Macomb Senior High School
1525 S. Johnson Street
Macomb, IL 61455
David Wetmore, Director of Bands
contact information
The Macomb High School (MHS) band program consists of a number of award-winning ensembles. The MHS Marching Bomber Band begins preparing for the marching season in early August each year. The band performs at each home football game, the school's and Western Illinois University's homecoming parades, and marching competitions. Following the marching season, auditions are held for placement and chairs in the Wind Symphony and Concert Band ensembles. Students in these groups present concerts and participate in festivals and contests throughout the remainder of the academic year (and often into the following summer). Individually and in small and mid-sized ensembles, band members perform and compete at a variety of showcases and contests throughout the school year. During the boys and girls basketball seasons, band members are divided into two balanced and alternately performing pep bands. During the 2008-2009 school year, the bands consist of 120 students, or approximately 21% of the student body.
The Macomb High School bands and the Macomb school district's instrumental music program are lead by David Wetmore with the assistance of junior high director of bands Doug Mattsey. During the 2008 marching season, Wetmore and the Marching Bomber Band benefited from the assistance of Ken Zahnle and Jacob Thurman as well as Lauren White, Ashley Waterstreet, and .
For more information about Macomb High School (MHS), see the MHS website.
For more information about the Macomb commmunity, see the Macomb website.
Honor band, 2007 Bands of America National Concert Band Festival, Indianapolis, Indiana
Honor band, 2000 Bands of America National Concert Band Festival, Indianapolis, Indiana
Fourth consecutive Governor's Trophy in class B & C/D, first place in parade, first place in field show; 2007 Illini Marching Band Festival, University of Illinois
Grand champion and honor band (Wind Symphony), 2003 Grand National Adjudicators Invitational (NAI), Chattanooga, Tennessee
Honor band in class A (Wind Symphony), 2005 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
Honor band, 2000 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
Honor band, 1998 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
Honor band and division I rating in class A, 1997 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
Honor band, 1995 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
Grand champion, 2002 Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival Concert Band Competition, Winchester, Virginia
Participant, 1996 Indianapolis 500 Parade
1 All-State Band qualifier, 4 All-State Orchestra qualifiers; Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA), District 4.
11 All-District Band qualifiers, 8 All-District Orchestra qualifiers; Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA), District 4.
Second place in class A, best general effect in class A, best auxiliary in class A; 2008 State of Illinois Invitational Marching Band Championships, Illinois State University
Second place in division AAAA, best drum majors; 2008 Metamora Parade & Field Invitational
Grand champion of small division, first place in class AAA, best drum line in class AAA, best winds in class AAA, best drum majors in class AAA; 2008 Marching Band Classic, Western Illinois University
Second place overall, second place in class AAA, best drum majors in class AAA, best winds in class AAA; 2008 Pekin Dragon Classic
Keep your ears to the ground!
