Students can join multiple ensembles throughout the year as a way of expanding their performance skills, enhancing their music appreciation, and participating with a broad group of musicians and performers.
Choose one of the ensemble links below to jump directly to that section:
Harrison Bands offers music education program for a variety of interests and skill levels. Students who sign up for band classes audition for band directors, who then make assignments to the large group ensembles, including Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble. These ensembles perform several concerts throughout the year, and also participate in Large Group Performance Evaluations (LGPE) in the spring semester.
For other ensembles, any band student may participate. Additional fees are required for small-group ensembles, including Color Guard, HIPE, Jazz Ensembles and Winter Guard. Jazz Ensemble is primarily a performance group, while Color Guard, Winter Guard and HIPE all include both performance and competitive programs.
Concert Band
The Concert Band is an extension of the Fall Wind Symphony that includes the percussion section. The literature for the ensemble ranges from grade 4 to grade 5 music. Each band class meets for ninety minutes every day within a four-period block schedule and typically perform 5-6 concerts per year. The Concert Band meets third period during the spring semester.
Fall Wind Symphony
The Fall Wind Symphony is a brass and woodwind techniques class. The curriculum for the class focuses on developing the technical skills needed for performing on brass and woodwind instruments as well as musicianship. Each band class meets for ninety minutes every day within a four-period block schedule and typically perform 5-6 concerts per year. The students also learn the music vocabulary used in the Harrison High School Bands. The Fall Wind Symphony meets fourth period during the fall semester.
Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band is an advanced ensemble including winds and percussion. The curriculum for the class focuses on technique and musicianship. Each band class meets for ninety minutes every day within a four-period block schedule and typically perform 5-6 concerts per year. The literature for the ensemble typically ranges from grade 5 to grade 6. The Symphonic Band meets first period during the fall and spring semesters.
Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble is Harrison’s highest advanced ensemble. The curriculum for the class focuses on technique and musicianship. Each band class meets for ninety minutes every day within a four-period block schedule and typically perform 5-6 concerts per year. The literature for the ensemble ranges from grade 5 to grade 6 including some of the finest collegiate and professional level literature available. The Wind Ensemble meets second period during the fall and spring semesters.
Color Guard
The Color Guard program at Harrison is an extra curricular activity that participates as a section in the nationally competitive marching band during the fall semester. Members learn and exhibit marching, music appreciation, dance, drill routines, choreography and more as part of the Guard unit. While many members have previous experience in dance, cheer, gymnastics, or music, no prior experience or training is required to join Color Guard. Winter Guard is an extension of this program, offered during the spring semester.
HIPE – Harrison Indoor Percussion Ensemble
The Harrison Indoor Percussion Ensemble (HIPE) consists of the marching percussion (or battery) and front ensemble (pit or frontline) sections of a marching band. HIPE marries elements of music performance, marching, and theater, and performs throughout the Spring semester.
Jazz Ensembles
The jazz program at Harrison is an extra curricular activity that consists of three separate big band ensembles. Each band meets one to two times outside of classes each week. The ensembles consist of the horn section (saxophone, trumpet, trombone) and the rhythm section (guitar, piano, bass guitar, drums and percussion) The Harrison Jazz Bands perform annually at the Night of Jazz event usually scheduled in February.
Winter Guard
The Harrison Winter Guard is a competitive ensemble representing Harrison each spring semester. Each group meets two to three times outside of classes each week. Members learn and exhibit marching, music appreciation, dance, drill routines, choreography and more as part of the Guard unit. While many members have previous experience in dance, cheer, gymnastics, or music, no prior experience or training is required to join Winter Guard.
