BAND DEPARTMENT

The Fostoria High School Band was founded in 1919 by John W Wainwright. Within one year, the band became one of the first school bands in the nation to offer curricular credit for band classes. Wainwright and the band traveled to Chicago in 1923 to compete in the National Champion of High School Bands, where the band was awarded first place. Mr. Wainwright returned to Fostoria and formed the group that would become the Ohio Music Education Association. Fostoria hosted and won the first Ohio band contest in 1924, won first place in 1925, and then finished second in the state and nationally in 1926. 

The proud tradition of the Fostoria High School Band continues today. The marching band can be found throughout Fostoria and surrounding areas, providing entertainment not only on fall Friday nights but also at many community events and special occasions. Sitting high above the court during basketball season, the FHS Pep Band earns their title as the “Best Band in the Stands” by rockin’ the gym and bringing some heat to the cold winter months.

The Fostoria High School Concert Band has set a high standard of excellence that includes multiple Superior ratings at OMEA-adjudicated events.  The Concert band performs concerts throughout the school year, mostly in the beautiful Wainwright Performing Arts Center at Fostoria High School. The concert schedule consists of a variety of music from many different genres and time periods, from traditional holiday music in December to the best of pops music in the spring and everything in between. 

Small ensembles and chamber groups are at the cornerstone of the Fostoria High School Band program.  Every band member is an active participant in at least one small ensemble.  Our annual recital concert features these ensembles in a unique concert setting.  These ensembles are active participants at OMEA solo and ensemble events and can be found performing throughout the year.

Since the first trip to Chicago in 1923, travel has been an important aspect of the Fostoria Band program. Most recently the band has performed in the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade, earned a superior rating at the Smoky Mountain Music Festival, and has performed in the Liberty Bowl halftime show with country music stars Big and Rich and Legendary rock band Starship.

If you have any questions about bands at Fostoria High School, please email our directors or call the band office at (419) 436-4117.

FHS Band Department Used Instrument Drive 

One of the goals of the Fostoria Schools’ band department is that no child will be denied access to the band program due to the inability to obtain their own instrument.  To help these students, we are renting instruments that have been donated to the band over the years.  If a family cannot afford a traditional instrument rental (typically $25-50/mo.), they can apply to use one of our school instruments for a fee of $50 for the year (a payment schedule is available).  This fee helps cover the cost of maintaining the instruments but is still affordable for most of our families.

To address the need for more instruments, we are asking people from Fostoria and surrounding communities to donate their used band instruments for use by our students.  Donors will be given a letter acknowledging their donation that includes the approximate value of the instrument. Any used instrument will be accepted, regardless of condition.  Broken instruments can usually be fixed, and those that cannot be fixed may be used for parts. 

If you, or someone you know, has an instrument that is collecting dust in the closet or the attic, please consider donating it so that all of our students have the opportunity to play in the Fostoria City Schools band.   

Steve Kauffman
Head Band Director
skauffman@fostoriaschools.org
Phone: 419-436-4117

Macie Bement
Associate Band Director
mbement@fostoriaschools.org
Phone: 419-436-4125