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The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

Focused on his music, senior Noah Wright plays his trumpet alongside the rest of trumpet section during his second hour class. Wright has been playing in the Jazz Band since his sophomore year, but this is his first year playing with a full instrumentation.“With there being more people, we’ve really been able to push ourselves,” Wright said. “We really have depth in the parts.”

Jazz Band gets a full instrumentation

Peyton Gaskill, STAFF WRITER November 2, 2018

For the first time since 2001, the Jazz Band has a full instrumentation. This means that the band has players for each instrument required for musical pieces written for large bands, including saxophones,...

Practicing during school, senior Gwyn Allendorph works on music for an outside ensemble. One of her most impactful moments in music was listening to melodies in the strings during a performance of the Peer Gynt Suite at Powell Hall. “One of my favorite pieces of all time to play is Donzón no. 2 by Arturo Márquez, that was the first piece we ever started rehearsing in the YPCO in my first year,” Allendorph said.

Senior oboist Gwyn Allendorph works to make her passion a career

Nell Jaskowiak, OPINIONS AND ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR October 16, 2018

If you want to find senior Gwyn Allendorph, check a practice room, a stage in Webster Groves or perhaps Powell Hall. An accomplished oboist, Allendorph is currently in four symphonic orchestras and has...

Senior Meghan Stanfield, junior Theresa Monteleone and senior Chloe Hershenow perform enthusiastically in Jazz Choir at the First Annual Music Department Showcase Concert. This is Stanfield’s second year in the ensemble. “Singing is my passion, and it’s so nice to come to class to just sing with all my friends,” Stanfield said. “It really helps me forget about all the chaos of the world.”

Showcase concert sets music department off on a strong start

Maria Newton, FEATURES EDITOR October 8, 2018

As parents, friends and students poured into the gymnasium, they were met with the rhythmic pounding of the Marching Band. The strong metronome, meant to keep the marchers in synchronization, was captivating. This...

Freshman Caleb Upchurch plays the french horn in concert band. “I think band has been fun so far, and the level of music is about average,” Upchurch said. Currently in the process of selecting what to play in their October concert, the students are playing a wide variety of pieces from Robert Sheldon to Caesar Giovannini.

Musicians flourish with auditioned bands

Nell Jaskowiak, OPINIONS AND ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR September 7, 2018

Walk down the music hallway at any given time of day and there is probably a band student working in a practice room. Come back during third, fifth or sixth hour and find a full band rehearsing their pieces,...

With a violin cradled in his arms, junior Jason Wan performs at a fall orchestra concert. Wan, who practices violin for roughly an hour a day, was selected to participate in the All-State orchestra at the Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) conference. “Every year you go to Mizzou and there’s a lot of people that audition so you have to stay there for a couple hours,” Wan said. “[At the conference] you rehearse for six to eight hours a day and then you perform on the last day. Some people practice their music before they get there.”

Three students attend prestigious All-State music conference

Tyler Kinzy, Managing Editor-in-Chief March 5, 2018

From the morning of Jan. 24 through the evening of Jan. 27, music permeated the Tan-Tar-A Resort in Lake of the Ozarks. At the 80th annual Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) conference, juniors...

BØRNS concert review

Maria Newton, FEATURES EDITOR February 6, 2018

Alternative rock band BØRNS took the stage in St. Louis on Jan. 30 for a concert at the Pageant. The small venue provided fans with a close-up view of the main singer/songwriter Garrett Clark Borns while...

Junior Justin Cupps plays marimba in preparation for the audition. The auditions for All-Suburban concert band were held at Parkway North on Monday, Nov 6. Cupps was one of four students from Parkway West that made it into the band.

Four band students accepted into St. Louis All-Suburban Concert Band

Emily Dickson, Sabrina Bohn, and Dani Fischer November 7, 2017

After weeks of practicing the same few sets of scales, rudiments and excerpts, four band students, percussionist and junior Justin Cupps, oboist and junior Gwyn Allendorph, tubist and junior John Eyermann...

Trying out newly-acquired music techniques, the band runs through one of their practiced songs. The students played four pieces in total under the direction of Brad Wallace.

Bands take spring break trip to New York City

Maddie Hoffmann, Staff Writer March 19, 2017

Armed with pillows, blankets and a surplus of gadgets to keep them entertained on the nearly 12 hour bus ride to Columbus, Ohio, 62 students boarded two charter buses at 7:45 am on March 10, marking...

Marching band competes at Lafayette High School on Sept. 24.

Longhorns compete against bands from across the nation

Bridget Noonan, STAFF WRITER November 5, 2016
Bands traveled in from Colorado, Ohio, Texas, Minnesota, Illinois, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Kansas, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Arkansas and Nebraska to participate.
The annual Craft Fair features over 100 businesses that sell a wide range of products.

Fall Craft Fair features local businesses

Mary Claire Moriarity, STAFF WRITER October 27, 2016

Over 135 vendors will pack the north and main gym on Saturday Oct. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the 33nd annual Parkway West Band Craft Fair. “It funds much of our competition...