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WIND ENSEMBLE
Lewis C. Kelly, Director

Wind Ensemble is a select group, offering students opportunities for self-actualization through total involvement in musical aesthetics: appreciation through performance, repertoire, interpretation, trained hearing and response. Students perform music literature from many cultures and periods, in a variety of styles, including orchestral transcripts, solo concertos with accompaniment, chamber music, marches, and modern compositions. Serious high school musicians will be challenged to perform at Level 5 (NJMEA standard). They will develop self-awareness and learn how to self-evaluate through the higher level warm-ups and grade appropriate literature along with weekly small group lessons.

West Orange High School offers an Honors Wind Ensemble program that is focused on solo and small ensemble playing. Any member of the Wind Ensemble may participate in the program. Honors Wind Ensemble is a weighted course designed to challenge outstanding musicians already in the Wind Ensemble to expand their musical knowledge and performing abilities beyond the class repertoire. Through individually designed contracts approved by the instructor, each student will be required to prepare and perform appropriate literature for two recitals during the school year. Jury examinations will be given in the second and fourth marking periods. Click here for the Honors Wind Ensemble Handbook.


SYMPHONIC WINDS
Erin E. McClure, Director

The activities of The Symphonic Winds are designed to satisfy specific standards and requirements of higher performance criteria for a high school band. Repertoire includes selections at Level 4 (NJMEA standard) in contemporary and traditional compositions. Students will be challenged to play music of greater difficulty resulting in a higher level of proficiency in the following concrete areas: rhythm, pitch, articulation, dynamics, phrasing, and intonation, through use of the warm-up book, and the band literature. Students will learn to play more maturely in abstract areas such as personal creativity, expression and technical proficiency. They will develop self-awareness and learn how to self-evaluate through the higher level warm-ups and grade appropriate literature along with weekly small group lessons.


CONCERT BAND
Erin E. McClure, Director

The Concert Band is an instrumental ensemble that emphasizes performance of challenging literature written for band, or transcriptions from orchestral works. Repertoire includes selections at Level 3 (NJMEA standard) in contemporary and traditional compositions. Students will further develop their musicianship through interpretation, trained hearing and response. Musicality, technique, phrasing and the ability to analyze form are major areas to be stressed. They will develop self-awareness and learn how to self-evaluate through the higher level warm-ups and grade appropriate literature along with weekly small group lessons.


9TH GRADE BAND
Lewis C. Kelly, Director

Ninth Grade Band is designed to give students the opportunity to perform standard band literature, practice self-discipline, enhance intellectual abilities, and develop their musical skills. Basic musical aspects, such as rhythm, technique and note reading, are emphasized through an exploration of works from different cultures and periods, from the baroque era through contemporary styles. They will develop self-awareness and learn how to self-evaluate through the higher level warm-ups and grade appropriate literature along with weekly small group lessons.

Honors Students - Please read the Band Honors Policy Guide - click here for the document.

Please continue to check this page regularly, updates will be made throughout the school year.

For more information about the curricular bands of West Orange High School, please refer to the WOHS Band Handbook -  please click this link.