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

Tracy Van Duinen, Fine & Applied Arts Chair       434-3297 tvanduinen@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. 

September

2   Tues.             Jazz Band II Begins at 4:30pm-5:30pm in Band Room

25 Thurs.           Ryan Cohan Guest Performance and Masterclass for all Band/Orchestra Students 4th-8th periods

October

1    Wed.            Deadline for online IMEA Auditions for Choir, Band, Orchestra, & Jazz 

7    Tues.            Concerto Competition Prelims After School in Choir Room

14  Tues.            HUSKIE MUSICFEST 25’ (All performing groups)

28  Tues.            Concert Competition Finals in Auditorium 7pm

November                     

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

8 Sat.                 IMEA District Band, Orchestra, Choir Festival @ Elmhurst College 

9 Sun.                Marching Band Bowling Fundraiser TBD

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

15 Sat.               ILMEA District Jazz Festival (All Day)– Argo Community High School

18 Tues.             Prisms of Winter Small Ensemble Auditions after school

19 Wed.             Vocal Jazz Showcase Concert

20 Thurs.           Fall Choir Concert

December

5 Fri.                 Song Writing Showcase

10 Wed.             Prisms of Winter mandatory TECH 3:30 pm

11&12               Thurs. & Fri. ALL PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLES 

ALL PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLES Prisms of Winter CONCERT

Call time 6:30pm, Performance starts at 7pm both nights, (Prisms Assembly)

January

23rd-24th           Annual Jazz Ensemble Jazz Tour (Purdue Jazz Festival)

28th– 31st          IMEA All-State (Peoria) Jazz Ensemble Performs Th. 1/29 at 4:15pm

February

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

5 Thur.               Band Placement Auditions

13 Fri.               Batavia Band Festival (Wind Symphony Only)

March

10 Tues..            Italy Tour Final Meeting 7pm

6-7 Sat.-Sun.       Spring Musical

13-14 Fri.-Sat.    Spring Musical

24 Tues.             Concert Band, Symphonic Band & Wind Symphony Concert

25 Wed.             Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra Concert

26 Thurs.           Concert & String Orchestra Concert

27 - April 4th      Italy Performance Tour for Band

April

12 Sun.             Jazz Ensemble @ Fitzgerald’s in Berwyn (5:15pm start)

16 Thurs.           Spring Choir Concert

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

May

1 Fri.                 Ampt Music Festival

9 Sat.                 Superstate at UofI (Wind Ensemble Only TBD by audition & acceptance)

12 Tues.             Concert & Symphony Orchestra Concert

13 Wed.             Concert and Symphonic Band Concert

14 Thurs.           Wind Ensemble & Wind Symphony Concert

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

20 Wed.             Vocal Jazz Showcase Concert

21 Thurs.           Choral Showcase Concert

25 Mon.             Memorial Day Parade (MB only)

All Concert Ticket link: https://oprfhs.ludus.com/index.php

NOTE: Questions? Please email tickets@oprfhs.org