 |
Bands |
 |
Find out more information about our band program and specific parts by clicking on a specific link!
Marching LancersOne of the largest student organizations on the campus of Belleville East High School is the Belleville East Marching Lancers. This year, the band consists of approximately 170 musicians and 22 in the color guard. The band is lead by drum majors, Greg Underwood, Brett Beelman and Megan McVicar, who conduct the field show and parades, and who serve as student directors.
The Marching Lancers march parades throughout the year, starting at the beginning of the summer and finishing in late November. At the beginning of August, the band goes through two weeks of band camp, when they learn their marching show for the fall season. They perform the show during halftime at home football games and at major competitions in the Metro East area.
Wind EnsembleBelleville East has a long tradition of great concert bands. The focus of the band program is centered around the concert band. Students must participate in a concert band before participation in the jazz program. Students must also march in order to participate in concert bands. During the 2007-2008 school year we will be adding the Wind Ensemble. Wind Ensemble will be the premiere concert band at East - made up of the most advanced musicians on campus. A majority of the students in Wind Ensemble will study privately.
Wind Symphony In 2000, the Wind Symphony was chosen to perform in Peoria, IL at the Illinois Music Educators Association All State Conference. The band was one four chosen from over twenty auditioners. In 2002 the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band placed first in class at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Festival in Atlanta, GA and helped the band program win grand championship.
Symphonic BandSymphonic Band is made up of between 50 and 60 students from the Marching Lancers. The Symphonic Band also performs 3 formal concerts per year and participates in IHSA Organizational Contest.
Concert Jazz OrchestraConcert Jazz Orchestra (CJO) is our premiere jazz ensemble on campus. CJO performs at countless civic functions and jazz festivals in both Illinois and Missouri. The Concert Jazz Orchestra has had the privilege to open for Maynard Ferguson and his Big Bop Neuveaux twice and has performed with trumpeter Pat Harbison, Trombonist Bill Watrous, pianist Reggie Thomas and trombonist/ composer Brett Stamps. In the past the Jazz Ensemble has won grand champion in the 2002 Peach Bowl Festival. Recently the band won grand champion honors at the Outback Bowl in Tampa, FL. They also won 2nd place in both the Mizzou Jazz Festival and the Lindbergh Jazz Festival in 2007. Recently, the CJO has been invited to perform in the Vallarta Jazz Festival in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to be held in February of 2009.
Jazz Ensemble TooOur second curricular jazz ensemble... more information to come soon.
Jazz BandThe Jazz Band is the third jazz band at Belleville East High School. This band also plays at a few civic functions and festivals in the area along with two formal concerts per year. Jazz Band is primarily an educational class where students learn jazz fundamentals and theory. Students can work on their improvisational skills in order to advance their knowledge.
| 
