WARREN, Pa. – Throughout the school year, the YDL Sports Network will be highlighting different bands in District 9 and District 10 sponsored by TapNPay+.
First, a little about TapNPay+
TapNPay+ is a fundraising company located out of Pittsburgh whose motto is Fundraising made easy! Earn more funds in less time with nothing to sell, hand out or collect. Earning money for your club, team, or organization – not just sports but any organization – is as easy as signing up with TapNPay+ and downloading their app. Find out more at tapnpayplus.com
You can nominate your band here (It is not a competition, one nomination is sufficient)
See previous Bands of the Week
NOV. 1, 2023 BAND OF THE WEEK – OIL CITY
Band Director:Dan Cartwright
Band Members: 98
Student Leadership
- Matthew Myers – Drum Major
- Sydney Miller- Drm Major
- Liberty Rickenbach – Band Front Captain
- Hailey Hartsell – Band Front Captain
- Shalynn Whittemore – Flute Section Leader
- Jayden Hall – Clarinet Section Leader
- Julie Ash – Saxes Section Leader
- Baylee Spencer – Trumpet Section Leader
- Gabe Rankin – Low Brass Section Leader
- Simon Burkett – Percussion Section Leader
- Gabe Ritchey – Percussion Section Leader
- Lucas Nuhfer – Equipment Manager
- Matthias Hawkin – Libraian
- Mackenzie Canaan – New Member Coordinator
- Gracie Brown – New Member Coordinator
- Jordan Rogers – Uniform Manager
- Wyatt Stoffer – Uniform Manager
Does your band compete? If so what class and in what competitions?
- We are a AAA, non-competitive, exhibition band.
What is your theme for this season?
- “Starstruck!” Featuring: Sky Full of Stars All Star Counting Stars
What is your school’s fight song?
- Oil City High School is fortunate to have two fight songs, composed specifically for our school with lyrics. “OCHS” and “Allegheny” were composed by former Oil City music teacher, Phil Runzo in the 1940s.
What are some other tunes you play to hype your football team up on game days? —
- The Oilers are brought onto the field each week with “Seven Nation Army”.
- “The Final Countdown”
- “Imperial March”
- “Looney Tunes”
- “Apache”
- “Night Train”,
- “Happy Oiler Time”
What does it look like for a band member under those Friday Night Lights?
- As a band we are not only there for halftime. Yes, halftime is when we perform but, we are also there for the music in between plays and timeouts. It is an opportunity for kids to feel a part of a team. – Sydney Miller, Drum Major
- For a band member, under those Friday night lights, the fun doesn’t end. Win or lose the band is there to support the team and have a good time. Watching the dedication of every performer pay off is incredible. From the time of walking into the stadium to walking onto the field for the halftime show, then to walking off the field and listening to the parents of both football and band parents cheering for the band is just amazing. Sitting in those stands watching the games, playing stand ditties, & performing halftime are some of my fondest memories of high school so far and I’m sure will be for a very long time. – Matthew Myers – Drum Major
What are some traditions your band has?:
- The Marching Pride of Oil City, also known as the OMB, performs throughout Western Pennsylvania as musical ambassadors for our school, community, and Venango County.
- “Where it’s halftime all night long!” We host our annual show, Music in Oil Country, one of Northwest PA’s largest marching band exhibitions that attracts over 10 high school and college marching bands, bringing over 600 performers to our athletic complex, the Oil Field. The show is held the Saturday after Labor Day, which is typically the third week of the varsity football season.
- The Stadium March occurs at home events where we process around the school to the stadium heralding the entrance of the band and cheerleaders with the playing of our school fight songs as we circle the track to the home grandstands.
- “The Colors” is a large flag bearing the name Oil City Oilers that is held by a different senior during the march to the performance and the return to the school or buses after every event. The Colors continue to fly during the event as the band is “in session”.
- At the end of home games, we perform the “5th Quarter” where we reprise our show songs to keep the energy from the game going into the post-game atmosphere as the teams and fans exit. This has grown to include its own crowd of spectators that remain for the performance.
- After an Oiler win, the band is joined by the team and cheerleaders for the playing and singing of our Alma Mater.
What are some of the band’s goals moving forward? —
- One of the largest organizations within the school district, we do our best to have as many Oilers involved in the OMB as possible. We would like to see the band’s numbers continue to rise in the years to come.
- We strive to be the best ambassadors we can to represent Oil City High School, the Oil City Area School District, the greater community of Oil City, Venango County, and all of Northwest Pennsylvania’s Oil Region with spirit and pride!
Watch the Band
Band Pictures
