Music+Rooms

**//Music In Our School //**
The Great Falls High School music program is one of the most diverse programs at our school. The group of students and the many different interests they provide is what makes the music departments. There are three departments in the music rooms including choir, band, and orchestra. Music has always been an integral part of Great Falls High and many of the students perform for most of their time in high school. The music department has been headed by many inspiring teachers who enjoy watching their students improve. Music also provides a great deal of enjoyment for the students enrolled in it along with allowing them to bond with their classmates especially during tours and concerts. The phenomenal performances of many past young musicians who have passed through this school is reflected by the many award plaques seen within the halls and trophy cabinets in the music department.

//Choir[[image:gfhsbison/Mr__Ryan.jpg width="258" height="340" align="right"]] //
Originally, the choir room was a joint music room shared by the entire music program. In 1992, the music department received and extension, creating the current orchestra and band rooms. What used to be the joint music room is now the choir room. The choir department has had a long history of distinct directors. One of the most influential directors was Paul Ritter, a nationally renowned choir conductor. The choir saw great days during his time as head director from 1972-1997. He later served as Supervisor of Fine Arts for the Missoula County Public Schools for thirteen years. Ritter now serves as the symphonic choir director for the Great Falls Symphony. Due to his reputation, Ritter's appearance as a guest conductor is in high demand in the Northwest. The choir depatrment is now headed by Patrick "Doctor" Ryan. The director's first year at great falls yielded great results. The top choirs, Delphian and Rhapsody pulled it together this year and had stellar performances under Mr. Ryan. "The future for the choir department is bright," says head choir director Patrick Ryan, "it's been a wonderful first year, and I look forward to the following years." In the future, the choir department hopes to see improvements in new artwork, paint, and getting a grand piano. Also"we need to get rid of the mustard yellow cabinets," says Mr. Ryan.

//Band //
An interesting fact about the band wing is that it was not part of the original school design. The first band room was originally the choir room. After some remodeling, a hallway was made out of the end of the choir room which led to the band room that they built in. They also made an entrance into the orchestra room which originally was an electronics lab. The Great Falls High band department has had an excellent history of band directors. In the 1950's, the band was directed by Paul Shull, who has instructed many people within the Great Falls community in music. In the mid 1960's, the band was headed by Roger Heath who later went to Perdue University. Heath was followed by Bill Larson in the late 1960's. Larson directed band at Great Falls High for many years before he began teaching at Billings Senior. With Larson as director, the band was able to perform at the Northwest Festival three times. After Larson came Jeff Long, who was Great Falls High alumni. After him came Tim Holton who is a Colonel in the U.S. army and is now the current commander of the U.S. army field band, making him well known within the band community. Holton was followed by James Batchellor and then Gordon Hansen in 1996. After Hansen, the band came to be directed by Dustin Molyneaux, the current director of the Great Falls High band, who has been teaching here since 1997. Currently he is the second longest tenured band teacher in the last forty years. His favorite part about teaching band here are the students. Molyneaux stated that the best part about working with his students that it's never the same and it makes him feel like he is seventeen again even though he is in his forties. One of the most memorable band tours was the Canada tour in 2012. In Calgary, the band was able to see Blue Man Group. The history of the Great Falls High band also comes from many of the students. One notable student named Claude Gordon went on to write famous trumpet pieces and to play in Hollywood soundtracks. Another student was Russ Kellog, with whom six of his students have gone on to teach band. Two other well known students were the Gemberling twins, Alan and Garry, who formed a rock band that included brass instruments at Montana State University.

//Orchestra //
There are four orchestra departments at Great Falls High: chamber, concert, and the two freshman ensembles. The top orchestra is chamber orchestra. The orchestras mainly play string instruments, but every now and then they will combine brass, woodwind, percussion, and other instruments to create a full orchestra. Up until 1984, Great Falls High had only one orchestra, which met twice a week to form a full orchestra. In 1985, the school added a second orchestra, and in 1997 a third, which we now know as chamber orchestra. Lastly in 2009, the fourth orchestra, which is the second freshman orchestra, became an addition to the Great Falls High music department. Until 1992, the orchestra shared a room with the band, and eventually moved into its current room; 209A, when the old electronics room was converted into the orchestra room. The orchestra has had the privilege of performing three times at the Northwest Music Educators Conference in 1981, 1991, and 2005. One of the main highlights of orchestra has been touring. This is a great opportunity for the students in the orchestra to perform as well as bond with their classmates. Chamber orchestra tours yearly, and past tours have included Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Spokane. In order to raise money for tours, the orchestras sell fruit every year in November. Awards for orchestra may be seen in the hallways and classrooms within the music wing of the school. Each music department may give a student a department award, in this case, the award would be the National School Orchestra Award. Past orchestra directors have included Tom Maddem who taught from 1969-1982, Dennis Dell (1983-1984), and Linda Lydiard (1985-1998). After Lydiard, the orchestra was headed by interim directors from 1999-2000. Finally in 2001, Ruth Johnson became the head of the orchestra department. In fact, she even completed her student teaching here. Just like Molyneaux, Johnson's favorite part about teaching highschool music is the students, many of whom she has the privilege of teaching for all four years. She takes joy in helping them grow not only as students, but as musicians and people.