talent in our school
community, including the unlikely winners - the AOB Teacher Blues
Brothers Revival Show, featuring the unknown teacher talents of
14 of our own staff members in the band and on the dance floor.
Looking forward to next year's battle to see if the teachers can
defend their title! |
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The year ended with our 11th annual student
written, arranged, recorded, and performed Grade 12 Graduation Song,
"That
Time When...", and our wonderfully inspiring Final Concert
in Ft. Saskatchewan; a fantastic end to a fully adventurous and
emotional school year. Special Thank You to the amazing Grade 12
Music Students who led the way this year with grace and an unstoppable
spirit; so proud of your efforts and work, that continue to build
on the strong AOB music tradition!!! You all ROCK!!! Have an amazing
summer, let's see what kind of craziness we can get ourselves in
next year... :-) |
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2014-2015 |
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And the CAPPIES Award for Most Outstanding Theatre
Orchestra goes to... the AUSTIN O'BRIEN CORAM BOY CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Pit Band!!!! Fantastically performed 18th century music and some
dark, scary character themes behind a stellar cast; Great Fun!
Congratulations AOB music students on a wonderful run! That's
the kind of year it was at AOB Music; amazing adventures and opportunities,
and surprises around every corner. This year's Christmas concert
featured smoke machines, a Harry Potter wand battle, and an on-stage
funky dance party, all to the surprise and amazement of the performing
musicians.
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The Festival of Trees showcased our Senior Wind
Ensemble, dressed in their 'ugliest-Christmas-sweater' best, with
a few surprise guests from the audience. Then came the JazzWorks
Festival and the Edmonton Youth Jazz Summit where our Senior Jazzers
got the chance to strut their stuff, literally, marching some
New Orleans street-beat through the audience, on to the stage.
And the 'mostly serious' Band Share Day at the Winspear held some
surprising moments as well, with party noise-makers, beachballs,
the 'wave' through the whole concert hall, an almost-trombone-solo
by Steven (taken over by Marc), and a heavy-metal guitar solo
by a mysterious green-clad stage-crasher! We got to perform at
our first Heart of Glee Children's Stollery Hospital Fundraising
event this year ( Heart
of Glee video excerpts click here). Our Choir, Jazz, and Rock
students came together for a high-energy dance medley.
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Then a featured performance by this year's Grad
Song Band at the Celebration of the Arts showcased their original
song as a tribute to all of the grade 12 graduates for our entire
school district. They brought the audience to tears with their
heartwarming composition about all 'The Places You'll Go'. ( 2015
Grad Song Video) And special Congratulations to our very own
Marc S. for winning this year's Edmonton Symphony Orchestra Young
Composer in Residence competition! Our school Rock Bands competed
at our first ever Rockin' Lunch outdoor concert / band battle,
with the Friday Band, and their high-energy shenanigans, taking
first prize ( Fri
Rock Band Video Feature).
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And the Final Concert of the year brought everyone
together one last time to share in our musical adventures with
our friends, family, and the community. There were tears and laughter,
subtlety and intensity, with a special surprise for Mr. K. and
all of the younger students by our Grade 12's in a trio recorder
performance and banner waving tribute. A great way to end a Wonderful
Year. CONGRATULATIONS AOB Music Students!!! You are all Amazing!!!
Enjoy your summer, can't wait to see what crazy adventures next
year has in store!!!
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2013-2014 |
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The 2013-2014 School Year:
AOB Music, in class or on stage, always putting it all out there,
and rockin' the page! Celebrations in the gym, from solemn to
ska, marching New Orleans style in the halls, ala Mardi Gras.
New friends were found, like birds of a feather, as all of the
Rock, Wind, and Jazz ensembles came together.
