The ADHS Band Program

Welcome to the ADHS Band website! There is a lot of information here, and this page is organized to guide the first-time parent or student through all the options available in this terrific program.

First, please take a look at the overview letters from Dr. Markoch with detailed information for the 2008-2009 school year.

Band Program Overview (Word document or web page)
Marching Band Program Overview (Word document or web page)

Our band program is quite diverse. We have a number of classes and ensembles. First, the classes:

Concert Band is open to students who have had one or two years of middle school band. This band plays a number of concerts throughout the year and performs in the State Band Festival.
Wind Ensemble is the most advanced band course at ADHS, and is open by audition only.
Percussion Ensemble is open in the fall to members of the marching band. In the spring, it is open by audition.

We have a number of co-curricular activities:

The Marching Band -- The most visible of our ensembles, the marching band begins over the summer with Band Camp. They learn a show, and perform it at halftimes of football games and at five competitions throughout the fall. We end with marching in local parades. Please join us on either May 19 or 21 for an orientation session. Parents meet in the band room while the students are outside learning to march and play. Come to one or both!
Jazz Ensemble -- A spring ensemble, this group performs music from the varied styles of jazz. They rehearse twice a week, and perform at least five times during the spring. See them perform at the ADAF Mother's Day Dance, Concert and Silent Auction on May 10.
Winterguard -- This dynamic flag, rifle, and saber corps performs indoors to prerecorded music during the spring. It's great fun, and perfect for those who love to dance! This group rehearses three times a week, and performs at least five times during the spring.
Winter Drumline -- A new ensemble in 2008, this spring group is performs indoors. They meet several times a week, and perform their show at least three times.
Spring Percussion Training -- This group meets during the spring (beginning around March) and meets weekly to learn the specifics of marching percussion. No experience is necessary. Wind instruments are invited to join if they'd like to learn percussion. Those percussionists interested in marching band are very strongly urged to participate, as this will prepare the student for the marching band percussion auditions in late April.

There's also a spring trip. In '07-'08, it's a trip to Disney and Universal Studios. All band members (and by "band member," we mean anyone who participates in any of the above activities) are eligible to attend. In previous years, we've gone to Gettysburg/Hershey, PA, Williamsburg, VA, and Atlanta, GA.

Wake County Schools provide limited funding for classes and no annual funding for co-curricular activities. Therefore, we have a number of fundraisers to help families cover the cost of their band fair share and spring trip costs, and also to put money into the general band fund to help keep the fair share down. There's plenty of information here.

Still need more information? Don't hesitate to ask! Email us: webmaster @ ADHSBand.com

Message From The Pep Band