The Bands of La Salle Institute
Nearly 100 of our young Cadets participate in at least one of the bands of La Salle Institute each year. The performing ensembles include the Cadet Blues Jazz Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, and the Middle School Band.
Cadet Blues Jazz Ensemble
The Cadet Blues Jazz Ensemble is a 22-piece jazz band that draws inspiration from legendary figures such as Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, and the contemporary Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band. This ensemble focuses on the American art form of jazz, emphasizing “big band” ensemble playing and the skills involved in improvisation. Auditions for the ensemble are held each spring for the following school year. The band meets Monday through Thursday from 7:05 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. The ensemble’s performance schedule includes La Salle Open Houses, a featured performance at the annual Christmas with the Cadets concert at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, the National Jazz Festival in Philadelphia, PA, as well as the Fonda, New Hartford, and Oneida Jazz Festivals, and the Spring Concert. This is a credit-bearing course, graded throughout the year.
Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band meets during period eight every other day on a six-day schedule. Through rehearsals and weekly small group lessons, the band performs a diverse range of music, including classical, pop, jazz, show tunes, and marches. The ensemble features piccolos, flutes, oboes, bassoons, clarinets, bass clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, horns, baritone horns, tubas, percussion, keyboards, basses, and guitars. The Symphonic Band performs throughout the year at various events, including the annual Christmas with the Cadets concert at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and the La Salle Institute Spring Concert. In addition to group performances, many students also participate individually in the NYSSMA solo festival, competing at levels I-VI.
Middle School Band
The Middle School Band meets during period three every other day on a six-day schedule. Through regular rehearsals and weekly small group lessons, students in this band perform a variety of musical styles at difficulty levels ranging from grades 1 to 2.5. Using the same instruments as the Symphonic Band, but on a smaller scale, the group performs at the annual “Christmas with the Cadets” concert and the La Salle Institute Spring Concert. This is a credit-bearing course, graded throughout the year.
