Music Department

CONCERT BAND PERFORMANCES
Christmas Concert
Spring Concert
Graduation

PEP BAND PERFORMANCES
Several Home Basketball Games
KMOX Shootout

JAZZ BAND PERFORMANCES
Ocktoberfest
Chicken and Dumpling Dinner
Christmas Concert
Spring Concert

Gibault's Band Director

Mr. Scott Ruppel, the band director, graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana with a bachelor's degree in music education. As a student, Mr. Ruppel taught at Traughber Junior High School and at Oswego High School in Oswego, IL. He now teaches all the music classes offered at Gibault and is determined to maintain the high standards of the concert and jazz bands.

"I want to show everyone who takes the [music appreciation] class the importance of music and how important it has been throughout history in all cultures," Mr. Ruppel said. "I want to show them how music can make a difference in their lives as well."

Gibault Band Soars to State Championship

On March 10, 2006 the Rockin’ Gibault Hawks Pep Band traveled to Peoria to perform at the Class A High School Basketball Championship being held at the Civic Center. The band arrived in the Exhibition Hall at the Peoria civic center to play under the World’s Biggest Basket for 20 minutes before moving on to perform songs during all four games on Saturday, including the Class A Championship game. Gibault was able to make this trip after being selected the number one band out of all the Class A bands that auditioned. Band director, Scott Ruppel, made the journey with only 39 of the 92 members and performed all day on the 11^th before returning home on the 12^th. Those Gibault students included: Alex Amann, Megan Bauer, Alex Birkner, Zach Brewer, Josh Burns, Nick Drinen, Kaitlin Fahy, Anna Fiore, Adam Fournie, Tom Funfsinn, Joey Glessner, Jeff Harrison, Spencer Harrison, Cliff Hayden, Michael Hoffman, Michelle Holle, Michael Huetsch, Alex Hughes, Steven Lupa, Lauren McManemy, Stephanie Metter, Sam Naumann, Jeremy Neff, Anna Osterhage, Krissy Paisley, Nathan Pelate, Kate Ramlose, Stephanie Raney, Sam Reitz, Craig Roever, Alex Rottler, Dakota Schutt, Ty Schutt, Abby Unverferth, Devin Wierschem, Lauren Wiser, Jake Wittenauer, Jon Wolf, and Sarah Yates.

In order to take this trip the students had to come together and raise over $4000. The students came back from the trip with songs of praise. Junior band member, Michelle Holle, said, “I loved it, we had so much fun! We played very well and were praised by many and acknowledged for our music.” The entire Gibault band would like to extend its gratitude to the community for helping them raise this money, and a big thanks to those who participated in their fundraiser at Papa Vito’s on February 27^th, helping them raise over $1400 on this night alone.

Written by Ann Taylor and Stephanie Hart, Class of 2007

Band Awards
IHSA State Official Pep Band 1994;1998; 2006
Pep Band Appearances at the Savvis Center: 1998-1999-2001-2002-2003-2004-2005-2006