A variety of music offerings are available at St. Edward High School. Instruments are available through the school for student use at no cost - students pay only for personal accessories such as reeds. Pervious experience is not necessary. Lessons are available at the school for students who wish to begin instruction on an instrument. Each year several of our graduates pursue music in college and beyond - as performers, recording technicians, teachers, even composers.
Concert Band
The St. Edward Concert Band performs a variety of music from traditional and contemporary band repertoire to Broadway and film music at several concerts each year.
The band meets on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 3:45-5:30 in winter and spring, following the football/marching season. Many students are also members of marching and/or jazz band. Any student who attends St. Edward High School, Magnificat High School or St. Joseph Academy may participate.
Orchestra
The St. Edward Orchestra is new for the 2012-2013 school year. String players and select wind and percussionists will combine forces to perform classical and contemporary music performed at our concerts.
The orchestra meets as a class during the regular school day. The orchestra rehearses every other day, alternating with a study hall during this class period. There is an additional rehearsal on Mondays after school, from 3:20 until 4:10 in winter and spring. Students who are not able to take Orchestra as a class during the school day may audition to be add-ons for these after school rehearsals.
Men's Chorus
The St. Edward Men's Chorus sings a wide variety of music rangin in styles from 15th Century Madrigals to Barbershop, Traditional and Contemporary Sacred to Broadway and Pop to Spirtuals and Concert selections. They are featured at the annual Christmas Concert in the St. Edward Holy Family Chapel and provide music for school liturgies, special occassions and school concerts.
The chorus meets as a class during the regular school day. The chorus rehearses every other day, alternating with a study hall during this class period. There is an additional rehearsal on Mondays (fall) or Thursday (winter/spring) after school, from 3:20 until 4:10.
Jazz Band
The St. Edward Jazz Band performs a variety of musical styles, ranging from dixieland and swing to jazz/rock fusion and funk at concerts. They are also a popular additin to several special school events, incuding the annual Academic Award Night. In addition to performing a variety of contemporary styles, members also learn to improvise.
The band consists of saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, guitar and drum players who attend St. Edward. The jazz band meets as a class during the regular school day. They rehearse every other day, alternating with a study hall during this class period.
The St. Edward Marching Eagles performs rousing music to get the crowd going at football games as well as a more refined "corp style" competition show. The band has earned the highest posible "Superior" rating in Ohio Music Eductaors Association State Marching Band Finals eight times in the past fourteen years.
The marching band forms during the summer and rehearses Monday through Friday in fall. Most rehearsals are on the front parking lot from 3:45 until 5:45, with one per week rescheduled on Caughlin Feild behin the school from 6:30 until 9:00. Any student who attends St. Edward High School, Magnificat High School or St. Joseph Academy may participate.
A more detailed outline of our Marching Bad program can be found on our special Marching Band pages. Information about the Marching and Indoor Percussion is available on our Percussion Page.
Mr. Aaron M. Draime, Jr.
Associate Director of Performing Arts
Aaron Draime serves as Associate Director of Performing Arts for Lakewood St. Edward High School. His primary responsibilities are as Director of the Division of Band for the department, which includes the marching ensemble, concert ensemble, two jazz ensembles and a variety of small ensembles.
As a balanced educator and musician, Aaron has served as guest clinician and conductor for several school districts’ programs. Over the past eight years, Aaron has composed a series of junior high/middle school concert band pieces, both for full band and for small ensembles. Several junior high/middle school band programs throughout Ohio have performed these compositions. Aaron is an alumni and past brass instructor with the Toledo Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps (1997-2002) and has also instructed with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps (2010).
An active member in Ohio’s Music Education Association (OMEA), Aaron has hosted marching band and solo/ensemble events for eight of the past ten years and is a frequent adjudicator within OMEA’s marching band circuit. He is the Immediate Past President for OMEA’s seventh district, which encompasses a large portion of the greater Cleveland area, including Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Lake Counties. Aaron currently resides in Lyndhurst, Ohio with his wife (also a band director) Lindsay Draime.