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April 27, 2017 - April 29, 2017

Rider High School Auditorium




Electronica at a Glance


The History of Electronica
The History:
Acknowledgements
Electronica began as an idea in early 2010. Band Director, Loy Studer had been
looking for a way to provide the percussion students with a deeper, richer musical

education than what they were able to get in a normal band class. He wanted
them to be participating on their instruments as much as the wind players.
Successful productions do not just happen. It takes
Combining the idea of the traditional percussion ensemble recital with inspiration the time and support of many individuals and groups.
from professional stage shows like Blue Man Group, Stomp and Blast! the idea of
ELECTRONICA was born. So to all of you, thank you.

In that first year in 2010, our goal was to be able to put together a show that was
Dee Palmore, Principal Rider High School
different than anything that our students had done, anything we had done and
was different that anything the community had seen. Even from the very Montie Carroll, Admin. Asst. Rider High School
beginning, the community and the school district was very supportive. So on May
th
Michael Kuhrt, WFISD Superintendent of Schools
6 , 2010 Wichita Falls was introduced to the little green faced characters that
Kelly Strenski, WFISD Director of Fine Arts
changed performance in this town. The very first performance of ELECTRONICA
took place at the historic Wichita Theatre to a packed house of 900 school Rider Administration and Staff
children. A very fitting audience since the entire show has always been about Percussion Students & Parents
bringing music making to children; whether small or large. That evening, every
Student Leaders
single seat in the theatre was SOLD OUT to paying members of the community.
The first year was a huge success and started something bigger than we had ever Al & Cheryl Dawson
dreamed. Tabitha Cahanin

Adam Lynskey
The following year in 2011, we were faced with the challenge of not only doing a
show but growing a show and exceeding the expectations of a community that Dean Savage
was now excited and looking forward to ELECTRONICA. In 2011, the show was Candice Sawyer
titled, ELECTRONICA:Dreamscape. The show followed the dreams and
Dawn Thompson
nightmares that happened in the head of a young boy. It featured an even more
intense light show and a strong story line that tied all of the pieces together. One Ross Harrison
of the favorite pieces of that year was a song that only used flashlights. The Jessica Studer
second year was bigger than the first. We performed two packed shows for the
Craig & Charla Vincent
elementary students from WFISD and did two weekends of shows for the
community. First Baptist Church
Nathan Savage
One of our underlying goals with ELECTRONICA has always been to blur the line
between where the stage ends and the audience begins. We have always tried to
be very creative in how we use the performance space and interact and involve the
audience member. So, in 2012 we really pushed the boundaries of expectations
and moved into the Wichita Falls Museum Art for a week to perform
ELECTRONICA: In the Gallery. This show gave the performers and the audience a
very intimate experience with each other where sometimes they were just inches
apart. Drawing inspiration from the artwork in the museum, each of the pieces of
music was based on an exhibit. The audience and the show moved throughout the
museum from gallery to gallery.


The History of Electronica
The Instruments

In 2013, the showed was hosted at the Backdoor Theatre in downtown Wichita

Falls. The theater was chosen for its quirky and intimate space. By this time
ELECTRONICA had a loyal following of fans - so much so, that even with extra
Yamaha Subwoofer Speaker Zildjian Crash Cymbals shows, fans had to be turned away due to the high volume of participation. The
Yamaha System Speaker Zildjian Suspended Cymbal show that year was titled, ELECTRONICA: Into the Storm and featured special
Yamaha Digital Mixing Paiste Hi Hats guest cameos from local TV weather personalities Skip McBride and Bryan Rupp.
Console Brake Drums
th

By the 4 year of the show the level of performance had grown so much that it took
almost two semi-trailers full of percussion equipment to move all of it from the
Yamaha Power Amp Cowbell
school to the theatre!
Roland Juno-Gi Synthesizer Ratchet
MalletKat LP Granite Blocks In 2014, ELECTRONICA:Timepiece V brought the extravaganza home to
iPad Treeworks Wind Chimes Rider High School. Again using the creative, outside-of-the-box thinking
Apple Macbook LP Vibraslap that has always been a key element of ELECTRONICA, we were able to
Yamaha Pro01V96 Digital Sleigh Bells transform a small, challenging performance space into the perfect setting
Mixing Console Tambourine for the show. With the fifth show, we moved back in time toward our roots
Synthesizer EW100 wireless LP Cabasa of a Broadway style show while moving it forward in time with intense art
pieces. Attendance was at an all-time high as was the level of
microphones and receivers Metal Shaker
performance. As always, the show was popular with the elementary school
Yamaha DTX 12 Toca Timbales
children and the community.
Musser M360 Xylophone Remo Ocean Drum
Adams 4.3 Soloist Marimba Toca Conga In 2015, Electronica took us on a journey from the Pridelands in Africa to
Deagan 9190 Chimes LP Maracas tiny bugs of the jungle floor to the majesty of the ocean in ELECTRONICA:
Musser M65 Bell Set LP Matador Bongos Unleashed. This exploration of the environment and “living things” of our
Zidjian Crotales Claves world was staged in our very own Rider auditorium, which was transformed
Timpani Stools by the sounds of thunder and rain, dangerous beasts and the fragility of the
Flute MacBook Pro life cycle, culminating in a rousing jungle party at the end.
Tenor Saxophone
Each year as the show has grown, we have always been committed to

continually finding new music and performance opportunities. We have

always found new ways to involve the crowd and make their experience
second to none. We have challenged ourselves creatively and asked our
students to go beyond what they ever though was possible. We have
strived to incorporate more and more technology and have increased the
demand on it while always holding firm to classical training.

