Fort Zumwalt South Bands

Curricular Ensembles

Wind Ensemble

Wind Ensemble is a year-long, performance-based course, designed to further refine the skills that students learn in Symphonic Band. Students involved will be more experienced instrumentalists. Members are chosen by audition and consent of the Band Director, the spring prior to any given school year. A variety of literature will be studied and performed from different styles and periods of music history, including original band music, orchestral transcriptions and well known and varied standard works for band. Members will be encouraged to participate in district and/or state Solo and Ensemble Festival. The band will also perform in an adjudicated Large Ensemble Festival. Extra-curricular performances will be required. Attendance at rehearsals and performances will be required as a part of the student’s grade.

Symphonic Band

Symphonic Band is a year-long, performance-based course, designed to further refine the skills that students learn in Middle School Band. A variety of literature will be studied and performed from different styles and periods of music history, including original band music, orchestral transcriptions and well known and varied standard works for band. Members will be encouraged to participate in district and/or state Solo and Ensemble Festival. The band will also perform in an adjudicated Large Ensemble Festival. Extra-curricular performances will be required. Attendance at these rehearsals and performances will be required as a part of the student’s grade.

Jazz Band

Jazz Band is a year-long, performance-based course, designed to be a highly selective performing group. Membership is by audition only. Students must be co-enrolled in Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble, with the exception of piano, bass, and guitar, at the discretion of the band director. The traditional Jazz Band instrumentation will be used. A variety of jazz styles will be studied and performed. Emphasis will be on listening to the art of jazz improvisation. Extra-curricular performances are required and attendance is part of the students’ grade.

Extracurricular Ensembles

Bulldog Brigade Marching Band

The Bulldog Brigade Marching Band focuses on merging performing concepts from musicality and visual aesthetics to create something truly different. Stemming from the marching bands of old, our shows now include intricate body movements, complex drill, electronics, and musical difficulty more on par with our highest level wind ensemble. All instrumentalists and those interested in Color Guard are welcome to participate. Marching Band requires significant dedication, with rehearsals going throughout summer, after school, and on Thursday nights through the fall season. Percussion and Color Guard will each have auditions for placement purposes only. The staff takes great care to find a role for all interested students.

Brass Choir

Brass Choir focuses on performing brass choir literature and participates in the State Large Ensemble Festival. All brass instrumentalists (trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba) are welcome to participate. Rehearsals are once a week after school, starting after Marching Band season. Auditions are for chair placements only. The director will not turn away any interested students.

Woodwind Choir

Woodwind Choir focuses on performing woodwind choir literature and participates in the State Large Ensemble Festival. All woodwind instrumentalists (flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophones) are welcome to participate. Rehearsals are once a week after school, starting after Marching Band season. Auditions are for chair placements only. The director will not turn away any interested students.

Musical Pit Orchestra

The Musical Pit Orchestra serves as the live musical accompaniment for the high school's annual spring musical. Most brass, woodwinds, and percussion instrumentalists are welcome to participate, though, instrumentation depends on the production. Rehearsals are after school and spread out over the months of February, March, and April, with evening performances happening in April. There are no auditions, but be aware that the music is typically challenging, so students with experience and dedication to work on the music will get priority to participate.

Modulation Z

Modulation Z is a winter indoor drumline ensemble consisting of students from Fort Zumwalt South, North, and East High Schools. It is the first and only combined competitive performance group in the district. Started in 2010, Modulation Z was created for students who did not have a winter drumline program at their “home” school to get the opportunity to participate in a fun and exciting percussion experience. All percussionists and any other instrumentalists interested in playing percussion are welcome to participate. Rehearsals take place in the evening during the winter and spring months. Auditions are for placement purposes only. The staff takes great care to find a role for all interested students.

Winter Guard

Winter Guard is a dedicated winter indoor visual performance ensemble for our auxiliary members to heighten their skills during the winter and spring seasons. Performances happen inside gymnasiums and are accompanied only by a musical recording. This leaves room for the guard to take center stage and implement complex dance maneuvers and high level flag and weapon work. All interested students are welcome to participate. Rehearsals take place in the evening during the winter and spring months. Auditions are for placement purposes only. The staff takes great care to find a role for all interested students.