Starting in 2019 we will reorganize the high school band ensembles to better suit our current needs. Students will have the opportunity to participate in one of three ensembles, Honors Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and Symphonic Band. Auditions for the first two ensembles will take place in the spring of each year, with all students in grades 8 - 11 eligible to participate in each of the groups.

ENSEMBLE CHOICES

Honors Wind Ensemble

The Honors Wind Ensemble is dedicated to the musical, emotional, and intellectual development of instrumental music students. Achievement of this mission includes a mastery of aural and oral music training, foundational theory knowledge, as well as core instrumental technique. The Honors Wind Ensemble studies a large and diverse selection of wind musical repertoire; including cornerstone band literature, transcriptions from other musical mediums, works with feature artists, and popular music arrangements/transcriptions. The Wind Ensemble performs literature in line with advanced high school ensembles (Grade 3 ½ - 6), and seeks the highest mastery of artistic intent.

The group performs between five and eight performances in a school year, including individual, chamber ensemble, and large ensemble works for diverse audiences including the extended Mullica Hill community as well as at regional and state festivals. Students are expected to attend all performances throughout the school year, both during and outside the school day.

The Clearview Regional High School Wind Ensemble is the premier wind band in the school district. Over the past three years the ensemble received Superior ratings at the South Jersey Region Band Festival, and has participated in both the New Jersey State Gala as well as the New Jersey Music Educators Association Conference. Members of the Wind Ensemble have received numerous individual accolades, including being named to All-South Jersey, All-State, and All-Eastern ensembles, as well as participation in local independent honors ensembles.

Wind Symphony

The Wind Symphony is dedicated to the musical, emotional, and intellectual development of instrumental music students. Achievement of this mission includes the continual development of aural and oral music training, foundational theory knowledge, as well as core instrumental technique. The Wind Symphony studies a large and diverse selection of wind musical repertoire; including cornerstone band literature, transcriptions from other musical mediums, works with feature artists, and popular music arrangements/ transcriptions. The Wind Symphony performs high school level literature (Grade 2 ½ - 4), with an eye towards developing advanced musical understanding and expression. Wind Symphony students are highly encouraged to work towards advanced musical studies, including private lessons and participation in regional and state honors music auditions and ensembles.

The group performs between three and five performances in a school year, including individual, chamber ensemble, and large ensemble works for diverse audiences including the extended Mullica Hill community as well as at regional and state festivals. Students are expected to perform at numerous extracurricular events throughout the school year, both during and outside the school day.

Symphonic Band

The Symphonic Band is dedicated to the musical, emotional, and intellectual development of instrumental music students. Achievement of this mission includes the continual development of aural and oral music training, foundational theory knowledge, as well as core instrumental technique. The Symphonic Band studies a diverse selection of wind musical repertoire; including cornerstone band literature, transcriptions from other musical mediums, works with feature artists, and popular music arrangements/ transcriptions. The Symphonic Band seeks to develop students individual instrumental music technique through a variety of literature (Grade 2 – 3 ½) and strives to balance a variety of genres and styles in performance. Symphonic Band students are encouraged to work towards advanced musical studies, including private lessons and participation in regional and state honors music auditions and ensembles.

The group performs two to four times in a school year, including individual, chamber ensemble, and large ensemble works for diverse audiences including the extended Mullica Hill community as well as at regional and state festivals. Students are expected to perform at numerous extracurricular events throughout the school year, both during and outside the school day.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why are there three ensembles now?

We are fortunate to have a growing number of students in the instrumental program here at Clearview. With that, we are looking forward to opening a third ensemble for students to enroll in for the 2019-20 school year. With this additional ensemble we now have the opportunity to provide a more personalized musical experience for high school students, hopefully providing them with additional instruction, expediting technical and musical development.

What is the difference between the ensembles?

The main difference between the three curricular ensembles are the difficulty of the literature, the expectation of prior knowledge, and the performance opportunities throughout the school year. Each ensemble performs repertoire and skill development in accordance with student development, meaning the three groups perform at different musical grade levels. A full breakdown can be found in the attached Document

Which ensemble is right for me?

We want to place students in the ensemble setting that is going to best suite their interest in musical performance, as well as their current level of musical and technical development. When considering ensemble which ensembles are best students should take into consideration their current level of musical performance rated again the level of the ensemble (listed below), the amount of time needed to dedicate to outside practice, as well as the performance requirements. Students are highly encouraged to ask about one of the district music teachers if they are not sure to which ensemble they fit.

Do I have to do a live audition?

Students wishing to be placed in the Honors Wind Ensemble must complete a live audition for one of the three musical teachers in the Clearview Regional School District. Students that wish to participate in the Wind Symphony are highly encouraged to complete a live audition for seating purposes. However, students may be placed in the Wind Symphony without a live audition.

How do I register for my ensemble?

The only registration that students have to worry about is making sure they have “band” on their schedule when they have their meeting with a member of the guidance department. Once the ensembles are settled, Mr. Wiernusz will take care of providing a detailed roster to the guidance department to aid class selection. If students believe there is a mistake with their schedule in the fall, or if there is a problem in scheduling “band” into their schedule for the following school year they should contact Mr. Wiernusz immediately.

What if I do not get into the ensemble that I wanted?

All three ensembles at the high school are high quality classes that are designed to ensure that students have a quality musical experience. In creating the class rosters the music teachers take care to balance the education of the students along with the needs of the ensemble. We are dedicated to creating a positive environment for students no matter what ensemble with which they perform. Students that believe that they were misplaced in the wrong ensemble should talk to Mr. Wiernusz before the end of the school year. Conversations may not result in in a change of ensemble.