Band

Welcome to the 2024 - 2025 Concert Band Page. We will keep this page up to date with information pertinent to this class.

Take a few moments to go over the rest of the Band pages. On the 'Band News' page, you can like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. 

You can also add the Band calendar to your own Google calendar. The dates for 2024-2025 have already been added.

If you ever have any questions, please contact me.

News updates will be placed in "Band News". Be sure to "like" our Facebook page for up to date news as well. The google calendar to the right can be added to your own personal calendar by pressing on the "+google calendar" button.

Come back to the website for news, updates, and other information!

BAND SUPPLY INFORMATION

Supplies: We ask that reeds (see information below), valve oil, sticks, etc. be purchased individually. You may purchase these items directly from the Quinlan and Fabish Music Company or from any other e-retailer (Amazon, Woodwind and Brasswind, Libertyville Music (Deerfield Music)).

Reeds: The strength and quality of the reed that is being used by clarinets/saxophones/oboes and bassoons greatly effects the individual performance of the instrument. Too hard a reed can make playing very difficult and frustrating while too soft a reed can lead to similar problems and also poor sound. I am going to make some suggestions on brands and strengths as well as give the option of purchasing a plastic reed.
Students should be playing on strength 3 reeds (or medium). The 2 reeds brands that have good quality and consistency are Vandoren and Rico Royal. The Vandoren reeds are more expensive, but better overall for sound. 'You get what you pay for' with musical instruments and supplies.
Another option that has been working well for some students are plastic reeds by the company Legere. There is a chart that gives you the reed strength that you should purchase based on the strength of wood reed that is currently being played on. I will upload the chart(s) to Google Classroom and have them emailed home to you. These reeds can last a long time. They tend not to be cheap, but over the course of time they probably will pay for themselves. They also are easy to clean and take care of. 
Please contact me if you have any questions.

Personal Repairs: these should be done through either your rental company, most likely Quinlan and Fabish or another local company. The instrument can be brought to school for a scheduled pick up or taken to the music store.
Please let me know if you need to borrow an instrument from the school or if you will be using a loaner from the music company.

School Instrument Repairs: Please contact me first if there is an issue. We use Quinlan Fabish for our repairs. The same method to get the instrument to repair shop should be followed as above. If you take it in yourself, let them know it is a school instrument and they will send an invoice to us.

School Instruments for Home Use: Please contact me if you need to use a school instrument at home this school year. 

2024- 2025 Jazz Bands

Rehearsals will begin in November. If you are not in the VHHS Band program, please reach out to Mr. Sundell or Mr. Russell for more information.

Rehearsal Schedule
Jazz Ensemble
TBA

Jazz Combos
TBA

Concert Dates
Wednesday, February 20 at 7:00 PM

Fall 2025
COUGAR PEP BAND AND DRUMLINE

Our Pep Band Home Game Performances and Rehearsals

Band Camp  Monday, August 4                                   9:00 am- 12:00 pm

Band Camp Tuesday, August 5                                  1:00 am- 4:00 pm

Band Camp Wednesday, August 6                             9:00 am- 12:00 pm

Band Camp  Monday, August 11                                  7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

***** Game times are subject to change *****

Game, Friday, September 5 (Senior Recognition Night)
Dinner:                                  TBA
Rehearsal:                            TBA
 Game:                                   TBA

Game, Friday, September 12  (Junior Cougar Night)

Dinner:                                  TBA
Rehearsal:                            TBA
 Game:                                   TBA

Game, Friday, September 26 (Homecoming)

Dinner:                                  5:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Rehearsal:                            6:00 PM - 6:30 PM
 Game:                                   7:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Game, Friday, October 17

Dinner:                                  TBA
Rehearsal:                           TBA
 Game:                                 TBA

Game, Friday, October 24

Dinner:                                 TBA
Rehearsal:                           TBA
Game:                                  TBA

 

Welcome to Symphonic Band!

News updates will be placed in "Band News." Be sure to "like" our Facebook page for up-to-date news as well. The google calendar below can be added to your own personal calendar by pressing on the "+google calendar" button. 

BAND SUPPLY INFORMATION

Supplies: We ask that reeds (see information below), valve oil, sticks, etc. be purchased individually. You may purchase these items directly from the Quinlan and Fabish Music Company or from any other e-retailer (Amazon, Woodwind and Brasswind, Libertyville Music (Deerfield Music)).

Reeds: The strength and quality of the reed that is being used by clarinets/saxophones/oboes and bassoons greatly effects the individual performance of the instrument. Too hard a reed can make playing very difficult and frustrating while too soft a reed can lead to similar problems and also poor sound. I am going to make some suggestions on brands and strengths as well as give the option of purchasing a plastic reed.
Students should be playing on strength 3 reeds (or medium). The 2 reeds brands that have good quality and consistency are Vandoren and Rico Royal. The Vandoren reeds are more expensive, but better overall for sound. 'You get what you pay for' with musical instruments and supplies.
Another option that has been working well for some students are plastic reeds by the company Legere. There is a chart that gives you the reed strength that you should purchase based on the strength of wood reed that is currently being played on. I will upload the chart(s) to Google Classroom and have them emailed home to you. These reeds can last a long time. They tend not to be cheap, but over the course of time they probably will pay for themselves. They also are easy to clean and take care of. 
Please contact me if you have any questions.