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At Conn Hall, in the Christmas snow, the Band 10's started and
powered the show. Heating up the hall, like a Hippo on the charge,
Jump, Jive, and Wailing, leaping-in large. Senior and Junior Jazz,
with gospel and funk, and Concert Ensemble, with Wind Band punk,
capped off the night, of Christmas delight, a Witch and a Saint's
plight, like Aladdin in flight, all was right, tight, and dyn-o-mite! |
Rockin' the drama room, and in the gym, our powerful AOB Rock
Bands, ain't no Fatboy Slim. Bass a thumpin', drums a poundin',
guitars a blastin', fantastic a-soundin'! Vocals a soarin', in so
many styles, gettin' Vertigo, and walkin' 500 Miles. Then dancers
joining us, in a Winspear feature, had crowds cheering, up in the
bleacher. The band, a little nervous, for they did know, California
Disney, is where they'd soon go... |
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The Final Concert, featuring all, brought together the bands for
one last call. The Jazz Collective, played some funk and swing,
with 3 featured vocalists, out to sing, sing, sing. Then Concert
Ensemble, back from the coast, performed all the hits, songs we
dug the most. With a fiddle and cello, a couple of tinwhistles too,
trumpet and bari solos, in the colour of blue. Movie and TV, very
American and European, and ended it with Tim's fav; the Pirates
of the Caribbean. :-) |
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Then one last show, to finish the year, to conclude with a bang,
a holler, a cheer. All dressed up, in our funky disco best, LSL's
Big Band Dance, would be our final test. We hit the stage running,
the audience jacked, all the funkiest tunes, the dance floor was
packed. Motown to disco, funk and Latin we'd play, from Aretha to
Stevie, to YMCA. |
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Thank you to everyone, who made this year WOW! All the Parents,
Staff, and Admin, you are the Cat's Meow. But especially to the
students, who keep the tradition in such a fantastic state, It's
all your hard work that makes AOB Band soooooooo GREAT!!! word... |
California
2014 |
(click
on California pictures for more) / Some fun VIDEOS -
"Our
AOB 2014 Original Grad Song - In The Studio" - "Sister
Sacha Singing Old School!" - "AOB
Live Blooper - Sacha Takes Control!!!" |
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"California Here We Come, Right Back Where We
Started From..." The AOB Senior Concert Ensemble and Senior
Jazz Band made their way back to sunny California this year for
another crazy adventure! They visited Sony Pictures Studios, Universal
Studios, Disneyland Park, toured Los Angeles, shopped 'til they
dropped, and attended an Angels Baseball game (where a group of
our students, led by "Dance Master Zach", appeared on
the Jumbo-tron!). They also competed in an International Music Festival
(with both Concert and Jazz Band taking Silver Medals for their
outstanding performance), recorded at Disney Recording Studios,
and performed live on the Hollywood Stage in California Adventure
Theme Park. A fantastic tour; they represented Austin O'Brien and
Canada proudly!!! Special Thank You's to the amazing chaperones
joining Mr. K and the students this year, Mr. Hatch, Ms. Kenny,
Ms. GA Patterson, and Ms. Germaine. Congratulations Austin O'Brien
Music!!! |
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2012-2013 |
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Pretty excited about jazz this year...
The 2012-2013 School Year saw our senior jazz students travelling
to perform in the MusicFest Canada 2013 National Competition in
Toronto, where our Senior Jazz Band achieved the highest Gold Excellence
rating, unanimous from all the judges!!! And our Senior Jazz Combo
put on a mezmerizingly unique world-jazz performance of song (and
dance!). Amazing work everyone!!! We also took some time on our
adventure to explore around Toronto and area, visiting the CN Tower,
attending Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of the Wizard of Oz and
a special performance from the Eastman Wind Ensemble, visiting the
Hockey Hall of Fame, and taking a trip down to Niagara Falls to
ride the Maid of the Mist. A fantastic tour with some pretty amazing
students! Special thank you to all the AOB jazz students, past and
present, for their incredible hard work and keeping the tradition
of jazz at AOB strong over all these years!!! Cheers! :-) |
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This year's AOB AXEtreme Fest Battle
of the Bands did not go quite the way Mr. K had planned it... Unfortunately,
the AOB Teacher Rock Band was unable to defend its title; the Student
Bands took over and kicked it!!! From solo folk guitar to hair flying
metal, all of the AOB rock students were fantastic and totally ROCKED
a packed gym of their peers. Congratulations to Sacha for coming
out on top in a very close race, and taking this year's title!!!
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What a fantastic year we had in AOB Music!
The Grade 12's were poised and ready to lead the program in directions
never seen before. From the New Orleans street-style marching practice
through the AOB halls to the live action-adventure performance,
surprising the Grade 10 Concert Band at the University December
Concert, to guest artists such as Karen Porkka, vocal improviser
extraordinaire, leading our choir students through totally improvised
African song, to those crazy Jazz Combo Middle Eastern time signatures.