First division rating (Wind Symphony), 2008 National Adjudicators Invitational (NAI), University of Missouri – St. Louis
Fourth consecutive Governor's Trophy in class B & C/D, first place in parade, first place in field show; 2007 Illini Marching Band Festival, University of Illinois
State runner-up in class B (Macomb High School music department), 2007-2008 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Sweepstakes
450 division 1 ratings, 48 division 2 ratings in class B (Macomb High School music department); 2006 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Solo and Ensemble Contest
First place in class AAA, 2007 Marching Band Classic, Western Illinois University
First place in large class, 2007 Western Illinois University homecoming parade
First place in class AA, best winds in class AA, 2007 Maple Leaf Marching Classic, Geneseo High School
Selected participant (Wind Symphony), 2007 Bands of America National Concert Band Festival, Indianapolis, Indiana
Third consecutive Governor's Trophy in class B & C/D, first place in parade, first place in field show; 2006 Illini Marching Band Festival, University of Illinois
Third place in class B (Macomb High School music department), 2006-2007 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Sweepstakes
420 division 1 ratings, 15 division 2 ratings in class B (Macomb High School music department); 2007 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Solo and Ensemble Contest
Second place in large class, 2006 Maple Leaf Marching Classic, Geneseo High School
Honor band, 2006 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
Second consecutive Governor's Trophy in class B & C/D, first place in parade, first place in field show; 2005 Illini Marching Band Festival, University of Illinois
Grand champion of large division, first place in class AAA; 2005 Marching Band Classic, Western Illinois University
Third place in division AAA, 2005 Metamora Parade & Field Invitational
State runner-up in class B (Macomb High School music department), 2005-2006 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Sweepstakes
480 division 1 ratings, 24 division 2 ratings in class B (Macomb High School music department); 2006 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Solo and Ensemble Contest
Honor band in class A (Wind Symphony), 2005 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
Superior rating (Concert Band and Wind Symphony), 2005 National Adjudicators Invitational (NAI), University of Missouri – St. Louis
Honor band (Wind Symphony) and first place in division IV (Concert Band), 2005 National Adjudicators Invitational (NAI), University of Missouri – St. Louis
Governor's Trophy in class B & C/D, 2004 Illini Marching Band Festival, University of Illinois
Third place in class AA, 2004 State of Illinois Invitational Marching Band Championships, Illinois State University
Second place in large class, 2004 Maple Leaf Marching Classic, Geneseo High School
First place in large class, 2004 Western Illinois University homecoming parade
State runner-up in class B (Macomb High School music department), 2004-2005 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Sweepstakes
546 division 1 ratings, 30 division 2 ratings in class B (Macomb High School music department); 2005 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Solo and Ensemble Contest
Selected participant, 2004 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
Participant, 2004 Chicagoland Invitational Concert Band Festival
First place, 2003 Maple Leaf Marching Classic, Geneseo High School
Grand champion of large division, first place in class AAA; 2003 //www.wiu.edu/music/html/festivals.shtml">Marching Band Classic, Western Illinois University
First place, 2003 Western Illinois University homecoming parade
First place in field show competition, second place in parade competition; 2003 Illini Marching Band Festival, University of Illinois
State runner-up in class B (Macomb High School music department), 2003-2004 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Sweepstakes
585 division 1 and division 2 ratings in class B (Macomb High School music department), 2004 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Solo and Ensemble Contest
Grand champion and honor band (Wind Symphony), 2003 Grand National Adjudicators Invitational (NAI), Chattanooga, Tennessee
Division I rating (Concert Band and Wind Symphony), 2003 Grand National Adjudicators Invitational (NAI), Chattanooga, Tennessee
First division rating (Concert Band and Wind Symphony), 2003 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Organization Contest
Best in class, 2002 Maple Leaf Marching Classic, Geneseo High School
first place in class AAA, 2002 Marching Band Classic, Western Illinois University
Fourth place in class B, best percussion caption; 2002 Illini Marching Band Festival, University of Illinois
432 division 1 and division 2 ratings in class B, 2003 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Solo and Ensemble Contest
State runner-up in class B (Macomb High School music department), 2002-2003 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Sweepstakes
Grand champion, 2002 Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival Concert Band Competition, Winchester, Virginia
First division rating (Concert Band and Wind Symphony), 2002 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Organization Contest
Third place in division AA, 2001 State of Illinois Invitational Marching Band Championships, Illinois State University