Personal Repairs: these should be done through either your rental company, most likely Quinlan and Fabish or another local company. The instrument can be brought to school for a scheduled pick up or taken to the music store.
Please contact me if you need to borrow an instrument from the school or if you will be using a loaner from the music company.

School Instrument Repairs: Please contact me first if there is an issue. We use Quinlan Fabish for our repairs. The same method to get the instrument to repair shop should be followed as above. If you take it in yourself, let them know it is a school instrument and they will send an invoice to us.

School Instruments for Home Use: Please contact me if you need to use a school instrument at home this school year. 

 

2024 - 2025 Wind Ensemble

CONGRATULATIONS to the 24-25 Wind Ensemble on their great performance at the University of Illinois Superstate Band Festival. The ensemble will be the Honor Band at the 2025 Festival!

News updates will be placed in "Band News." Be sure to "like" our facebook page for up-to-date news as well. 

BAND SUPPLY INFORMATION

Supplies: We ask that reeds (see information below), valve oil, sticks, etc. be purchased individually. You may purchase these items directly from the Quinlan and Fabish Music Company or from any other e-retailer (Amazon, Woodwind and Brasswind, Libertyville Music (Deerfield Music)).

Reeds: The strength and quality of the reed that is being used by clarinets/saxophones/oboes and bassoons greatly effects the individual performance of the instrument. Too hard a reed can make playing very difficult and frustrating while too soft a reed can lead to similar problems and also poor sound. I am going to make some suggestions on brands and strengths as well as give the option of purchasing a plastic reed.
Students should be playing on strength 3 reeds (or medium). The 2 reeds brands that have good quality and consistency are Vandoren and Rico Royal. The Vandoren reeds are more expensive, but better overall for sound. 'You get what you pay for' with musical instruments and supplies.
Another option that has been working well for some students are plastic reeds by the company Legere. There is a chart that gives you the reed strength that you should purchase based on the strength of wood reed that is currently being played on. I will upload the chart(s) to Google Classroom and have them emailed home to you. These reeds can last a long time. They tend not to be cheap, but over the course of time they probably will pay for themselves. They also are easy to clean and take care of. 
Please contact me if you have any questions.

Personal Repairs: these should be done through either your rental company, most likely Quinlan and Fabish or another local company. The instrument can be brought to school for a scheduled pick up or taken to the music store.
Please contact me if you need to borrow an instrument from the school or if you will be using a loaner from the music company.

School Instrument Repairs: Please contact me first if there is an issue. We use Quinlan Fabish for our repairs. The same method to get the instrument to repair shop should be followed as above. If you take it in yourself, let them know it is a school instrument and they will send an invoice to us.

School Instruments for Home Use: Please contact me if you need to use a school instrument at home this school year. 

Randy Sundell has received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. He has been the Director of Bands at Vernon Hills High School since its opening in 1999. Prior to that, Sundell held positions as the Associate Director of Bands at Libertyville High School, Libertyville, IL and Director of Bands at Oak Grove School District #68 in Green Oaks, IL.

Mr. Sundell directs 3 curricular bands, Jazz Band, Football Pep Band, and is the assistant director of the Symphony Orchestra. He has also taught AP Music Theory.

Under his direction at Vernon Hills High School, the Wind Ensemble has been recognized for numerous awards and honors. The ensemble has been selected to perform at the Illinois Superstate Festival hosted by the University of Illinois every year since 2003. They were named the Honor Band for the 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2023 and 2025 festivals. The Wind Ensemble was featured on WFMT’s Innovations in 2010. The group was chosen as a National Winner for the Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors competition 2011-2013 and a Commended Winner in 2014 and 2016. The Wind Ensemble has also performed at the Illinois Music Education Association All-State Festival in 2004 and 2013.  The band program was recognized by the National Band Association National Programs of Excellence in 2014 as the North Central Division Winner.

Mr. Sundell received the Chicagoland Music Educators Award from Quinlan and Fabish Music in 2004 and has been elected to the American Bandmasters Association. In January 2025, he received the Outstanding Bandmaster Award from the Phi Beta Mu professional band directors fraternity. He is active as a judge and clinician in the Chicago area. As a performer, Mr. Sundell plays bassoon in a woodwind quintet, Winds Off The Lake and the North Suburban Wind Ensemble of which he is also the Associate Conductor.

His professional affiliations include the American Bandmasters Association, NAfME, the Illinois Music Educator Association, the International Double Reed Society, the National Band Association, the American School Band Director Association, and Phi Beta Mu.