CCHS Symphony Band Ethos: “Developing The Artist”:
“The artist has all the skills of the player and the musician, but the artist is also a creator. The artist comes to every rehearsal prepared in every way, and leaves the rehearsal with new goals. The artist loves great music making and loves to bring expression and inspiration to the performance. The artist has imagination, this is fueled by opportunity. That opportunity might come in a solo passage or in an approach to style that amplifies the intent of the piece. The artist is a collaborator with the other members of the ensemble, with the conductor, and the composer. The artist is intuitive and original, but only uses those skills in pursuit of the most beautiful performance possible. The artist evaluates whether a piece of music is good or not by how it is composed and what it expresses. The artist has the potential to evaluate the listener’s perception of an average piece through an extraordinary performance. The artist loves music because music fuels his/her soul”
– Allan McMurray
The Cathedral City Symphony Band
The Cathedral City High School Symphony Band has earned a reputation as one of the finest symphonic ensembles in California. It is comprised of the most advanced musicians in the band program and performs literature of the highest quality, with the ensemble’s approach to music making modeled after the leading collegiate wind bands. The Symphony Band has performed in such unique and prestigious places as Carnegie Hall (2019, 2007), The Sydney Opera House (2017), Walt Disney Concert Hall (2018, 2012 and 2009), Symphony Center, Chicago (2015), The Kennedy Center (2013), St. John’s Smith Square (London 2010), Cardiff (Wales 2010), Holy Trinity Church (Stratford, England, 2010), Chateau Vaux-le-Vitcomte (Paris 2011), Bonn, Germany (2011), Heidelberg Castle (Heidelberg, Germany, 2011), and Munich (2011). The Symphony Band has commissioned/been a consortium member of seven new works for Wind Band: “Exuberance” (Eric Schmidt, 2007), “Lux Contrapunctum” (Brett Abigana, 2015), “And Yet, the Sun Rises” (Brett Abigana, 2018), “Fanfarria” (Giovanni Santos, 2018), “Rise” (Adam Schoenberg, 2019), “Smoulder” (Andrea Reinkemeyer, 2020), and “Hedge Path” (Brett Abigana, 2023). In 2019, the Symphony Band was named a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors Competition. In addition to this national accolade, The CCHS Symphony Band has also been recognized four times as the State Level Winner for this competition, representing California (2008, 2009, 2013, 2016). In 2015 Cathedral City High School was named as a winner of the National Association of Music Merchant’s (NAMM) “Best Communities for Music Education” award. The Symphony Band represents every background, academic pursuit, and scope of the diverse student body at Cathedral City High School.
Symphonic Band Collegiate Conductor Series Clinicians
Prof. H. Robert Reynolds, University of Southern California
Prof. Richard Floyd, University of Texas, Austin (retired)
Prof. Allan McMurray, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado, Boulder
Dr. Robert Halseth, Professor of Music Emeritus, University of California, Sacramento
Dr. Eric Ewazen, Julliard School of the Arts
Prof. Rodney Dorsey, Indiana University
Dr. John Burdett, Azuza Pacific University
Dr. James Lambrecht, Augustana College (Illinois)
Dr. Gregory Whitmore, Irvine Valley College
Dr. Anthony Fesmire, College of the Desert
Dr. John Climer, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Dr. Emily Moss – California State University, Los Angeles
Dr. Kenneth Tse – University Of Iowa
Prof. Eric Schmidt – University Of Southern California
Prof. Frank Ticheli – University Of Southern California
Mr. Barrie Johnson – Northampton School Wind Band (United Kingdom)
Prof. Jeff Boeckman, University Of Hawaii
Dr. Jamal Duncan, University Of Arkansas
Dr. Mitch Fennell, California State University, Fullerton (retired)
Dr. Armand Hall, University Of Memphis
Dr. Grant Linsell, Mt. Hood Community College
Prof. Kevin Mayse, Riverside City College
Dr. Kevin Sedatole, Michigan State University
Dr. James Tapia, Syracuse University