Instrumental Music at CCHS

The Concord-Carlisle Regional High School Instrumental Music Program offers a wide variety of performance and academic music opportunities for, currently, nearly 250 students. Students enrolled in our instrumental ensembles strive for, and achieve, excellence while having fun playing their instruments with their friends in a positive social atmosphere. Participating in any of our instrumental performing organizations is an excellent way for students new to Concord-Carlisle to feel part of a group and make new friends. Whether a student is from Concord or Carlisle, is a freshman or a senior, plays flute or French horn, what is most important are the attitudes and skills that our students bring to the rehearsal room and the performance stage.

Instrumental performing groups include Orchestra, Concert Band, Repertory Band, Jazz Band 'A', Jazz Band 'B', Pep Band, and Pit Orchestra. Small ensembles, such as jazz combos and traditional chamber groups, are organized informally to meet student interests. The instrumental music program also contributes to an annual Broadway musical production by filling the Pit Orchestra. Recent productions included Damn Yankees, Oklahoma, Ragtime, Fiddler On The Roof, West Side Story, Barnum. and Evita.

CCHS students may opt to perform in only one performing group, such as Concert Band, or, if their schedule and talents permit, they may participate in many ensembles. Several of our students play in our Concert, Pep, and Jazz Bands, as well as in the Pit Orchestra. Students may also select academic music offerings, such as Music Technology or Music Theory. A new course, Chamber Music, will be offered in 2006-07 for students who wish to explore this musical genre in a more formal setting.

We are extremely proud of the fact that many Concord-Carlisle instrumental students are selected each year for Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) Junior, Senior, and All-State Festivals, and several have been chosen for participation in the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) All-Eastern and All-National organizations. A number of students also have auditioned for, and earned seats in the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra (GBYSO), the Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble (MYWE), and the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO) of the New England Conservatory. Many CCHS graduates continue their music at the university level in specific music fields of study, or by simply playing in their college bands or orchestras.

Concord-Carlisle instrumentalists are strongly encouraged to study privately, and many do so through a variety of sources, including the New England Conservatory Preparatory Division, Longy School of Music, and private studios in the greater Boston area. In addition, lessons with highly qualified musicians/ teachers are offered by Concord-Carlisle through an ancillary organization known as The Instrumental Music School of Concord and Carlisle (IMSCC). The Instrumental Music School offers convenient in-school facilities, a flexible schedule, and affordable lessons during and after school, as well as in the evenings.

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