Program Overview
The Carterville High School Band program is an intensive instrumental music program that includes the "Pride of the Lions" Marching Band, the CHS Symphonic Winds, Concert Jazz Ensemble, and Lion Basketball Band. Students are required to participate in three of the four performing ensembles as part of the band class. Concert Jazz Ensemble is available for students to participate in, however it is the extra-curricular ensemble of the band program, meeting two days a week after school. CHS Band students must participate in regularly scheduled rehearsals outside of the school day, and performances on the weekends. All bands perform music of the highest quality stressing fundamentals of tone production, musicianship, theory, and interpretation of various styles. A strong emphasis is placed upon performance and a wide variety of off-campus performances are available to students. Band students are eligible to audition for the Illinois Music Educators District and State level festivals, Heartland Honor Bands, and River-to-River Conference Band. In the fall, students form the "Pride of the Lions" marching band. During the winter and spring, band students participate in various concerts, IHSA Solo and Ensemble Contest, and IHSA Organizational Contest as the CHS Symphonic Winds. In addition to these winter/spring concert band duties, band students also perform at home basketball games as the Lion Basketball Band.
At the conclusion of the marching band season, Symphonic Winds begins for all CHS band students. The Carterville High School Symphonic Winds performs music of the highest quality stressing fundamentals of tone production, musicianship, theory, and interpretation of various styles. Students are eligible and encouraged to audition for the Illinois Music Educators (ILMEA) District and State level festivals, Heartland Honor Band, River-to-River Conference band, and participate in Madrigal Brass, as well as the pit orchestra for the high school's musical production.
All students in Symphonic Winds are encouraged to participate in IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contest. IHSA Organizational Contest is required along with numerous concerts throughout the semester. Students are tested regularly on all major and minor scales, etudes, and selected excerpts from the bandâs repertoire. The band also places a strong emphasis on sight-reading.
In addition to its curricular performances, the CHS Symphonic Winds tours both of the elementary schools of CUSD #5. They also perform at community events and national/state concert band invitational contests.
One of the most visible student organizations on the campus of Carterville High School is the Carterville High School Pride of the Lions Marching Band. This year the band consists of approximately 70 students. The band is lead on the field by drum majors Abby Null and Elizabeth Bush. Each fall the Pride performs their themed field show during halftime at all home football games and at major competitions in the Southern Illinois, Central Illinois, and Southeast Missouri area. Every other year the band does a trip during spring break. Previous spring trip performances include Nashville, Tennessee, and the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. This year the band is planning to travel to Chicago, Illinois in the Spring of 2018. The band has a previous history as the Carterville High School Marching Lions. During the Summer of 2014 the band changed their name to the Pride of the Lions Marching Band.
Lion Basketball Band performs for all boysâ home basketball games during the months of December through February, as well as two girlsâ home basketball games. This ensemble also performs one menâs game at John A. Logan Community College for their annual Carterville Community Recognition Basketball Game.
The Carterville High School Concert Jazz Ensemble is the extra-curricular performing ensemble at CHS. Students who wish to participate in CJE must go through a tryout in October at the conclusion of marching season. Those students who make it through the audition process rehearse twice a week after school, on Mondays and Wednesdays. The CHS Concert Jazz Ensemble performs community concerts each winter and spring, participates in local area jazz festivals, and participates in IHSA Organizational Contest. Students are exposed to large ensemble literature as well as solo and improvisation study. The CHS Concert Jazz Ensemble also performs alongside Symphonic Winds during the spring, including performing on the recruiting tour of CUSD 5 elementary schools. Rehearsals are required every Monday and Wednesday, after school, 3:30-4:15 PM.