RYE HIGH SCHOOL
The Rye Thunderbolt Band has had quite a year this 2022-23 school season! The band/music department has been expanding in leaps and bounds since music director Ian Watson came to Rye in 2021. This is especially noticeable with all the recent year-end activities.
On Friday, May 5, for the first time in twenty years, sixteen students of the Rye Thunderbolt Band traveled to Canon City High School to compete in the 1A division at the Canon City Blossom Music Festival.
The three judges of the Blossom Music Festival were very impressed by Rye’s ensemble and said they look forward to seeing the group perform in future events. Watson relayed that one judge in particular, Steve Martin, was a festival music judge in the 1990s and remembered the last time Rye High School performed at the festival.
Martin said, 'Enjoyed the program, I loved the ballad that you chose, that's a beautiful piece of music. It is so great to have you here at Canon City. I have been attending this festival long enough to remember when the Rye Band was here. And it's been a long time since the Rye Band was here. I was here watching the Rye Band in the '90s. Thank you so much for being here, I hope you find the trip beneficial and I hope you had a good time. Thank you so much, best of luck to you.'
Also on Friday, May 5 the Rye Rock Band, which contains students from Craver Middle School and Rye High School, performed as special guests of the Pueblo County Rock Band Performance at Brues Alehouse. These students are looking forward to performing on the Riverwalk in Pueblo on Saturday, May 20th at 1:00 p.m.
On Monday, May 8th the Rye Thunderbolt Band hosted at Rye High School, a concert titled and themed James Band and featured James Bond Music from Dr.
No, Goldfinger, and Skyfall.
The band students also entertained the crowd with a repeat of their festival selections from the Canon City blossom festival.
The formal announcement of the official return of the Rye Thunderbolt Marching Band was made during the concert. Thanks to extensive fundraising efforts, forty brand new marching band uniforms have been ordered and are in the process of being delivered for the return of the marching band in the fall of 2023. Watson plans on debuting the new uniforms at the first home football game.
The following year-end awards were presented to RHS band members. All the awards were voted on by the students, with the final vote being made by Watson.
Band Director's Award (Highest Award) - Ava Mahnke Honorable Mentions: Mason Gonzalas, Chandler Shifflet, and Solomon Santini Outstanding Musicians Award (Senior Class)Solomon Santini Honorable Mentions: Morgan Hines, Kaylee Luhndal Outstanding Musicians Award (Junior Class): Daisy Bradford and Ava Mahnke Outstanding Musicians Award (Sophomore Class): Carina Milne Honorable Mentions: Chandler Shifflet, Cole Brooks, Mason Gonzalas Outstanding Musicians Award (Freshman Class): Zelic Hoosier Honorable Mentions: Leo Carr, Sophie Ragan, Michael Amaya, and Azariah Moore Crescendo Award (the most improved student): Ja'Myra Cotton Honorable Mentions: Sophie Ragan, Jayden Englert, Isabella McMahon, Leo Carr, and Azariah Moore