All-Ohio State Fair Band
Friday, August 8
7:30 pm on the First-Knox Main Stage

The All-Ohio State Fair Band is made possible through the generous support of United Precast Inc., Ross Brothers and Time Warner Cable
   

The All-Ohio State Fair Band has been a featured attraction at the annual Ohio State Fair since 1925. Millions of fairgoers have experienced the thrill of hearing the band conclude each concert with an exciting performance of John Philip Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever."

The band is composed of 200 superior musicians from schools throughout Ohio. Sponsored by the Ohio State Fair, the continuity runs unbroken to the present except for four years during World War 11, 1942 through 1945, when no fair was held. The band was known as the All- Ohio Boy's Band until 1975 when young women were first invited to participate.

The All-Ohio State Fair Band has had five directors to date. The founder and first director was Colonel Jack Wainwright of Fostoria, 1925- 1931; Dr. Louis E. Pete, of Ashland, 1932-1966; Jack 0. Evans of Columbus, 1967 -1969; Omar P. Blackman of Cleveland, 1970- 1998 and the current band director, Donald F. Santa-Emma of Cleveland.

Don Santa-Emma joined the All-Ohio State Fair Band staff in 1974. He has had a very active, visible career in music education having served as Director of Fine Arts Education for the Cleveland Public Schools and as an adjudicator and conductor of school and professional organizations.

High school students apply for membership in the All-Ohio State Fair Band through their local school band director. Applications are mailed each February to every public and private secondary school in Ohio. Membership is determined by student ability, instrumentation needs of the band, and geographical considerations.

Participating in the All-Ohio State Fair Band is a unique musical and social experience. The band lives in the Rhodes Center located on the Fairgrounds. The 21-day camp offers a valuable opportunity to perform more than 60 pieces of music of varied styles and periods. Band members work with a top-notch staff of music educators from throughout the state. During their stay at the Ohio State Fair, students work with peers who share similar interests. These relationships often develop into friendships that last a lifetime.

For more information, visit the www.aosfb.org website.

Note: All schedules and events are subject to change without notice. Please continue to check our website for all the latest updates.

For more information, call 740-392-FEST (3378) or e-mail: festival@danemmettfestival.org
or visit the Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.VisitKnoxOhio.org