You may have heard the announcements over the intercom about band rehearsals. There are many important and exciting things going on there. The band rehearses once a week during TAP and after school too. The musicians prepared for months individually and outside of practices, for the arrival of composer Dr. Jack Stamp.

He is Professor of Music, Chairperson of the Music Department and Director of Band Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Stamp met with the honor band students March 11-13 to help them prepare for an upcoming performance.
“I expect Stamp to bring Mehlville’s band program to the next level of unity in order to produce excellence,” said junior Gabe Gowen.
The high school band played alongside the University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL) Wind Ensemble March 13 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center.Mehlville played Stamp’s compositions titled “Cloudsplitter Fanfare”, “Chorale Prelude: Be Thou My Vision” and “ Three Places in England.”
Stamp helped students look at the world outside of Mehlville Band into bigger things.
Learning this from Stamp opened many doors for students. Gowen believes that Stamp will assist them in creating excellent, well-rounded students who will make a positive impact in our community and the world.
“It was a great experience. It was great to broaden our horizon playing in a big hall verses our school gym,” said junior Samantha Bradley.
The experience of being able to play a joint concert with a college wind ensemble, learning and playing pieces with a famous composer and performing at the Touhill was a unique opportunity for band students.