Our Philosophy

Music education at Oak Park and River Forest High School is an essential part of a well-balanced curriculum.  It can contribute significantly toward the expansion of personal identity.  Our course offerings provide students the opportunity to develop performing and listening skills through interaction with musical art of high quality and variety.

The objectives of a music program include the following:

*to provide the student opportunities to interact with fine musical art.

*to provide the student the opportunity to discover the processes and

  disciplines involved in pursuing excellence in artistic endeavors.

*to transmit our cultural heritage to succeeding generations.

*to provide an outlet for student creativity and self-expression.

*to give the student a source of enjoyment for use throughout life and

  to enhance the quality of life.

*to teach them accountability through performance and commitment

Semaj Coleman, Fine & Applied Arts Chair       434-3297 scoleman@oprfhs.org

Anthony Svejda, Instrumental Music                    434-3101 asvejda@oprfhs.org

Meredith McGuire, Choral Music                          434 3204 mmcguire@oprfhs.org

Patrick Pearson, Instrumental Music                     434-3202 ppearson@oprfhs.org

Brendon Culloton, Instrumental Music                 434-3100 bculloton@oprfhs.org

The OPRF Band Program consists of 4 curricular concert bands (Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, and Wind Ensemble), 1 curricular jazz band (Jazz Ensemble), and 3 co-curricular bands (Jazz Band II, Marching Band, and Pep Band). 

Concert Bands

Concert Band is our all freshman ensemble. If you play a band instrument and have had at least 1 year of instruction either privately or in a middle school group, you may participate in this ensemble. No audition necessary. If you are a freshman and interested in a challenge, you may audition for Wind Symphony. Auditions for this ensemble are in February of each year. Any sophomore through senior instrumentalist can take Symphonic Band. This is a non-auditioned ensemble. The Wind Symphony is by audition only and consists of all levels freshman through senior instrumentalists. Auditions are in Feburary of each calendar year. The Wind Ensemble is our capstone course for bands. This ensemble is also by audition only and consists of sophomores through senior instrumentalists. In rare cases, we can accommodate piano players in all our curricular band classes. 

Jazz Ensemble 

Jazz Ensemble is our curricular jazz band and is by audition only. This group consists of all levels including freshman through senior instrumentalists. If you play saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass, guitar, piano, or drum set you may auditition to participate in this group.

Co-curricular groups

Jazz Band II is our co-curricular club that meets every Tuesday after school starting in September of each year. No auditions necessary to participate. If you play saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass, guitar, piano, drum set, flute or clarinet you may participate in this group.

Marching Huskies is an all volunteer co-curricular marching band club. No auditions are necessary to particpate. The only requirement is that you must be enrolled in a curricular music class to participate for at least the first two years of high school. This ensemble includes a unique group called Colorguard. This group is exempt from the curricular music class requirement and does not need past instrumental experience. Marching band performs for all home football games as well as competes in 3-4 competitions and lasts for the 1st quarter of the school year. NOTE: This group has Mandatory summer rehearsals. 

Pep Band is an all volunteer co-curricular club. No auditions are necessary to particpate. This group plays for all varisty basketball games. 

October

24  Tues.     Concert Competition Finals in Auditorium 7pm

27  Fri.            Chicago Wind Symphony Rehearsal - 6:30pm-7:15pm  (WE only)

28  Sat.         Chicago Wind Symphony Rehearsal/Performance – 4:15pm-5:00pm, 7pm  (WE only)

November                  

2    Thur.        Jazz Band II, Jazz Combo, & Jazz Ensemble Concert (Auditorium)

7    Tues.         District 97 Concert in Auditorium (OPRF Wind Ensemble only) 7pm

12  Sun.           Marching Band Bowling Fundraiser 1-4pm Circle Lanes

14  Tues.  Marching Band Awards Banquet (6pm south cafe)

16  Thurs.        Choral Concert

11  Sat.            ILMEA District Jazz Festival (All Day– Homewood Flossmoor)

18  Sat.          IMEA District Band, Orchestra, Choir Festival

                        @ Elmhurst College – All Day                   

20th-25th DISNEY’S Thanksgiving Day Parade of Bands Tour (MB only)

December               

6  Wed.       ALL PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLES Prisms of Winter Dress Rehearsal

                     REHEARSAL 3:30pm-end

7&8 Thurs. & Fri. ALL PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLES Prisms of Winter Concert                                   

     Call time 6:30pm, Performance starts at 7pm both nights

January                        

19th-20th        10th Annual Jazz Ensemble Jazz Tour (Purdue Jazz Festival)

24-27th         IMEA All-State (Peoria)

February

1   Thur.      Band Placement Auditions 

6   Tues.         Jazz II & Ensemble, Brooks, Julian, & Roosevelt Jazz Concert (Little Theatre)

10 Sat, Batavia High School Band Festival 

(afternoon - Wind Symphony only)

March                          

2-3 Sat.-Sun.   Spring Musical

8-9  Fri.-Sat.    Spring Musical

18  Mon.      Concert & String Orchestra Concert NEW DATE

20  Wed.          Concert Band, Symphonic Band & Wind Symphony Concert

21  Thurs.    Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra Concert   

April             

11   Thurs.   Choir Concert

13   Sat. Chicagoland Band Invitational @ Hersey High School (Wind Ensemble only)

19   Fri.          Swing Dance @ 19th Century Club – Jazz Band II & Ensemble 7:30-10pm

25   Thurs.     Vocal Jazz Concert

May

7    Tues.         Concert & Symphony Orchestra Concert

8    Wed.         Concert and Symphonic Band Concert

9    Thurs.        Wind Ensemble & Wind Symphony Concert

13  Mon.          Jazz Band II, Jazz Combo, & Jazz Ensemble Concert (Scoville Park)

16  Thurs.        Choral Concert

27  Mon.         Memorial Day Parade (MB only)

All Concert Ticket link: https://oprfhs.ticketleap.com/

NOTE: Questions? Please email tickets@oprfhs.org