The Concert Band is a large ensemble of approximately eighty members that performs a minimum of six concerts per year.  The traditional large concert band format - woodwinds, brass and percussion - is observed.  The band rehearses four times per week as a regularly scheduled class during the school day and occasionally in the evenings, as necessary.

The Concert Band is comprised of seniors, juniors and some sophomores. Students register for Concert Band when they sign up for classes, and receive both a grade and credit towards graduation. All junior and senior band musicians are automatically placed in Concert Band when they register for classes in February. Sophomores, who feel that they have the ability to perform at the advanced Concert Band level, may opt to take a rigorous audition before they register for classes in February.  If they pass the audition,  they may register for Concert Band. Otherwise, all freshmen and sophomores are automatically placed in Repertory Band.  

The Concert Band performs four regularly scheduled in-school concerts each year - one concert per quarter.  The concerts are traditionally held in late October (normally in Corey Auditorium in Carlisle), mid-December (CCHS Auditorium), late March (CCHS Auditorium), and late May (CCHS Cafeteria).  The Concert Band also performs at Concord- Carlisle's Graduation Ceremony in early June, and at the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) State Concert Festival in early April.

Concerts that cannot be anticipated, or planned in advance, are built into the schedule as they present themselves.  For example, the Concert Band has performed at the Massachusetts State House Tree Lighting Ceremony and at the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) State Conference.

Attendance at all performances is required in order to complete course expectations. Paper copies of the year's calendar and course expectations are distributed to each band member at the beginning of the school year. The calendar is also listed in the "Calendar" section of this web site.  Be sure to check the calendar as attendance at concerts is mandatory.

The Concert Band performs some of the finest, most challenging literature available for high school bands.  Practice is expected, and private lessons, while not required, are highly encouraged.  Band rehearsals are for the sole purpose of practicing the music as a group, or learning how to play one's instrument in band, not for learning how to play one's instrument. Each student is expected to be proficient in playing their instrument before registering for the course. 

Much of the repertoire performed in recent years has rated a level five or six on the MICCA and NYSSMA graded lists.  These pieces have included  'Aegean Festival Overture' by Makris, 'A Night On Bald Mountain' by Moussorgsky, 'Finale from Symphony No. 5' by Shostakovich,  'English Dances' by Arnold, and 'Variations on America' by Ives.  The Concert Band has earned nine consecutive gold medal ratings at the annual MICCA State Concert Festival.

Concert Band members in good standing are eligible to audition for the MMEA Senior District and All-State ensembles, as well MENC Eastern and All-National groups.

In April of 1998 the Concert Band undertook the 'trip of a lifetime' to Hokkaido, Japan. The Sister State relationship that Massachusetts shares with the island of Hokkaido, and the Sister City relationship Concord shares with the city of Nanae, were instrumental in the incredible success of this journey.  The band played for, and with, students from Nanae and Sapporo, participated in home stays, and toured historical and cultural sites on the island. 

We are very pleased to announce that the Concert Band has received permission to plan a return trip to Hokkaido in April of 2003.  We fully expect that this trip will be every bit as culturally, educationally, and musically fulfilling as the 1998 trip.

Possible highlights include a return visit to Sapporo Shiroishi High School, and a reprise performance with the very finest high school concert band in Japan, the Sapporo Shiroishi Symphonic Wind Ensemble.  We also plan to perform in Nanae, and, possibly, at Tokyo Disney. 

Be sure to keep checking the 'Hokkaido '03' section of this web site for the most up-to-date information on the trip.