Performing Ensembles
Who We Are. What We Do!
Blue Regiment
Marching Band
The Blue Regiment is one of the most active and visible organizations in our school. This ensemble performs for all home football games, select away
games, local and regional competitions, parades, and school functions.
In addition, the Blue Regiment participated in the prestigious London
New Year's Day Parade in 2009 and 2016, and, in 2020, performed in the
Rome New Year's Day Parade and Frascati (Italy) Street Festival.
Membership in the Blue Regiment is open to all current high school band
members. All marching band students are required to participate in at least
one semester of a concert ensemble during school the year they march
(except color guard members).
Members attend spring and summer rehearsals, a mandatory band camp prior to the start of school, and are required to be at all rehearsals and performances.
Wind Symphony
Wind Symphony is the most advanced concert ensemble at Hickory
Ridge High School and is primarily made up of 11th and 12th grade
students. Membership is through audition only, and students are
required to enroll in both semesters in order to participate
yearlong. The course is designed for the advanced
band students and automatically receives Honors Credit.
Students focus on advanced aspects of individual and group
performance, and also strive to develop skills in music theory,
music history, and ear training.
Wind Symphony is designed to offer music students the opportunity
to study and play music in a wide variety of performance venues, and
will primarily play collegiate-level music from the
Grade V, VI and Masterworks lists.
This ensemble will perform several concerts during each semester,
as well as participate in South Central District Concert Band Music
Performance Adjudication (MPA). In addition, it may travel to additional
performances during the spring of each year.
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Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band is primarily made up of students in the
10th-12th grade students and meets during the fall and spring
semester. The course is designed as an intermediate level
ensemble which performs Level IV and V music.
Students are highly encouraged to sign up for both semesters so
they can participate yearlong. The course is designed to further
develop skills that prepare students for participation in
Wind Symphony, if desired, during future semesters.
Students may elect to take this course for Honors Credit. The
Symphonic Band will perform several concerts during each semester,
and will participate in theSouth Central District Concert Band Music
Performance Adjudication (MPA) during the spring semester.
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Concert Band
The Concert Band is primarily made up of students in the 9th grade
and meets during the fall and spring semester. The course is designed
as an introduction to high school band.
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Students are highly encouraged to sign up for both semesters so they
can participate yearlong. The course is designed to further develop skills
that prepare students for participation in Symphonic Band or
Wind Symphony in future semesters.
Students may elect to take this course for Honors Credit. The Concert
Band will perform several concerts during each semester, and will
participate in the South Central District Concert Band Music
Performance Adjudication (MPA) during the spring semester.
Jazz Ensemble
Hickory Ridge has two jazz ensembles that cater to every level
of jazz experience. Jazz Band begins after school in the fall at the
conclusion of marching band and continues into the spring semester.
Jazz Band is open to saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano,
percussion, guitar, and bass players (acoustic and electric).
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Auditions are held at the beginning of the season for placement into
the ensembles. Students rehearse weekly after marching band season
ends, and participate in several on-campus concerts, as well as
off-campus jazz clinics and festivals in the spring, including the
Western Region Jazz MPA in May.
Musical Pit Orchestra
Each fall, select members of the band program are selected to
participate in the Blumey award-winning Musical Pit Orchestra as a
part of our annual school musical. Members are selected according to
the various instrumentation needs of each show and rehearse and
perform after school in November - February at the conclusion of
marching band. Participation is typically through audition and is open
to all wind, percussion, piano, guitar, and electric bass players.
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Winterguard
Winter Guard is offered for students who are interested in the
pageantry arts. Auditions are held at the conclusion of the
marching band season, and rehearsals are held two to three times
each week. Members are introduced to the foundations of dance,
spinning equipment (such as flags, wooden rifles, and sabres),
and visual performance. Winter guard competes during the months
of January-March. Members who wish to participate in the
Winter Guard must also participate in the fall marching band.
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Chamber Ensembles
Each year student have the option to participate in chamber
ensembles. These small ensembles are mostly led independently by
the performers, and performances take place before concerts,
as a part of the concert, at Solo and Ensemble MPA, community
events, and other opportunities during the school year.
Possible chamber groups include, but are not limited to, flute quartet,
flute choir, clarinet quartet/quintet, saxophone choir, trumpet choir,
horn choir, trombone quartet/quintet, brass choir, woodwind choir,
percussion ensemble, and other various combinations of instruments.
