West Lafayette Bands

06/14/2026

To thank Mr. Daning for all his years of running the band program at West Lafayette High School, the band boosters are organizing a potluck event for Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 5:30-7:30pm at the Cumberland Park shelter. Everyone is welcome -- band students past and present, and their families. Please let us know if you are able to contribute a dish, dessert, or drinks (non-alcoholic) at this SignUp page: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4CA5AB2DA3FB6-64526548-wlbands

We'll be providing the plates, napkins, cups, cutlery.

Please help spread the word and we look forward to seeing you there to wish Mr. Daning all the best in his future journeys!

Please contact Talin Lindsay at [email protected] regarding any questions.

Join us in thanking and saying farewell to Mr. Daning. We will have a potluck on Thursday, June 18th from 5:30-7:30pm at the Cumberland Park picnic shelter. Below please sign up to bring an item of your choice. Make sure to label your items with allergen alerts. Thank you!

06/03/2026

Message from Mr. Daning:

Dear West Lafayette Band members, parents, and community,

It is with the heaviest and saddest of hearts that I must inform you of my departure from West Lafayette Community Schools.

I have dedicated and devoted all of myself to West Lafayette Bands for the past 5 years, and I don’t regret a single moment! It has been the pleasure of a lifetime and my utmost honor to have taught you students, worked alongside you parents, and have interacted with the community during my tenure here. What you’ve given back to me in return, and what I’ve witnessed you give to each other, has been the most significant reward of my 13-year career. Our time together has truly been a blessing for me.

My new role as band director for the Lafayette Catholic School System, however, is now going to bestow that blessing on my family. I will be working alongside my wife, Gayle, who will now be teaching only choir and various music classes, my family will all be on the same calendar, and, most importantly, I will have much more time to spend with my three sons (ages 6, 4 and almost 2) as they enter some of the busiest years of their young lives. Between starting school, attending baseball and basketball camps, joining cub scouts, and exploring the beginnings of their interests, I’m really looking forward to gaining this extra time with them.

That being said, West Lafayette Bands has truly become a second family for me, and this decision was not an easy one. I’ve been lucky enough to watch the program grow from 230 students to an expecting 350, to watch many of you finish high school and graduate, to watch your amazing musical achievements, to watch many of you grow up and start to explore who you are…and like a proud parent, I count myself so fortunate to have witnessed it all!

I will continue in my role as co-director of bands through the month of June. The summer band concert on Friday, June 19 will be my last performance with West Lafayette (please come enjoy the concert and visit one last time, and buy some ice cream to support the music boosters!). My last day will then be the Indiana Beach trip the following Monday.

I will never forget my time here, your faces, or the wonderful things we accomplished together. You will all hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life. And although I will no longer be a Red Devil with you, I am, as I write this with you all in mind, overwhelmed with…

Red
Devil
Pride

Sincerely,
Mr. Kelso Daning

05/23/2026

Class of 2026,

We are so incredibly proud of you and all of your accomplishments that have led you to this moment, your high school graduation. We cannot wait to see all of the extraordinary things you accomplish in the future, and we look forward to following along on your journeys. ❤️🩶

You are leaving a lasting impact on WL Bands, and your presence, leadership, and dedication will be remembered for years to come. No matter where life takes you, you will always have a home here. Congratulations, graduates! 🎓

Your band directors,
Ms. Wening and Mr. Daning

05/18/2026

Congratulations WL Bands members who played their final concert with the Wabash Valley Youth Symphony (*seniors) tonight. And a special shout out to Jacob Elliott who was a featured soloist as the Concerto Winner for this cycle. Bravo to all on an excellent performance (second one of the day with our own concert earlier this afternoon)! Congrats Juliet Shaeffer*, Jacob Elliott*, Andrew Richards*, Ashnah Rose, Six Yother*, Julian Garcia-Haugland*, Jonathan Roh, Cailyn Cho*, Oshin Lindsay, Finnan White*, Joel Haley*, Joey Goodspeed, and David Yin*

05/17/2026

Final concert today! Every grade level band from 5th through High School are featured. RDP!

05/15/2026

We’re ready for the Spring Band Festival this Sunday at 2:00 pm. Shout out to a few awesome students who helped directors set up throughout the day today!

05/12/2026

We kicked off marching band this week for the Sound of West Side 🎶 We have some great kids!

05/11/2026

Come join us!!! 🎶