Ensembles/Staff
Ensembles
Symphonic Band
The ensemble is audition-based meets during the school day for 50 minutes. The Symphonic Band performs at concerts and festivals throughout the year. Symphonic Band members work on the fundamentals of musicianship and playing an instrument, and prepare many pieces throughout the school year.
Concert Band
This is not audition-based and meets during the school day for 50 minutes. The Concert Band performs at concerts and festivals throughout the year. Concert Band members focus on the fundmentals of music reading, performing, and playing an instrument. They prepare many pieces throughout the school year.
Percussion Ensemble
An ensemble made up of entirely percussionists. Every percussionist is in percussion ensemble class, and meets for 50 minutes every day. Students in percussion ensemble work on the fundamentals of music reading, mallet playing, and battery playing. They learn many pieces and perform at various concerts and festivals throughout the year.
Beginning Band
A band class for students who want to learn an instrument, no experience required. Students in beginning band meet during the school day for 50 minutes and are provided an instrument from the school. The class is a semester long, but students are encouraged to take it multiple semesters in a row.
Students who take beginning band for a year are able to join other ensembles and become fully-fledged members of the MCHS Band!
Marching Band
The Marching Maroon and White is a competitive marching band. All band students are required to take marching band as it is part of the school curriculum. Students in marching band receive a PE exemption for their participation.
The Marching Band rehearses over the summer and after school. They perform at every home football game, assemblies, corn fest, and marching band competitions throughout the year.
Jazz Band
Jazz band is an extracurricular ensemble that reharses after school. Students in jazz band work on the fundamentals of jazz style and improvisation. The jazz band performs at concerts and festivals throughout the year.
Chamber Music
Student run groups of varied instrumentation that meet after school. (i.e. sax quartet, brass quintet, woodwind ensemble).Â
The individual accountability required of chamber musicians greatly improves their skills, and the like instrumentation allows for more specific techniques to be learned.
Meet Our Staff
Matthew Hendricks
Band Director
Mr. Hendricks became the band director at MCHS in 2022. Under his leadership the band program has expanded, with new ensembles like chamber music, jazz band, and beginning band being offered.
Mr. Hendricks works to provide quality musical instruction and experiences to his students. He also advocates for the program to ensure it's continued success.
Mr. Hendricks graduated from VanderCook College of Music with a B.S. in Music Education and a Performer's Certificate in Saxophone.