Grove City High School Bands
Grove City, OH

George Edge, Director
Thomas Traini, Assistant Director
Walt Riesenberg, Assistant Directors
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The Directors
 
George Edge Director
 

George Edge has served as Director of Bands at Grove City High School in Grove City, Ohio, since 1987.  Mr. Edge is a native of Tipp City, Ohio, where he began his instrumental training under Stewart King. He attended Capital University, where he performed under the baton of Richard Suddendorf. He received his bachelor's degree in music education from Bowling Green State University, studying under Mark Kelly, and received his Master's Degree in music education from The Ohio State University (1984).

 

Mr. Edge is a member of the Music Educator's National Conference, the American School Band Director Association, the Ohio Music Education Association, Phi Beta Mu, and is a 1998 inductee to the American Bandmaster's Association. Prior to his position at Grove City, he was the director of bands and choirs for eight years at Newton High School in Pleasant Hill, Ohio.

 

In 1985, Mr. Edge's Newton High School band received the Best Overall Concert Band Award at the American School Band Director's Association's National Concert Band Contest adjudicated by Dr. Henry Begian, Mark Hinsley, and John Paynter. He was the 1986 National Recipient of the ASBDA Stanbury Award, given each year to one high school band director in the nation for outstanding achievement, and is the 1997 recipient of the Columbus Ohio Symphony Orchestra's Secondary School Music Educator Award.

 

Mr. Edge's bands have been directed/or adjudicated by many prominent composers and conductors including; Claude T. Smith, Francis McBeth, William Revelli, James Swearingen, Mark Kelley, Dr. Donald McGinnis, Ray Cramer, H. Robert Reynolds, Donald Hunsberger, Gary Lewis, Richard Blatti, and Frank Wickes. Mr. Edge has served as guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician around Ohio and the Midwest region. His wife, Sherron, teaches music in the Columbus Public Schools. They have two children, Andrew and Rebecca. Mr. and Mrs. Edge are active members of the Grove City Church of the Nazarene.

 

Career Highlights at GCHS:

  • The Symphonic Band performed for the 50th anniversary of the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.
  • The Marching Band performed in the 1990 and 2000 Tournament of Roses Parades in Pasadena, California. 
  • The Marching Band has earned over 60 Grand Champion awards, including awards for concert and marching performance at the 1993 and 1997 Musicfest Orlando Band Competitions in Orlando, Florida.
  • The bands have received superior ratings every year at the State and District large-group OMEA contests, and have consistently received Superior Division I ratings at each national contest they have entered.
Thomas Traini - Assistant Director
 

Thomas Traini has been assisting with the GCHS bands since 2001. He is also the orchestra director at GCHS and Jackson Middle School, directs one of the concert bands, and teaches brass students in the district's intermediate schools. Prior to coming to Grove City, Mr. Traini served as director of the Bloom-Carroll High School Band for four years. During his tenure, the BCHS Symphonic Band earned State superior ratings for the first time in over 25 years, and the Marching Band earned State superior ratings for the first time in that school's history.

 

Mr. Traini is a tuba player who earned his music education degree from The Ohio State University (1997). While in the OSU Marching Band he "dotted the i" in Script Ohio at the 1996 Michigan game and the 1997 Rose Bowl. Mr. Traini is himself a 1993 graduate of Grove City High School. His wife, Crystal, received her bachelors degree in music education from Capital University and taught band for three years at Waverly High School.  She now stays home to care for their two children, Alex and Colyn.

 
Walt Riesenberg - Assistant Director
 
Walter Riesenberg has taught at Grove City High School since 2003. He serves as the Director of Percussion Studies and Assistant Band Director.  He comes to us from Eastern Kentucky University where he served as graduate assistant responsible for teaching undergraduate percussion majors, the EKU drum line, and the EKU steel band.  Mr. Riesenberg received his undergraduate degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. 
 
 
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