Ensembles

Concert, Symphonic & Jazz

Everything that happens off the field — the technique, tone and artistry built in the band room all year long.

Our ensembles

Doherty offers a full path through instrumental music — from the entry-level Concert Band to the premier Wind Ensemble and Advanced Jazz Band, plus Pep Band and the Musical Pit Orchestra. Auditions for the following year are held each Spring.

CBA Concert Band Regional & State Festivals
At least three concerts a year for Symphonic & Wind
Harvest of Love Pasta Dinner and community events
Two Basketball Pep Band games required each Spring

Concert Ensembles

Concert Band

Concert Band is the entry-level, non-auditioned concert ensemble offered at Doherty High School. Previous band experience is encouraged, but not a requirement. Musical selections are geared towards the members' abilities with an emphasis placed on improvement of tone quality, music literacy skills, technical proficiency, and artistic expression. Concert Band is split into three class periods — one focused on woodwinds, one on brass, and one on percussion. Concert Band has two concerts each year, and attendance is mandatory and part of the student's grade. Students participate in two Basketball Band games during the Spring Semester. Auditions are offered in the Spring for placement in the upcoming year's band.

Symphonic Band

Symphonic Band is Doherty High School's middle-level concert ensemble. Auditions are required for placement. Musical selections emphasize tone quality, music literacy skills, technical proficiency, and artistic expression, and are more technically and artistically demanding than Concert Band. Symphonic Band performs at the Colorado Bandmasters Association Concert Band Regional Festival, earning Excellent Ratings in recent years. Students participate in at least three concerts each year; attendance at performances and events is required and part of the students' grade, along with two Basketball Band games in the Spring Semester.

Wind Ensemble

Wind Ensemble is Doherty High School's premier-level concert ensemble. Auditions are required for placement, and the music is the most technically and artistically demanding in the program. Students participate in at least three concerts each year. Wind Ensemble performs at the Colorado Bandmasters Association Concert Band Regional Festival, earning Superior Ratings in recent years, as well as qualification for the CBA Concert Band State Festival. Members may also perform for school and community events including Performing Arts Middle School Tours, Veterans Day Ceremonies, and Graduation.

Jazz Ensembles

Jazz Band (Jazz 2)

Jazz Band is Doherty High School's entry-level, non-auditioned jazz ensemble. Students must be enrolled in a concert ensemble to participate, but previous jazz experience is not required. Students gain experience in diverse musical styles and build improvisational skills while investigating the historical and multi-cultural roles of jazz music. Basic instrumentation includes saxophone, flute, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, guitar, drum set, and auxiliary percussion — students who play other instruments should speak with a director. The ensemble performs at festivals, contests, and school and community events throughout the year.

Advanced Jazz Band (Jazz 1)

Advanced Jazz Band is Doherty High School's premier jazz ensemble. Students must be enrolled in a concert ensemble, and previous jazz experience is required — experience that can be gained through Jazz Band. Instrumentation is limited: one flute, two alto saxophones, two tenor saxophones, up to two baritone saxophones, up to four trombones (including one bass trombone), up to five trumpets, up to two pianists, guitar, up to two bassists, and up to three percussionists. The ensemble performs at festivals and contests as well as school and community events including the Harvest of Love Pasta Dinner and assemblies.

Basketball Pep Band

Basketball Pep Band is offered in the Spring Semester, playing pep band tunes at six Doherty High School basketball games (three girls games, three boys games). All students in the Doherty band program attend two Basketball Band games in the Spring Semester as part of their overall band grade, and all students are welcome to play more. Drum Majors are required to attend, and attending all six games earns points toward a student's band lettering application.

Musical Pit Orchestra

Musical Pit Orchestra is an extracurricular ensemble featuring some of the most demanding and challenging music students will perform all year. It is a collaborative program across all of Doherty's Performing Arts programs — band, orchestra, choir, dance, and theater. Students perform the professional Broadway parts for the show. Not all instruments may be offered each year. The musical is typically held in the Spring Semester with weekly rehearsals.

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