Our Program
a little about us...
Approximately 400 students are enrolled in the Bartlesville band program. Students have the opportunity to join our band program as 6th grade students at one of two middle schools. All 6th grade classes are divided by instrument and taught by a highly qualified specialist. Beginning in 7th & 8th grades, our students have the opportunity to meet in full ensemble settings and are team-taught each day, learning important musical skills with a strong focus on discipline, accountability and the pursuit of excellence.
At the high school, all 9th-12th grade band members participate in the Bruin Brigade, our marching band. Students interested in the winter guard activity also have the opportunity to participate in our award winning winter guard program. All 9th-12th grade instrumentalists participate in one of two concert bands we offer. Our Wind Symphony is our varsity ensemble featuring the top auditioned 10th-12th grade students and was recently honored at the 2020 OkMEA State Music Conference as an honor group with a performance on stage at the Tulsa PAC. Our Symphonic Band is our non-varsity ensemble that features all 9th grade students and any 10th-12th grade students not in the Wind Symphony. Our percussion program features a steel pan band and the opportunity to play collegiate level literature in small and large ensemble settings.
The Bruin Brigade has competed in the Bands of America Super Regional in St. Louis 5 times, has been a finalist at the OBA State Marching Band Championships and has appeared in the Easter Festival Parade in Maastricht, Holland, as well as New Years Day Parades in London, England & Rome, Italy, and the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Dublin, Ireland.
Check out our travel page for a complete list of our continental and international travel.
Our winter guard program is known for a high level of excellence, having been named state champions twice. This is a completely extra-curricular group that meets outside the school day from November through April. All 8th-12th grade students, regardless of band enrollment are allowed to audition in November for this fun and rewarding group.
Our percussion program is recognized throughout the country for regularly performing at the collegiate level, with BHS percussion students appearing alongside several of the top American percussion artists. The BHS Steel Pan Band was one of the first high school ensembles of its kind in Oklahoma and has been featured in London, England and multiple times at the University of Oklahoma Steel Pan Festival.
Both HS concert bands regularly attend the OSSAA State Concert Band & Sight-Reading Contest each spring and earn the highest ratings while playing challenging literature. The bands combined in 2009 with the orchestra to tour and perform throughout Germany and Austria. One or both bands have been awarded the OSSAA Sweepstakes Award 8 times in the last 10 years for earning superior ratings in marching, concert and sight-reading competition.
Our students' level of participation and success in All-District Honor Band Auditions, All-State Band Auditions and Solo-Ensemble events are great examples of our philosophy. A large percentage of our students participate in these extra-curricular events, regularly earning the highest ratings and our program places some of the highest numbers of students in our All-District and All-State Bands each year. Our students also practice these tenets through their academic pursuits and display of character, being recognized as BHS students of the month, local civic club students of the month, Homecoming attendants, Academic All-Staters, Arts Excellence awards recipients, college scholarship recipients and more.
Click here for our BHS Band Mission Statement.