Creating outstanding music since 1905...
History of Directors
BAND
1966 - 1975 | Tom Hall
1973 - 1976 | Richard Uthmann
1976 - 1987 | Tom Hope
1987 - 1988 | Bart Ellis
1988 - 1997 | Craig Solbrack
1997 - 2004 | George Larsen
2004 - 2014 | Craig Gustafson
2014 - 2021 | Daniel Hartley
2021 - present | Derek White
CHOIR
0000 - 1977 | Howard Meharg
1977 - 1985 | Tim Russell
1985 - 1987 | Dennis Boaglio
1987 - 1988 | Alex Hurt
1988 - 2004 | Steve Prothero
2004 - 2018 | Jeri Bridges
2018 - 2022| Colin Cossi
2022-present | Brent LiaBratten
ORCHESTRA
1965 - 1970 | Robert Pritchett
1970 - 1973 | Ronald Joslin
1973 - 2006 | George Simonsen
2006 - 2011 | Bruce Williamson
2011 - 2012 | Kari Giorgi
2012 - 2018 | Martin Krusniak
2018 - 2021 | Josef Ward
2021 - 2022 | Derek White
2022-present | Roylan Messenger
Department Accomplishments
1972 - 1973
The Kelso Band receives a telegram from the Mexican Government declaring them as one of the top sixteen bands in the USA. The band travels to Mexico City to compete in an international competition and takes first place under the direction of Tom Hall.
1982 - 1983
The Kelso Marching Band drumline wears Kilts for the first time during performances .
1997 - 1998
The Kelso Band travels to Disneyland under the direction of George Larsen.
2014 - 2015
Kelso band splits into two bands: Concert Band & Wind Ensemble.
24 band students compete in the regional SWWMEA Solo & Ensemble Festival, 7 of them are selected for WMEA State Solo & Ensemble Festival at CWU in Ellensburg.
2015 - 2016
Kelso High School reinstates Percussion Ensemble as a class.
The Kelso Wind Ensemble performs at the University of Washington Pacific Northwest Band Festival for the first time.
The Kelso Jazz Ensemble travels to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho.
54 band students compete in the regional SWWMEA Solo & Ensemble Festival, 22 of them are selected for WMEA State Solo & Ensemble Festival at CWU in Ellensburg.
2016 - 2017
The Kelso Marching Band competes in the NWAPA McKenzie Classic and takes High Visual, High Auxiliary, and 2nd Place in the A Division.
The Kelso Marching Band takes 1st place for "Athletic Entertainment" in the 2016 Longview Christmas Parade.
The Kelso Jazz Ensemble (KJE) performs at the Clark College Jazz Festival. Sophomore bassist, Isaac Ford, takes home an award for Outstanding Soloist.
76 band students compete in the regional SWWMEA Solo & Ensemble Festival.
The Kelso Wind Ensemble ties for First Place with WF West at the SWWMEA Large Group Band Festival at Lower Columbia College. They competed against 19 bands.