Curricular Ensembles

Our mission is to promote excellence in music, to build trust in each other,  demonstrate personal integrity and  develop a sense of community.  We strive to provide each member with the opportunity to experience growth and success in individual musicianship through the performance of a broad range of musical styles and genres.  Our band community promotes Self Awareness, Social-Awareness, Self-Management, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making as a natural consequence of the group music-making experience.  

Ridge High School has three curricular ensembles. Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble. All students who are accepted in to the Wind Ensemble receive honors credit and 11-12th graders in Symphonic Band may audition for honors credit as well.

• Concert Band: 

  • Grade Level: Primarily 9th grade; open to upperclassmen with scheduling conflicts.

  • Repertoire Level: Grade II-III+ (advanced middle school/beginning high school).

  • Focus: Instrumental techniques, ensemble discipline, and appreciation of instrumental literature.

  • Purpose: Prepares students for Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble in grades 10-12.

• Symphonic Band:

  • Grade Level: Primarily 10th-12th grade; 9th graders may join by recommendation for balanced instrumentation.

  • Prerequisites: Minimum of one year in Concert Band or Director's recommendation.

  • Repertoire Level: Grade III-IV (standard for high school bands)

  • Focus: Instrumental techniques, ensemble discipline, and appreciation of instrumental literature.

  • Honors Symphonic Band:

    • Grade Level: 11-12

    • Prerequisites: Successful audition, or Director's recommendation.

    • Focus: More rigorous curriculum with advanced materials and assessments to meet honors curriculum requirements.

• Honors Wind Ensemble:

  • Grade Level: 9-12

  • Prerequisites: Acceptance by audition and instrumentation considerations.

  • Repertoire Level: Grade IV-VI (advanced, college/professional level).

  • Focus: Mastery of advanced wind and percussion literature; emphasis on personal and musical maturity.

  • Opportunities: Perform with Symphony Orchestra (woodwind, brass, percussion parts).