Grand champion of large division, first place in class AAA; 2001 Marching Band Classic, Western Illinois University
Best in class, 2001 Geneseo Fall Music Festival
Honor band participant, 2001 Showcase of Bands, Western Illinois University
Third place in division AA, 2000 State of Illinois Invitational Marching Band Championships, Illinois State University
Best in class, 2000 United Township High School (UTHS) Marching Band Classic
77 division 1 ratings, 12 division 2 ratings in class B; 2001 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Solo and Ensemble Contest
Fifth place in class B (Macomb High School music department), 2000-2001 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Sweepstakes
Honor band, 2000 Bands of America National Concert Band Festival, Indianapolis, Indiana
Honor band, 2000 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
Third place in class AAA, 1999 Pekin Dragon Classic
Grand champion, 1999 West-Central Illinois Marching Band Festival, Jacksonville, Illinois
Third place in class AA, 1999 State of Illinois Invitational Marching Band Championships, Illinois State University
Grand champion, 1999 Western Illinois University homecoming parade
76 division 1 ratings, 2 division 2 ratings in class B; 2000 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Solo and Ensemble Contest
Fourth place in class B (Macomb High School music department), 1999-2000 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Sweepstakes
Second place, best color guard, best winds; 1998 Keokuk Showcase of Talent
Grand champion, best drums, best drums in class; 1998 United Township High School (UTHS) Showcase of Bands
Grand champion, 1998 Western Illinois University homecoming parade
Third place overall, second place in class AAA, best winds in class AAA, best drums in class AAA; 1998 Marching Band Classic, Western Illinois University
Selected participant (Wind Symphony), 1999 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
Honor band (Wind Symphony), 1999 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
Participant (Wind Symphony), 1999 Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) All-State Conference, Peoria, Illinois
43 first division ratings, 1999 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Solo and Ensemble Contest
Unanimous first division rating, perfect score in sight reading (Concert Band); 1999 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Organization Contest
Third place (Macomb High School music department), 1998-1999 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Sweepstakes
Grand champion, best winds, best drumline; 1997 United Township High School (UTHS) Showcase of Bands
Grand champion, best winds, best drumline; 1997 Western Illinois University homecoming parade
Grand champion, best winds, best drumline; 1997 Marching Band Classic, Western Illinois University
Second place, best winds, best drumline; 1997 Keokuk Showcase of Excellence
Honor low brass ensemble, 1998 Allerton Festival
49 first division ratings, 1998 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Solo and Ensemble Contest
First division rating (Concert Band and Wind Symphony), 1998 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Organization Contest
Honor band, 1998 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
Superior rating (Wind Symphony), 1998 Grand National Adjudicators Invitational (NAI), Chattanooga, Tennessee
Fifth place in class B (Macomb High School music department), 1997-1998 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Sweepstakes
Grand champion, 1996 Western Illinois University homecoming parade
Best in class, 1996 Maple Leaf Marching Classic, Geneseo High School
Second place, best in show drumline, best in class drumline; 1996 Marching Band Classic, Western Illinois University
Invitied participant, 1997 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
Honor band and division I rating in class A, 1997 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
First division rating (Wind Symphony), 1997 National Adjudicators Invitational (NAI), University of Missouri – St. Louis
Qualifier, 1997 Grand National Adjudicators Invitational (NAI), Chattanooga, Tennessee
456 division 1 and division 2 ratings in class B, 1997 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Solo and Ensemble Contest
Honor band (Wind Symphony), 1996 Showcase of Bands, Western Illinois University (also performed for Gary Green, Director of Bands, Miami University)
Participant, 1996 Indianapolis 500 Parade
Grand champion, best winds, best percussion, best color guard; 1995 Marching Band Classic, Western Illinois University
Grand champion, 1995 Western Illinois University homecoming parade
First place in parade, first place in field show, best percussion, best winds; 1995 Olympia Marching Band Classic
Second place, 1995 West-Central Illinois Marching Band Festival
Grand champion, 1994 Western Illinois University homecoming parade
Second place, best in class percussion; 1994 Marching Band Classic, Western Illinois University
First place in parade, first place in field show, best percussion, best winds, best color guard; 1994 Maple Leaf Marching Classic, Geneseo High School
Honor band, 1995 Superstate Concert Band Festival, University of Illinois
First division rating (Concert Band and Wind Symphony), 1995 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Contest
Honor woodwind quintet, 1995 Wind Symposium, University of Illinois