From the flying sword mayhem and featured trombone-antics at the
Winspear Centre to the Creative Cappies nomination by our very own
Red Noses, this year was packed with a carnival of creative spirit.
Congratulations AOB music students on a very exciting and fun-filled
year!!!
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2011-2012 |
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In 2012 our AOB Senior Jazz Band and Concert
Ensemble were back on the road again, heading down to sunny California!
This year we were joined by the amazing AOB Improv Team. We all
touched down on day 1, gathered our mountain of luggage, and headed
straight for an exchange drama and music performance with the wonderful
staff and students at Mater Dei High School, in Santa Ana. Then
we were back on the bus and off to see Mickey! Over the next week
we participated in Music, Puppetry, and Improv Theatre workshops,
performed in Disneyland Park, recorded to Disney Films in Disneyland
Studios, and competed in an International Music Festival, with both
our Senior Jazz and Concert Ensemble receiving Silver Medals for
their outstanding performance. We did some shopping, ate some great
food, and, of course, had time to enjoy the sights and sounds of
Disneyland, California Adventure Theme Park, and the crazy Six Flags
- Magic Mountain Park, home to some of the wildest rollercoasters
in the world! Congratulations AOB Band and Improv students on a
fantastic southern California tour!!! And thank you to Mr. Zyp and
our wonderful chaperones, Mrs. Rowley, Mrs. Flammia, and Mrs. Panylyk,
for making this adventure possible!!! |
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The stage was set... laser lights were ready... the
amps were all turned up to 11... and Mr. K had his earplugs in hand,
ready to go. Nine bands prepared to battle it out in front of a
packed school gym at Austin O'Brien's annual "AOB AXEtreme
Fest Battle of the Bands"!!! We had an especially talented
line-up this year featuring everything from Aerosmith to Muse to
Beastie Boys to Loverboy, and even a special appearance by a band
made up of AOB staff. And who would come out on top??? as voted
on by the students... The winner is... |
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Another wild and crazy year has passed in AOB Music!!!
Some highlights from music class include some jaw-dropping solos
at our Junior High feeder schools, marchin' some Saints through
the halls of AOB during Art's Day, our December showcase concert
at Conn Hall, swingin' it at the JazzWorks Festival, rockin' some
Zeppelin at the Winspear Centre (click
here for Video), the super solid year play Pit Band, our Band/Improv
Theatre performance tour to sunny California, our relaxed and colourful
Spring Concert (love those Drum Solos!!!), and the cool and funky
grooves of our Jazz/Funk Combo at June awards. Great work everyone;
Congratulations on a fantastic year!!! Can't wait to see what adventures
next year will bring... |
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2010-2011 |
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The
2010-2011 School Year
was one of our busiest ever! Our music students were kickin' all
year long. Our killer recording session early-on set the tone for
things to come. The JazzWorks Festival featured some high-energy
action and Band Share Day was all about the MAMBO! and singing HALLELUJAH
with Sister Marissa (click
here for Video)! |
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Celebration
of the Arts this year featured Mr. K. conducting a Ska piece with
the ECS All-Star Jazz Band (click
here for Ska Video), as well as our very own students in "From
Love to Forfeit" rockin' the Jubilee! The AOB AXEtreme
Fest Battle of the Bands once again packed the AOB gym, with 10
bands battling for top spot, and underdogs "Heavy and the Automatic"
taking the title. |
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Our pit band
for this year's theatre production of "Zombie Prom" was
honoured with a nomination for "Outstanding Orchestra"
at the 2011 Cappies Awards. And once again, for the last 6 years
running, an original Grad Song was created for the AOB Graduation
Class, by our music graduates Ashley M., Marissa K., Brett H., Garrett
F., & Leon T. (click
here for Video), capping off a fantastic school year. Congratulations
to all of the AOB Music Students; You Rock! Have a Wonderful Summer!!! |
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CD
Release from the AOB Fine Arts Department - 2011: |
AOB
- PLAY
ART LOUD
Austin
O'Brien High School is proud to announce the release of its
new CD entitled, "AOB - PLAY ART LOUD". This
project features the eclectic music of the Austin O'Brien
Band Program; everything from Latin, Funk, and Jazz standards
to Blues, Ska, and modern Rock is tackled by our students. We've
also included a Multimedia section featuring the fantastic
work of our Visual Art and Drama/Improv Theatre Departments,
and added footage from some of our favourite recent live performances
showcasing the crazy energetic antics of our ensembles.
