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The State College Area High School Music Department offers a comprehensive band program for students in grades 9-12. Performing groups include four concert bands, two jazz bands, and the marching band.
 
CONCERT BANDS
 
Ninth Grade Band - All ninth grade band students participate.
 
Tenth Grade Band - All tenth grade band students participate.
 
Concert Band - Open to any band student in grades eleven and twelve.
 
Symphonic Band - Admission by audition for students in grades ten, eleven & twelve.
 
Students in grades 10-12 may participate in more than one band if their schedule permits.
 
Students in Symphonic Band may elect the Advanced Band option, which provides an enriched curriculum and a weighted grade.
 
Nearly 300 students participate in one or more of the concert bands.
 
The State College Area High School Symphonic Band enjoys a national reputation for excellence due to their 32 consecutive years of "Superior" ratings in various competitions and festivals throughout the United States and Canada. The group has frequently been selected to perform for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) State Conference.
 
State College Area High School leads all Pennsylvania schools in the number of students who have been selected for the Pennsylvania All-State Band over the past thirty years. Students progress to All-State through District and Regional Festival auditions.
 
 
JAZZ BANDS
 
The State College Area High School Jazz Band II - Admission by audition to any band member grades 9-12. They have one after-school rehearsal each week beginning in November.
 
The State College Area High School Jazz Band - Admission by audition to any band member grades 9-12. They have one after-school rehearsal each week beginning in November.
 
The State College Area High School Jazz Band is among the finest in the United States with an International reputation for excellence. They have received 32 consecutive years of "Superior" ratings in festivals and competitions, and made their third appearance at the PMEA State Conference in 2006.  In 1992 and 1996, the band toured Europe with performances at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, at Disneyland Paris, and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.  In 2003 and 2006 they returned to Europe and performed at both the Vienne Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival.  The band plans to tour Europe again in the summer of 2009.
 
In 1998,1999, and 2006 the band performed at Lincoln Center in New York City as finalists in the prestigious Essentially Ellington Competition. The 2001 and the 2005 band won the North American Music Festivals "Megafest" championship given to the highest scoring Jazz Ensemble from among their 20 festivals. The 2004 Jazz Band was named the "Most Outstanding Band" at the Mansfield University Jazz Festival and won first place and the Overall Award at the Toronto Festivals of Music.
 
The 2007 band won superior ratings and/or was named as the most outstanding Jazz Ensemble at Jazz events held at West Chester University, Penn State University, Slippery Rock University, and York University (Toronto, Canada).  The 2008 band won superior ratings at Jazz events at Penn State, State College, and Norfolk State University.  They were named the most outstanding Jazz Ensemble at the NAMF Virginia Beach Music Festival.
 
MARCHING BAND
 
The State High Marching Band is an extracurricular activity involving nearly 200 students in grades 9-12. It is open to any student enrolled in one of the concert bands, and to Dance Team and Majorettes by audition. The band combines the modern band appearance and sound with traditional music education philosophy by presenting different music at each home football game. The band rehearses two evenings a week, and performs each Friday during the football season. Since the band does not compete, our band students are free on Saturdays for employment, college visits, and leisure time activities.
 
See the Marching Band web site for an application form and more information on the 2008 Marching Band season.