The Orange Express

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“The Orange Express” consists of the 9th – 12th grade High School instrumental music students. The marching band participates in competitions around the state and has a goal of competing nationally at a Bands of America Regional within the next five years.  The band participates in marching band from the middle of July to the beginning of November. The rest of the year is dedicated to Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Winter Guard.  We also participate in winter competitions such as OBA State Concert Band Festival, area jazz band contests, EDBDA All-District Band, OSSAA District and State Solo and Ensemble Contest.  We are so proud of the rich history and tradition of the “Orange Express” and we are ever looking onward and upward.

Middle School Bands

Middle School Bands

The 6th grade band is where it all begins. We start out the year getting one of five instruments: Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone or Percussion. The students have their first concert at Christmas where we get to show off our progress. Right after the start of the new year, we pick some of our outstanding students to switch to our color instruments: Oboe, Bassoon, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, French Horn, Euphonium and Tuba. We finish out the year with our Spring Trip/Competition and our Spring Concert.

The 7th grade band continue to develop and we add several activities within instrumental music that foster in the development of musicianship. Some of the new activities are All-District Band Competition and OSSAA Solo and Ensemble Contest. All-District Band is an individual competition in which Eastern Oklahoma Students compete against each other to become a member of one Honor Band that is composed of 20+ schools. OSSAA Solo and Ensemble Contest is a state sponsored competition in which individuals and small groups prepare music to be judged for a rating. The 7th grade band also has two concerts throughout the year and a Spring trip to Branson, MO where they compete as a band and have a great time.

The 8th grade band is the last step of our middle school band program. They continue to develop on their way to the High School Program. They compete in All-District Band Competition, OSSAA Solo and Ensemble Contest. They also perform in two concerts throughout the year and a Spring trip to Branson, MO.

Directors

   ​Director of Bands is LaNell Spyres.  Mrs. Spyres graduated the University of Arkansas with B. S. E. in Instrumental Music Education in 1992. She spent 9 years in Huntsville and Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Before coming to Tahlequah in 2020, Mrs. Spyres spent 19 years as Director of Bands in Fort Gibson.  She is a 1987 graduate from Locust Grove High School.  Mrs. Spyres is assisted by Brandon Bahara (Broken Arrow High School/University of Arkansas), Brady Hacker (Sapulpa High School/Northeastern State University), and Krysten Williamson (Stillwater High School/University of Arkansas).                                           

                                                                       Go Orange Express!

LaNell Spyres

Directors- (left to right) Brandon Bahara, LaNell Spyres, Krysten Williamson, Brady Hacker

Directors- (left to right) Brandon Bahara, LaNell Spyres, Krysten Williamson, Brady Hacker