The Lowellville Rocket Band is one of the many, and most popular, extracurriculars students can choose from at Lowellville High School. The Lowellville band has a reputation for being outstanding. Last year the band received straight 1’s, which is the highest score a band can receive, at the District Band Contest and the State Band Contest. Last year, the marching band had the opportunity to parade down Main Street at Disney World. Every year the Rocket band performs at the Canfield Fair during the band showcase. The band also makes appearances at various band nights. This year they performed at the Mineral Ridge Band Night and the Boardman Band Night. The Rocket Band is directed by Mr. Robert Antonucci and the assistant band director is Mrs. Melissa Husosky.
Students at Lowellville begin to take band in 5th grade and can choose between band or choir in 7th grade. Students may choose instruments from three categories of instruments that Lowellville offers, the woodwind category, brass category, or they can choose to be a percussionist, which plays many different instruments that fall under this category. Students can participate in marching band starting in 7th grade and have the chance to learn from high schoolers.
Seventh grade trumpet player, Steven Yon said, “I feel that iron sharpens iron meaning that if you grow up being influenced by seasoned and talented musicians you will thrive to be at their level and you will manifest it.”
The Lowellville Rocket marching band performed many songs during half-time, pep assemblies, and Band Nights. This year’s half-time songs the band played included “Shut Up and Dance”, “Made You Look”, “Bang the Drum All Day”, “Creep”, and “Free Bird.” For Halloween, the band performed a Barbie-themed half-time show playing songs such as, “Choose Your Fighter”, “I’m Just Ken”, and “Dance the Night.”
Starting in 7th grade students can participate in the OMEA Solo & Ensemble contest and OMEA District 5 Honors band. The OMEA Solo and Ensemble contest will be taking place in January. There are no required auditions, anybody can participate. Students will have to prepare, solo, and perform it in front of an adjudicator. Students are scored on their performance on a scale of one to five with one being the best. For Honors Band, middle school students can submit their names for the chance to be chosen. High school students must prepare an audition and submit it for the chance to be chosen. . This year we had 11 students chosen in grades 7-12. The middle school students are Steven Yon, Jakob Primous, Mason Dutton, Nicholas Scott, and Lucas Williams. The high school students are Cheyenne Bott, Nathan Yon, Sophia Yon, Kaden Primous (1st chair), Eliza Primous, and Casey Gordon (1st chair). The Honors band performed on November 19th, 2023 at Stambaugh Auditorium.