Upcoming Events
All-State Concert
SCIBA Honor Band Audition November 30
Jazz Summit December 2
SCIBA Jazz Fest December 9
UHS + 8th Grade Band Concert December 18
Solo & Ensemble February
Action items
Register for a solo and/or ensemble. See below for details
Submit photos for Band Summit video. See below for details
Prop Building Crews – Thank You!
This year the UJB Marching Band was once again proud to incorporate props into our show. We would like to extend our gratitude to the following crew members for their generous time and efforts towards our show:
Design
Greg Stice
Hope Stice
Build & Paint Crew
Greg and Rosemary Stice
Hope Stice
Erin and Brandon Leiran
Becky and Corey Nelson
Mike Newton.
Band Calendar
As we transition from marching band to concert bands, now is a good time to revisit the band calendar of events to ensure that upcoming performances of concert bands, jazz bands, and solo festivals are correctly entered into student and family planners. The calendar is available under Quick Links on the band’s homepage.
Reminder: “subscribe” to the UHS Band Calendar electronically by following the instructions, which are also under Quick Links on the band’s homepage.
All-State Results
Congratulations to everyone who auditioned for All-State. Your efforts help the entire program get stronger. Here is a link to the full press release.
Orchestra Accepted:
Henry Dix, 11th grade, french horn, 2nd year
Oscar Dix, 10th grade, bassoon, 2nd year
Band Accepted:
Ian Gage, 11th grade, euphonium, 1st year
Aiden Leiran, 10th grade, french horn, 2nd year
Alternates:
Parker Leiran, 9th grade, euphonium, 1st year
SCIBA Honor Band
Participating students will audition for the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association (SCIBA) Honor Band on the evening of November 30, 2023 at Roosevelt High School. If accepted, students will perform a concert at Ankeny High School on January 6, 2024. More details will be published separately on this page.
We will not be taking a bus. Most students have found it more conducive to arrive about an hour before their audition time rather than sitting around all evening getting nervous. If your family has difficulty arranging transportation, let us know and we’ll assist in arranging a carpool. Specific audition times are not yet published. More details will be available soon.
Roosevelt High School
4419 Center St.
Des Moines, IA 50312
Enter through the main entrance and go directly into the auditorium to warm up.
Jazz Summit
Saturday December 2nd, the UHS and UMS jazz bands will receive clinics by two of Iowa’s outstanding jazz musicians and educators: trombonist, Anthony Williams from the University of Northern Iowa and bassist, Blake Shaw from Cornell College. Clinics will begin at 9 am with a concert at noon. The Jazz Summit itinerary can be found here
SCIBA Jazz Fest
Saturday December 9th, UHS Jazz 1 and 2 will perform at the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association Jazz Festival. The SCIBA Jazz Festival itinerary can be found here.
Jazz Band T-Shirts
Sophomore, Kate Schumacher, and junior, Evan Rowher, designed this year’s Jazz Band t-shirt. Get your orders in by November 15.
UHS + 8th Grade Band Concert
Monday, December 18th, the 8th Grade Concert Band and the UHS Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony will perform an evening of concert band music. For UHS students, the call time is 6:20, warm up at 6:30, and the concert begins at 7:00 pm. Now is a good time to select your Concert Attire: click link for complete details
Solo and Ensemble Contest
Event Dates:
Feb. 8th – Urbandale Solo and Ensemble Contest
Feb. 17th – Perry Band Olympics
Students will have the option of performing a solo and/or small ensemble. For students performing a solo, we will be scheduling 3 rehearsals for students to rehearse with their accompanist prior to February 8th. These rehearsals will be scheduled on the three Sunday afternoons leading up to our event (Jan. 21, 28, and Feb. 4). All rehearsals will take place at UHS.
The Performing Arts Booster Club will be covering the cost of accompanists assigned by the Band Department. Their support makes Solo and Ensemble even more accessible to all students within our program. External accompanists will be permitted but not covered by the boosters.
If your child is interested in performing a solo or small ensemble, please complete the following items:
Fee Payment Click “Activities,” “High School,” “High School Solo Fees,” and Continue following additional prompts.
Solo and Ensemble Checklist:
- With the help of a teacher, pick out appropriate solo music by Nov. 18th
- Complete the registration form (listed above) by 4:00 p.m. on Nov. 22nd – Hard Deadline.
- Pay the participation fee for solos by Dec. 2nd, 3:30 p.m. (linked above)
- Solo: $20.00 Ensembles: $15.00 (per person)
- Students are responsible for ordering an original print of solo music (Rieman’s, JWPepper.com or other)(Photocopies are illegal.) We will provide the judge’s copy.
Band Summit Photos/Videos
Any pictures or videos you would like considered for the Band Summit video should be submitted to Mr. Doggett. These photos and videos should be of current band students participating in band activities from this year. Examples could include selfies or group photos taken before or after a band event. Videos of marching performances are not needed.