Senior Recognition Night for Cody

Last night was Senior Recognition Night for Klein Oak Band, a night when the band program, and the school, recognize the contributions of the band seniors, who have been in the program for four years. Among the honorees was Cody, our percussionist, who started in pit as a freshman, then joined drum line as a sophomore and played bass drum for the final three years of his marching career.

Cody is going on to a Division III college with no football program, nor a marching band, so this was his final recognition for his marching career. He has one more marching contest - the BOA San Antonio super-regional this coming Saturday, and has a handful of football games left: one more regular season game, then the playoffs, so his marching career is truly winding down.

It was also the final Klein Oak senior recognition night for me and Carolyn, alas. So our time as band parents is winding down too.

Both our sons had truly wonderful experiences as members of Klein Oak Band. We are profoundly grateful that they were both able to participate in this excellent program.

And, we’ve said this before, and it is just as true now: we are very, very proud of the young man that Cody Needham has become. Some additional photos:

John P. Needham

Sunday, October 27, 2019

3PM Central Time

Spring, TX

Klein Oak Wind Ensemble - Winter Concert

Last night the Klein Oak Wind Ensemble performed their annual Winter Convert, along with KOHS Jazz Band, the new KOHS Woodwinds Octet, Klein Oak’s Symphonic I band and local a middle-school’s (Krimmel) band. This is always a super-fun event and last night was no exception. Below are the videos of Wond Ensemble. I also have videos of Jazz Band and Woodwinds Octet, so if any parents want to see those, just let me know and I’ll share them with you.

Wind Ensemble started with Dream of the Silent Night:

KOHS Wind Ensemble, Dreams of the Silent Night, performed December 12, 2018

They continued with The Sussex Mummers Christmas Carol:

KOHS Wind Ensemble, The Sussex Mummers Christmas Carol, performed December 12, 2018

The ensemble closed with their traditional winter concert close: Sleigh Ride. Look for Cody whacking wood planks on this one, it is one of the most important parts of the whole piece, to be honest!

KOHS Wind Ensemble, Sleigh Ride, performed December 12, 2018

John P. Needham

December 13, 2018

Spring, TX

Concerto Competition

I can't believe I neglected to post this. Apologies to Bailey for the delay. But...Bailey played in te Klein Oak HS Concerto Competition earlier this month. Below is his performance (a 6:47 video). 

I guess by now it won't surprise anyone to learn: we thought Bailey did great, we're very proud of his growth this year. He really has developed this skill in an amazing way. 

Anyway, here is the video - the hilarious part is when he introduced himself as "John Needham" which is generally how he is known at school, even though we still call him Bailey here at home:

Uploaded by John Needham on 2018-05-05.

John P. Needham

May 23, 2017

Spring, TX

Klein Oak Wind Ensemble Performs at Festival Hall

The Klein Oak Wind Ensemble performed at the Round Top Festival Institute on Friday, April 27th. What a fabulous facility, that was literally in the middle of nowhere, about an hour and a half west of Houston, TX, in Round Top (population: 90). This band of super-talented young musicians practiced for hours, and played really well.

The ensemble opened with Santa Fe Saga (10:46 video):

Klein Oak Wind Ensemble at the Round Top Festival Institute. April 27, 2018, under the direction of Todd Clearwater.

Then they played Academic Overture (11:07 video):

Klein Oak Wind Ensemble at the Round Top Festival Institute. April 27, 2018, under the direction of Todd Clearwater.

The ensemble closed with North Wind March (2:33 video):

Klein Oak Wind Ensemble at the Round Top Festival Institute. April 27, 2018, under the direction of Todd Clearwater.

All the parents, obviously, are very proud of these talented and dedicated young musicians. 

John P. Needham

Spring, TX

April 29, 2018

Klein Oak Masterworks Concert - May 22, 2017

Earlier this month, the top performers from Klein Oak's band, choir and orchestra performed their annual Masterworks performance. I recorded the whole concert, but many of the pieces are covered by copyright protections so I'm not posting those here (or to You Tube). 

Here are two pieces that I can post. First, the Klein Oak Wind Ensemble opened the concert with this piece, a stunning 14-minute piece that I know these young musicians worked so hard on. This is a 14-minute video and Bailey is performing on trumpet.

Next is the Klein Oak Choir. This is a four-minute+ video.

That's all I'm going to share from this night, since I am pretty sure the next five pieces that were performed, jointly, by the Wind Ensemble, the Choir and the Orchestra, are all covered by copyright protection held by the composer. 

The concert was genuinely amazing, these young performers worked for months to perfect these pieces and they all did a fabulous job.

John P. Needham

May 29, 2017

1:25PM

Spring, TX