Upcoming Events
Mattress Fundraiser
All-State
SCIBA Honor Band Audition
Jazz Summit
SCIBA Jazz Fest
UHS + 8th Grade Band Concert
Solo & Ensemble Contest
Action items
Tell everyone you know that we’re doing a Mattress Fundraiser on Saturday November 2 at UHS Commons
Register for a solo and/or ensemble. See below for details
Submit photos for the 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 & Build
Mike Newton
Asa Leonard-Newton
Paint Crew
Kallie Soper
Ryn Saylor
Aiden Leiran
Parker Leiran
Oscar Dix
Miley Seliquini
Grant Alderman
Cash Alderman
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. This is a link to the full press release that needs to be updated because one of our Alternates is going to All-State! As I was writing this, I received an email informing me that Kiera VanderLeest is going to All-State!
Band Accepted:
Oscar Dix, 11th grade, bassoon, 3rd year
Aiden Leiran, 11th grade, French horn, 3rd year
Parker Leiran, 10th grade, euphonium, 2nd year
Keira VanderLeest, 12th grade, bass clarinet, 1st year
Alternates:
Caleb Little, 12th grade, flute, 1st year
Rhys Little, 12th grade, oboe, 1st year
Sophia Reece, 12th grade, tenor saxophone, 1st year
SCIBA Honor Band
Participating students will audition for the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association (SCIBA) Honor Band on the evening of December 5, 2024 at Roosevelt High School. If accepted, students will perform a concert at Ankeny High School on January 11, 2025. 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 7, the UHS and UMS jazz bands will receive clinics by two of Iowa’s outstanding jazz musicians and educators from UNI: saxophonist, Chris Merz and trombonist and pianist, Mike Conrad. Clinics will begin at 8 am with a concert at 11 am. The Jazz Summit itinerary will be created soon and posted here.
UHS + 8th Grade Band Concert
Thursday, December 12th at 7:00 pm, the 8th Grade Concert Band and the three UHS concert bands will perform an evening of concert band music. Now is a good time to select your Concert Attire: click link for complete details
Symphonic Band with Ms Eadie in room 511: call-time: 6:00, warm up at 6:10.
8th Grade Band with Ms Eadie in room PAC: call-time: 6:20, warm up at 6:30.
Wind Ensemble with Mr. Breese in room 509: call-time: 6:20, warm up at 6:30.
Wind Symphony with Mr. Doggett in room 511: call-time: 6:20, warm up at 6:30.
SCIBA Jazz Fest
Saturday December 14th, UHS Jazz 1 and 2 will perform at the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association Jazz Festival. Once the festival shares the performance times, the SCIBA Jazz Festival itinerary will be found here
Solo and Ensemble Contest
February 11th – Urbandale Solo and Ensemble Contest
February 22nd – 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 11th. These rehearsals will be scheduled on the three Sunday afternoons leading up to our event (January 26, February 2, February 9). 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.