2018-2019 Concert Band Placements

Dear Samohi Students and Parents,

Below you will find the concert band lists for the upcoming year.  It’s a challenging endeavor to place close to three hundred students, so please be respectful of the decisions made by our directors.  Incoming students should recognize that most of them will be placed in one of our three younger ensembles (out of the five).  This is the beginning of your journey here at Samohi, and know that we are proud of all our groups. (You are joining one of the strongest programs in the State of California!)

Parents, please be respectful to the placements as we do not accept re-auditions. It is a real challenge to our administration setting up so many schedules, so please be supportive.  Again, students are placed in each ensemble based on their ability level, the articulations we receive from the music teachers, and the need for a balanced instrumentation in our groups. Some times, but not often, there are opportunities to “move up” within the semester (if the schedules allow it), so if your are interested in being in a more challenging ensemble, just keep working!

MARCHING BAND/COLOR GUARD: Anyone interested in marching band is able to participate.  Your audition for the concert band allows you the opportunity to join the Samohi “Viking” Marching Band.  If you let me know that you were planning on participating, expect an email from me early next week about the summer schedule. If you did not tell me that you wanted to be in marching band but now would like to, just let me know via email: komckeown@smmusd.org

Band Placements go from youngest to most advanced: Concert Band, Concert Band II (Symphonic Band), Concert Band III (Symphonic Winds), Concert Band IV (Wind Symphony), Wind Ensemble.  Students are labeled by STUDENT ID #.

If you do not see your ID# below please contact me immediately at komckeown@smmusd.org and I will let you know where you are placed. (PLEASE, do not request another audition or ask how to make it into a more advanced group at this time.)

Congratulations again, Vikings! We are so proud of our band program at Samohi, and look forward to seeing the new groups in the fall!

Best,

Kevin McKeown

Director of Bands, Santa Monica High School