John Dawson

College: University of Texas

Major: Music

“There are no two words in the English language more harmful than “good job”. -
Whiplash

Colin Hardison

Act 1:


College: Midwestern State University
Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne Major: Music

“Music is everyone’s possession. It’s only publishers who think that people own it.” –
Beat It - Michael Jackson John Lennon


In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins Abby Love

The Sound of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel College: Vernon College

Major: Education

Big Love - Lindsay Buckingham “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good ole days, before you’ve actually
left them.” – Andy Bernard

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd Dru Sawyer

Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

Hotel California - The Eagles College: University of Texas San Antonio
Major: Business Management

“Enjoy the present, each moment, as it comes; because you’ll never get another one quite
like it. And if you should ever look up and find yourself lost, simply take a breath and
start over. Retrace your steps and go back to the purest place in your heart….where your

hope lives. You’ll find your way again.” - Rory Gilmore

Act 2:


Hello Goodbye - The Beatles

Kashmir, Good Times, Bad Times, Rock and Roll – Led

Zeppelin

Africa - Toto

Wipeout - The Surfaris

The Senior Performers of Electronica would like to say thank Miserlou - Dick Dale
you, on the behalf of all the crew and performers, to all the
directors and parents who have helped make this production Surfin’ U.S.A. - The Beach Boys
possible. Without the guidance and patience of Loy Studer,
Michael Walta, and Geoff Martin we would have either gone
crazy or never have gotten it all done in time! Although we
Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
have practiced more than 3,000 combined hours it was worth
all of it to share our compassion for music with you the
audience.



The Directors
Michael Walta

This is Michael Walta’s seventh year as Assistant Director with the Rider High School
band program. In addition to assisting Mr. Studer with the administration of the band
Loy Studer program, he directs the Symphonic Band, is co-director of the Cadet Band, is co-
director of the Jazz band, teaches beginning classes at McNiel, as well as assists in
Loy Studer has been the Director of Bands and Orchestra at S.H. Rider High School in teaching the Marching Band. Mr. Walta is affiliated with the Texas Music Educators
Wichita Falls, Texas since 2006 where he is responsible for overseeing the overall band Association. He also serves as an adjudicator for TMEA District, Region, and Area Band
and orchestra program which includes eleven different performing groups. This is Mr. auditions.
th
Studer’s 20 year of being a public school teacher in Texas. A 1997 graduate of the
University of North Texas College of Music, Mr. Studer has had the privilege of Prior to working at Rider High School, Mr. Walta was the Assistant Director at Alvord
teaching in the Lewisville ISD, the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD High School, in Alvord, Texas. He taught elementary music, Beginning Band, and
as the Associate Director of Bands at Colleyville Heritage High School and in Junior High Band, as well as assisted with the High School Band.
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD as the Director of Bands and founding director at
Ranchview High School. Mr. Walta is originally from Hennessey, Oklahoma. He received his Bachelor of Music
degree from Oklahoma State University. While at Oklahoma State, Mr. Walta studied
Mr. Studer feels very fortunate to have been associated with many groups that have trombone under Professor Paul Compton. As a member of the trombone ensemble, he
been able to experience a tremendous amount of success. Along with numerous UIL performed at multiple venues throughout the United States. He performed with the
Sweepstakes in both band and orchestra, Mr. Studer has had groups that have Symphonic Band under the direction of Dr. Joseph Missal, the Cowboy Marching Band,
performed at the UIL State Wind Ensemble Festival, been a finalist at the UIL State Jazz Band, and Spirit Band. He was also a frequent substitute for the Enid Symphony
Marching Band Contest, been finalist at the UIL Area Marching Band contest numerous Orchestra. Mr. Walta resides in Wichita Falls with his wife Janelle and 4 year old son,
times, been Bands of America Regional Finalist, been Grand Champion at several Aiden, and their baby girl, Kinsley.
Music Festivals and have been featured at the Midwest International Band and
Orchestra Clinic. In 2015 Mr. Studer was a quarterfinalist for the Grammy Foundation Geoffrey Martin –
National Teacher of the Year. Along with these awards and competitions, Mr. Studer
has been fortunate to have groups travel to many destinations including, San Antonio

and Corpus Christi, Texas, Orlando, Florida, Washington D.C., Chicago, Illinois, London Geoffrey Martin is currently in his fourth year as the Assistant Director of Bands and
and now Boston, MA! Percussion Coordinator for Rider High School. His responsibilities include teaching and
designing for the Marching Band, coordination and teaching of the Percussion
In addition to his normal teaching responsibilities, Mr. Studer feels that it is important Ensembles, co-directing the Jazz Band, as well as teaching the beginning percussion
to contribute to Rider High School. Currently he serves on the Site Based Decision and clarinet at McNiel Junior High. Prior to teaching at Rider, Mr. Martin was a
Making Committee, is the Chairman of The Happening and is the past Co-Chair of the Marching Percussion Technician for several bands around the Tulsa, OK area, including
School of Choice Tours for Rider. In the fall of 2010, the Rider Senior Class selected Mr. Skiatook High School, Catoosa High School, and Broken Arrow High School. In
Studer as the Honorary Mr. Raider. addition to teaching and designing for marching band, Mr. Martin also teaches private
lessons and percussion masterclasses around Texas and Oklahoma.
The most important thing in Mr. Studer’s life is his family. Having met his wife, Jessica,
while attending the University of North Texas, she has been a constant source of Mr. Martin graduated from the University of Tulsa with a Bachelor of Music Education
strength and encouragement for him. Together the Studer’s have two beautiful, smart Degree and studied percussion under the direction of Tom McGillen.
and talented daughters, Caleigh (17) and Lilly (15). The family is happiest when they are
all together (and dad is not doing “band stuff”) and they are at Disney World. In addition to teaching percussion, Geoffrey is currently the Electronic Designer and
Audio Consultant for the 2013 Drums Corps International World Champion, Carolina
Crown.