Some 134 student musicians from James A. Garfield Local Schools filled the JAG Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon for the 34th annual District-Wide Spring Concert, marking the penultimate band performance of the 2025-26 school year.
The concert, titled “Bands in the Round,” showcased the district’s full musical pipeline — from fifth graders navigating their first year of formal instruction to seasoned high school upperclassmen — with ensembles performing before family, friends and community members beginning at 2 p.m. Only two events remain on the band calendar: the Memorial Day parade and graduation ceremonies.
The sheer scope of the afternoon underscored what music educators and researchers have long argued — that early, sustained exposure to instrumental music builds skills extending well beyond the bandroom. Students who participate in school music programs consistently demonstrate stronger performance in math, reading and critical thinking, while also developing discipline, teamwork and the ability to handle pressure in a public setting. Sunday’s concert put that developmental arc on full display, with 84 elementary and middle school musicians performing alongside 50 high school students who began their own musical journeys just a few years prior.
Five groups took the stage in succession, opening with the 5th Grade Concert Band and working up through the ranks before all four ensembles united for a rousing finale.
Fifth grade performers opened the afternoon with three selections: “Mickey Mouse March,” arranged by Sweeney from the Jimmie Dodd original; “Hot Cross Buns,” an English traditional arranged by Higgins and featuring an instrument family showcase; and “Let’s Go Band” by Joe Carl, arranged by Cebulla. For many of the 31 young musicians, Sunday represented one of their first experiences performing before a large audience — a milestone that music educators consider foundational to building confidence and poise.
The 6th Grade Concert Band followed with a rock-flavored set. Twenty students performed Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll,” arranged by Story; “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes, arranged by Selfridge; and Ohio’s beloved “Hang On Sloopy,” credited to Farrell/Berns and arranged by Sweeney. The selection of familiar, contemporary material reflects a deliberate pedagogical approach — engaging young musicians with music they recognize while reinforcing technical fundamentals.
The Middle School Concert Band, drawing 33 students from seventh and eighth grades, offered the concert’s most eclectic program, spanning five pieces across vastly different genres and eras. The set opened with Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4,” arranged by Murtha, before moving into the “SpongeBob SquarePants” theme by Stephen Hillenburg, arranged by Lavender. Randall Standridge’s original composition “Dark Ride” followed, succeeded by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s thunderous “1812 Overture,” arranged by Story. The group closed with “The Muppet Show Theme” by Jim Henson and Sam Pottle, arranged by Cofield. The breadth of the middle school repertoire illustrated how quickly student musicians can grow when given consistent instruction and increasing challenges.
The High School Concert Band, the district’s largest ensemble at 50 members, drew heavily from cinema and delivered the afternoon’s most demanding program. The set opened with “At the Movies with Hans Zimmer,” arranged by Williams, weaving together themes from “Man of Steel,” “Inception” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” A second Zimmer work followed — “Hymn to the Fallen,” also arranged by Williams, drawn from the soundtrack of “Saving Private Ryan” — providing a solemn and technically challenging interlude. The mood then shifted dramatically with Harold Walters’ “Instant Concert,” a breathless sprint described in the program as “a collection of 30 classics in 3 minutes — buckle up.” Ludwig Göransson’s “The Mandalorian,” arranged by Murtha, brought the cinematic theme full circle before John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” arranged by Gore, brought the high school set to a patriotic close.
The afternoon reached its crescendo when all four bands assembled together on the fieldhouse floor as the James A. Garfield “EMHS” Really Big Band. The massed ensemble of 134 musicians brought the concert to a thunderous close with a collective performance of the school fight song — a moment that illustrated, perhaps more powerfully than any single performance, what a district-wide commitment to music education can produce.
Band Director Theo Cebulla oversaw the performances alongside Music, Choir and Theater Director Joel Logan. Mrs. Cissy Raab handled uniform fittings and alterations, while Ben Coll served as tech expert and media specialist.
Student leadership for the year included President Olivia Grcar, Vice President Sanura Oliver, Band Manager Aaron Evans, Librarian Kailey Eller and Crew Chief Elise Edwards.
The Garfield Band Boosters, led by President Brandi Wiles-Evans, Vice President Erin Ewell, Treasurer Shannon Seiler and Secretary Shannon Oliver, provided vital organizational and financial support throughout the year. The program also extended thanks to Garfield staff, administration, faculty, the school board, and the broader Garrettsville community and local businesses that have supported the band program year after year.
Among those completing their final season were several standout seniors. Elise Edwards, Olivia Grcar and Elizabeth Proya were specifically recognized as top graduates, joining the full roster of Garfield band seniors closing the chapter on their high school musical careers.
With the spring concert concluded, the band program turns its attention to the graduation performance, and Memorial Day parade before closing the school year at graduation — two final opportunities for Garfield musicians to perform for the community that has supported them throughout the year.