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Brian W. Dodd, Director
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Celebrate 2021........Join us on July 31!
It is time to dust off the instruments, oil the values, grease the slides, check the corks and tighten the drum heads! Mr. Dodd is ready to "Strike Up The Band" as we Celebrate 2021!! Without a doubt the past year has brought significant challenges to our state and, indeed, the world. In 2020, we had a #VirtuallyAmazing experience online with the All-Ohio State Fair Band and the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir. Though continued public health realities in 2021 haven't allowed for us to offer our traditional AOSFB experience as a part of the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, we invite all AOSFB alumni as well as high school youth (both new and returning members) to join us on Saturday, July 31, 2021 for a day of music-making and fun that will culminate in a festival concert with our friends in the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir. Follow the link below for more information and to register for this free, one-day event! Go to July 31 - All-Ohio State Fair Band to learn more and to register for the day. |
Welcome to the All-Ohio State Fair Band
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The All-Ohio State Fair Band was founded in 1925 and was known as the All-Ohio Boys' State Fair Band. It was then, as is now, comprised of superior musicians from throughout the State of Ohio. The founder and first director was Jack Wainwright (1925-1931) of Fostoria. He has been followed by four other directors: Louis E. Pete (1932-1966), Jack O. Evans (1967-1969), Omar P. Blackman (1970-1998) and Donald F. Santa-Emma (1999-2015), who has retired after 17 years as director and 42 years on the staff - he remains on staff as Director Emeritus. Brian W. Dodd, a fourteen year member of the staff as Assistant Director, Percussion, is now in his fifth year as director of the AOSFB. The members of the AOSFB annually arrive at the Rhodes Center near the end of July to begin several intense days of rehearsal. The talented musicians then take part in a rigorous pre-fair schedule where they rehearse over 60 pieces of concert music of various styles and genres as well as numerous marches. Throughout the run of The Ohio State Fair the Band members perform nearly 90 concerts while continuing a long-standing tradition of entertaining Ohio's citizens. |
These kids come in and maybe they don’t know each other, but they can make music together and that’s something they have in common. Their musical skills improve and their leadership skills improve, and then they go back to their home high schools just better players and better leaders.
Brian W. Dodd, director
from Farm and Dairy, "Part of a legacy: Dodd named band director for All-Ohio State Fair Band," June 24, 2016