Music Department

The TPHS Jazz Band is one of our two top level bands.  This ensemble performs a challenging repertory giving students experience in various jazz styles such as swing, funk, Latin, bebop, and rock. Students improve their knowledge of jazz history and theory and develop their improvisation skills.

 

The Jazz Band has many performance opportunities each year at school concerts, other school events, off-campus events, and festivals. The jazz band competes each year at the Irvine Jazz Festival.  The class usually travels to New Orleans every other year where students attend the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

 

In addition to playing in the big band, all jazz students have the opportunity to audition each year for membership in the jazz combos.  Combo playing allows students to further develop their improvisation and soloing skills.  Combos perform each year at school events, concerts, and festivals including the Irvine Jazz Festival, the Fullerton Jazz Festival, and other local jazz festivals.  They competed at the Reno Jazz Festival for the first time in 2013.  Combo rehearsals take place outside of school hours.  Combo auditions are held at the beginning of fall semester.

 

The Jazz Band and combos raise money for their trip and program expenses by performing gigs at private, corporate, or charitable functions.  If you would like information about hiring the students to perform at your event please contact the Music Liaisons.

 

 

Enrollment in the Jazz Band is by audition only.  The class is comprised mostly of juniors and seniors.  There are a limited number of open spots in the class each year based on instrumentation needs.  

 

Click here for audition information.