This recording
also brings together a special collection of student-composed/arranged
Grade 12 Graduation Songs. It started back in 2006 when
the Grade 12 class and Mr. K. decided that they didn't want
to hear another Sarah McLachlan or Green Day song for Grad anymore!
They were going to do this one on their own; and so the tradition
began. It's been an original Grad Song ever since.
The project
has been invaluable to our students. They have had the opportunity
to experience the production of a CD, from the planning and
preparation, to the high-stress recording/live-performance atmosphere,
to the design and concept, and finally the sales and promotion.
It has been a great learning experience and motivator for all
of the young artists involved, and a fantastic opportunity to
capture this moment in time, for memories that will last a lifetime.
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For
more Video Samples check these out: "Brothers
& Sisters, Testify! - YES SIR!" - "Art
Showcase" - "Ska
& Beachballs" - "Theatre
Improv Team" - "Muppet
Cannon" |
2009-2010 |
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Goin'
Back to Cali, Cali, Cali, We're Goin' Back to Cali, Oh Yah, I
think so! The 2009-2010 school year saw the Austin O'Brien
Concert Ensemble and Senior Jazz Band once again head out to sunny
southern California to compete in the Anaheim National Heritage
Music Festival. Both groups finished in 2nd place in their divisions,
representing Edmonton Catholic Schools and Canada proudly in a
sea of great American Bands! And Congrats to our drummer, Ashley
M., for being named one of the co-winners of the Outstanding Performers
Award for the Festival. In addition to the competition, the students
also participated in a recording session at Disney Studios, a
featured performance in Disneyland Park, and numerous tourist
and workshop activities in the area. Special Thank You's to our
chaperones extraordinaire; Mr. MacDonald, Mrs. Cuglietta, Mrs.
Waschuk, and Mrs. Taina Lorenz-Turner (our guest conductor of
the Concert Ensemble while on tour) for all of their amazing work!
Cheers to everyone for a Fantastic Trip!!! (click on the pics
for more)
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CD Release:
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"From
Love To Forfeit" CD release - Who You Really Are
2009-2010
also saw Grade 11 Rock Band "From Love To Forfeit" release
their debut CD, "Who You Really Are"! This recording
showcases the original work of these amazing young musicians and
their deeply rooted passion to make a difference and positively
impact their generation and the world around them. For more information,
check out the band online at: Daydreamer
Video . CDs are available on iTunes at: FLTF
iTunes
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And
a New CD Release from Mr. K. came out this school year, and was
nominated for both; "World Solo Artist of the Year"
at the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards and "Jazz Album of
the Year" at this year's 9th Annual Independent Music Awards.
This CD, intitled, "Generations - Greek Oud Jazz", is
a combination of Modern Jazz and Traditional Greek Music from
and inspired by the Island of Crete, and features a number of
Mr. K.'s former and current AOB Band students in the making of
this recording, from performance to layout and design. Check out:
Shaw
TV AOB Interview for a video feature filmed at Austin O'Brien
on the project.
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We
had quite the crazy cast of characters this year. You never knew
what was in store for each show. From a Pep Rally Marching Band
with a surprise Evan-esk ending, to a Trumpet-Sax Gospel Duel
with our guest southern Preacher. From two-headed Flutes and an
over-sized explosion of confetti at our Open House, to a slightly
less bombastic ending on stage at the Winspear. From Grad to Feeder
Schools to the Battle of the Bands to the Rockin' Masses to our
own Featured Shows, the student's crazy, quirky personalities
always shone through and that's what made this year such a great
one! Congratulations to all of the AOB music students on their
Amazing Work!!!
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2008-2009 |
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Wacky Wild
Wrestling Woodwind's Wrath Winds-up Wholesome Winspear! Who Won...?
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Crazy
Cartoon Carnival Cavalcades Catapult Catchy Creative Convocation
Complex Christmas Concert
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Bruising
Booming Band Battle Breaks Boredom & Boasts Beautiful Blasting
Bedlum |
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Dynamic
Dynamite Dancers Did Double Duty Dancing Devinely |
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Graduation
Gowns Got Groomed Guys & Gals Gazing with Glimmer & Gloss
Glamourously to the Gifted Guitarists & Grand Girl - Remember
Yesterday! |
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