We will be holding auditions for the 2026-27 CMS Symphonic Band (information below) and hope you will audition to be a part of our tradition of performing great music and having fun.
About
The CMS Symphonic Band, formerly known as Wind Ensemble, is a co-curricular group designed to challenge brass, woodwind, and percussion students involved in the CMS band program. In Symphonic Band, we play music of higher difficulty levels than we do in the curricular band. It is a chance to dig deeper into music and perform with the most dedicated musicians at CMS. The Symphonic Band performs several times throughout the school year (see Calendar) at school concerts and the MICCA Concert Festival. We have also traveled to Festival Disney (Orlando, Florida), New York City, and plan to travel again in the future.
Schedule and Attendance
CMS Symphonic Band meets Mondays after school in the CMS Band Room until 3:30pm (first late bus). Consistent attendance is essential to the ensemble's success, and students who are unable to commit to weekly rehearsals should not participate this year. Students with two unexcused absences may be asked to re-audition or withdraw from the group. If additional rehearsals or sectionals are needed, I will do my best to provide at least two weeks' notice.
CONFLICTS WITH OTHER SCHOOL SPORTS/CLUBS/ACTIVITIES
The best solution is communicating your needs.
CMS has robust after-school offerings, which is great, but can leave students torn between commitments. Philosophically, we believe that middle schoolers are at an age where they should be trying lots of activities; however, the reality is that it is very challenging to rehearse an advanced group (like Jazz or Symphonic Band) if we have several missing members every week. Please consider the commitment level this ensemble requires before you sign up.
Because there are so many sports/clubs/activities, it is impossible to come up with a one-size-fits-all policy for students who wish to do two activities that meet at the same time. The most feasible solution is to share time. For example, students who do cross country typically come to Symphonic Band for the first hour of rehearsal, then go to cross country, and if there is a meet, they miss rehearsal that week. However, this situation gets more complicated if that same student decides to do a winter sport and a spring sport that have similar conflicts, because then they are missing over half the instruction for the year. This was just one example - other sports/clubs/activities have different demands. Therefore, the best solution is to communicate your needs with Mr. Halpainy and your coach or club teacher.
Private Lessons and Junior District Festival
Private lessons are strongly encouraged, but not mandatory, to be a part of the CMS Symphonic Band or Jazz Ensemble. There are several options for private lessons in the area, including IMSCC, Concord Conservatory, among others. Students in 7th and 8th Grade are also encouraged to audition for the Junior District Festival.
The CMS Symphonic Band, formerly known as Wind Ensemble, is a co-curricular group designed to challenge brass, woodwind, and percussion students involved in the CMS band program. In Symphonic Band, we play music of higher difficulty levels than we do in the curricular band. It is a chance to dig deeper into music and perform with the most dedicated musicians at CMS. The Symphonic Band performs several times throughout the school year (see Calendar) at school concerts and the MICCA Concert Festival. We have also traveled to Festival Disney (Orlando, Florida), New York City, and plan to travel again in the future.
Schedule and Attendance
CMS Symphonic Band meets Mondays after school in the CMS Band Room until 3:30pm (first late bus). Consistent attendance is essential to the ensemble's success, and students who are unable to commit to weekly rehearsals should not participate this year. Students with two unexcused absences may be asked to re-audition or withdraw from the group. If additional rehearsals or sectionals are needed, I will do my best to provide at least two weeks' notice.
CONFLICTS WITH OTHER SCHOOL SPORTS/CLUBS/ACTIVITIES
The best solution is communicating your needs.
CMS has robust after-school offerings, which is great, but can leave students torn between commitments. Philosophically, we believe that middle schoolers are at an age where they should be trying lots of activities; however, the reality is that it is very challenging to rehearse an advanced group (like Jazz or Symphonic Band) if we have several missing members every week. Please consider the commitment level this ensemble requires before you sign up.
Because there are so many sports/clubs/activities, it is impossible to come up with a one-size-fits-all policy for students who wish to do two activities that meet at the same time. The most feasible solution is to share time. For example, students who do cross country typically come to Symphonic Band for the first hour of rehearsal, then go to cross country, and if there is a meet, they miss rehearsal that week. However, this situation gets more complicated if that same student decides to do a winter sport and a spring sport that have similar conflicts, because then they are missing over half the instruction for the year. This was just one example - other sports/clubs/activities have different demands. Therefore, the best solution is to communicate your needs with Mr. Halpainy and your coach or club teacher.
Private Lessons and Junior District Festival
Private lessons are strongly encouraged, but not mandatory, to be a part of the CMS Symphonic Band or Jazz Ensemble. There are several options for private lessons in the area, including IMSCC, Concord Conservatory, among others. Students in 7th and 8th Grade are also encouraged to audition for the Junior District Festival.
Audition Information
Requirements
Auditions
Acceptance into the ensemble is not guaranteed. Symphonic Band is an advanced ensemble experience designed primarily for students in grades 7 and 8 who are ready for the musical and time commitments of the group. While we strive to make Symphonic Band an inclusive and enriching experience, depending on instrumentation needs and audition numbers, some students might not be accepted, and some sections may be capped to maintain balance within the ensemble. Placement decisions will be based on musical readiness, prior experience, and the overall needs of the group.
Results will be emailed to accepted students/parents, and the list of accepted students will be posted in the students’ Google Classroom. All decisions are final. I would be happy to provide students with areas for improvement, but I ask that you all please respect the process. Students who are not quite ready may be asked to re-audition mid-year.
Rehearsals for Symphonic Band begin on September 28th
Requirements
- Audition Piece "Sparks" (attached here)
- Perform all of Sparks (3 pages)
- Required: Please choose one of the following play-along options as you record. Note: You may record with or without headphones on. Please play with the tempo at full speed (i.e., don't slow it down):
- With this recording
- Recommended: Using Make Music (Account required for use, but "Sparks" is in their library!)
- Percussion auditions may choose to audition on bells, snare drum (Percussion 1), or both
- Major Scale Sheet (attached here) - Any steady tempo is acceptable (slow is fine)
- Students must perform all the scales on the sheet (Concert F, Bb, Eb, Ab, and Chromatic). Breaking between scales is fine.
- Drum set players (Jazz Ensemble) do not need to play scales
Auditions
- Students should submit an audition video via email to [email protected]. In-person auditions are available upon request.
- Please submit one video for scales and one video for the audition piece, and label them clearly.
- Due Date(s)
- Videos are due by Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
- Acceptance will be posted on Friday, September 18.
- Rehearsals begin on Monday, September 28.
- *Please contact [email protected] if you would like to request an extension
Acceptance into the ensemble is not guaranteed. Symphonic Band is an advanced ensemble experience designed primarily for students in grades 7 and 8 who are ready for the musical and time commitments of the group. While we strive to make Symphonic Band an inclusive and enriching experience, depending on instrumentation needs and audition numbers, some students might not be accepted, and some sections may be capped to maintain balance within the ensemble. Placement decisions will be based on musical readiness, prior experience, and the overall needs of the group.
Results will be emailed to accepted students/parents, and the list of accepted students will be posted in the students’ Google Classroom. All decisions are final. I would be happy to provide students with areas for improvement, but I ask that you all please respect the process. Students who are not quite ready may be asked to re-audition mid-year.
Rehearsals for Symphonic Band begin on September 28th
