Hibriten High School Band
Encyclopedia
The Hibriten High School Symphonic Band, established in 1966, is the school band
of Hibriten High School
in the All-American City of Lenoir, North Carolina
. As of Spring 2011, the band has accumulated thirty-seven superior ratings (18 consecutive as of 2011), with most of them in Grade VI music (the most difficult level). Hibriten's band follows a strong heritage of instrumental
and vocal music
in Lenoir. For example, George Younce
, the bass singer
from the Cathedral Quartet
was from Patterson and Lenoir in Caldwell County, North Carolina
, and the famed Lenoir High School Band started in 1924. The LHS Band was the first high school band established in the state of North Carolina
. The Lenoir High Band was formed by the venerable Dr. James C. Harper and his legacy lives on at the James C. Harper School of Performing Arts also in Lenoir, NC. The Lenoir High Band had amassed forty-three "consecutive" superior ratings before the school was closed in 1977, when five county high schools were merged into three (Hibriten in Lenoir, West Caldwell in Gamewell
, and South Caldwell
in the Sawmills
/Hudson
area).
After 1977, many former LHS Band directors taught at Hibriten, and many of the Lenoir students blended with the already talented and storied Hibriten Band. Of note, the Hibriten Fight Song
's musical score was written by Captain Ralph Ostrom, first chair trumpet in the 1927 John Philip Sousa Band
. (Capt. Ralph K. Ostrom, Ret. served as band director
at Marion High, NC, studied with the United States Army Band
and was director of the Tenth Division Band Training School). The Hibriten Band has played before the North Carolina Bandmasters Association on three occasions. The band has also traveled to Toronto
, New York
, Atlanta (playing three performances at the Coca Cola Olympic Village), etc., and in New York City
the band won the "Ensemble of Excellence" award. The Hibriten Band was also the Band of Honor at Charlotte NC's Shrine Bowl game in 1995.
Of note are the band directors who taught at Hibriten and who are now in the North Carolina Bandmaster's Hall of Fame. including George Kirsten (George Kirsten's sister Dorothy Kirsten
sang opera
tic mezzo-soprano
in the NY Metropolitan Opera
), and Camilla Graeber. Other HHS Band directors have been honored by the Northwest District of the NC Bandmasters Association including Dennis Carswell, John Craig, and Bill Witcher.
School band
A school band is a group of student musicians who rehearse and perform instrumental music together. A concert band is usually under the direction of one or more conductors...
of Hibriten High School
Hibriten High School
Hibriten High School is located in Lenoir, NC. It is a public school in the Caldwell County, North Carolina School system. Caldwell County is located in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina. The school's mascot is the Panther.- General Information :...
in the All-American City of Lenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Caldwell County. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains...
. As of Spring 2011, the band has accumulated thirty-seven superior ratings (18 consecutive as of 2011), with most of them in Grade VI music (the most difficult level). Hibriten's band follows a strong heritage of instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
and vocal music
Vocal music
Vocal music is a genre of music performed by one or more singers, with or without instrumental accompaniment, in which singing provides the main focus of the piece. Music which employs singing but does not feature it prominently is generally considered instrumental music Vocal music is a genre of...
in Lenoir. For example, George Younce
George Younce
George Younce was an American bass singer, known for performing with Southern Gospel quartets, especially The Cathedrals.-Biography:...
, the bass singer
Bass (voice type)
A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
from the Cathedral Quartet
Cathedral Quartet
The Cathedral Quartet, often known as simply The Cathedrals, was an American southern gospel quartet that lasted from 1964 until their retirement in 1999....
was from Patterson and Lenoir in Caldwell County, North Carolina
Caldwell County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 77,415 people, 30,768 households, and 22,399 families residing in the county. The population density was 164 people per square mile . There were 33,430 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile...
, and the famed Lenoir High School Band started in 1924. The LHS Band was the first high school band established in the state of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The Lenoir High Band was formed by the venerable Dr. James C. Harper and his legacy lives on at the James C. Harper School of Performing Arts also in Lenoir, NC. The Lenoir High Band had amassed forty-three "consecutive" superior ratings before the school was closed in 1977, when five county high schools were merged into three (Hibriten in Lenoir, West Caldwell in Gamewell
Gamewell, North Carolina
Gamewell is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,644 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Gamewell is located at ....
, and South Caldwell
South Caldwell High School
South Caldwell High School is a high school located in Hudson, North Carolina, United States.-History:The construction South Caldwell High School was completed on August 15, 1977. SCHS is located on a site in southern Caldwell County, North Carolina between Hudson and Granite Falls. South...
in the Sawmills
Sawmills, North Carolina
Sawmills is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,921 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
/Hudson
Hudson, North Carolina
Hudson is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,078 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area....
area).
After 1977, many former LHS Band directors taught at Hibriten, and many of the Lenoir students blended with the already talented and storied Hibriten Band. Of note, the Hibriten Fight Song
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
's musical score was written by Captain Ralph Ostrom, first chair trumpet in the 1927 John Philip Sousa Band
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
. (Capt. Ralph K. Ostrom, Ret. served as band director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
at Marion High, NC, studied with the United States Army Band
United States Army Band
Founded in 1922, the United States Army Band – known as "Pershing's Own" – is the premier musical organization of the United States Army. Before 2002, the United States Army Band was the only Washington-based military band to have participated in a theater of foreign combat operations...
and was director of the Tenth Division Band Training School). The Hibriten Band has played before the North Carolina Bandmasters Association on three occasions. The band has also traveled to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Atlanta (playing three performances at the Coca Cola Olympic Village), etc., and in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
the band won the "Ensemble of Excellence" award. The Hibriten Band was also the Band of Honor at Charlotte NC's Shrine Bowl game in 1995.
Of note are the band directors who taught at Hibriten and who are now in the North Carolina Bandmaster's Hall of Fame. including George Kirsten (George Kirsten's sister Dorothy Kirsten
Dorothy Kirsten
Dorothy Kirsten was an American operatic soprano.-Biography:...
sang opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tic mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
in the NY Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
), and Camilla Graeber. Other HHS Band directors have been honored by the Northwest District of the NC Bandmasters Association including Dennis Carswell, John Craig, and Bill Witcher.