Christopher High School Bands

            Christopher Ensembles    

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Marching Band

The Christopher High School Marching Band is the most visible ensemble within the Christopher Band Program.  This ensemble is dedicated to the marching arts and is highly competitive, competing on the Western Band Association and Bands of America circuits.  In addition to competition, the band performs at all home football games, numerous community events, fundraisers, and several local parades.  The marching band rehearses Tuesdays & Thursdays after school from 4:00PM to 9:00PM, and selected Saturdays from 9:00AM to 1:00PM.  Membership is by audition and director approval only. To ensure the highest educational and performance quality of the ensemble, students must be enrolled in Wind Ensemble in order to participate in marching band.  Guard students are not required to enroll in a concert ensemble.

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Wind Ensemble

The Christopher Wind Ensemble is the premiere concert ensemble at Christopher High School.  The ensemble focuses on developing advanced skills and musicianship that will prepare students to be successful in ensemble playing beyond high school.  The ensemble performs major works within the wind band repertoire, including new works, premiers, transcriptions, and standard literature.  The ensemble performs several times throughout the year, including at local and regional festivals, contests, as well as local concerts and fundraisers.  Membership in the Christopher Wind Ensemble is by director approval only and students are expected to take private lessons on their individual instruments with our applied staff as part of their ensemble grade. Wind Ensemble sectionals are held after school on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00, and are required of all members.   Percussionists are required to participate in Percussion Ensemble, which meets Tuesdays from 3:30-5:00, beginning in December.

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Percussion Ensemble

The Christopher Percussion Ensemble is a competitive concert percussion ensemble that is comprised of all percussionists within the band program.  The ensemble focuses on developing fundamental skills and advanced musicianship that allow students to perform on percussion at the highest levels.  The ensemble rehearses western music, as well as ethnic music from cultures around the world that explore the use of both western and non-western percussion instruments.  The ensemble performs at local concerts and fundraisers, as well as regional events and contests.  Percussion Ensemble meets Tuesdays from 3:30-5:00 beginning in December.

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GUSD MIDDLE SCHOOL BANDS

As part of our feeding pattern (which is shared with Gilroy High School), we consider all of the middle school bands in GUSD to be an integral part of the Christopher High School Band Program.  We are a 6-12, unified band program that shares staff, directors, resources and success.  Each of our three middle schools (Ascencion Solarsano, Brownell, and South Valley) has both a 6th-8th Grade Beginning Concert Band (JV) and an 7th/8th Grade Advanced Symphonic Band (Varsity).  The Varsity groups are designed to prepare the students for the high school programs at Christopher and Gilroy High Schools.

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WINTER Guard

The Christopher Winter Guard is a highly competitive pageantry and winter guard ensemble designed to provide an artistic experience for guard students during the winter season. The ensemble focuses on developing fundamental skills in equipment, dance forms, and choreography that develop each performer's artistry and ability. Membership is by audition and students must adhere to grade checks and be enrolled in 7th period guard during the spring semester. Students who participate in the Christopher Winter Guard are expected to be a part of the fall color guard.   This ensemble will resume performance in 2020.

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