Ensembles
We have a number of ensembles in the Neosho band program. We have about 500 students involved in 6 different concert bands, 3 jazz bands, and marching band, as well as various solos, small ensembles, chamber groups, indoor drum line, and an indoor color guard.
Wildcat Pride Marching Band
This organization is one of the largest and most visable in the entire Neosho School District. This is a co-curricular performance organization that is in conjunction with the concert program. The Wildcat Pride Marching Band is a competitive ensemble that focuses on visual responsibilities in addition to musicianship and the pageantry arts. This ensemble performs during home football games, marching competitions, pep rallies, parades, and other community activities. This ensemble meets regularly outside of the school day. Co-enrollment in a concert ensemble is a pre-requisite.
Concert Ensembles
Our concert ensembles are the cornerstone of our band program. In the middle school we have the Beginner Band. In the JH we have the 7th and 8th grade concert bands as well as our JH exploratory band. In the high school we have the Symphonic Band as our auditioned ensemble and Concert Band as our general band. Emphasis is placed on fundamental technique in these ensembles: breathing, tone quality, intonation, articulation, development of range, music reading skills, etc. These ensembles perform two to four concerts a year as well as participate in various festivals and competitions as deemed appropriate.
Jazz Ensembles
We have four performing jazz bands. The Jazz Cats is a co-curricular competitive jazz band at that meets regularly as a class at the junior high school. At the high school we have two competitive jazz bands. The Studio Jazz Band is our premier auditioned ensemble, and our Stage Jazz Band is our second auditioned high school jazz band. In addition, we have the Lab Band for developing jazz students and for those who are learning a second instrument for jazz. Participation in a concert ensemble is a pre-requisite of being in the jazz bands. These are auditioned ensembles with limited instrumentation. Students in these groups learn various jazz styles and improvisation skills. They perform regularly at concerts as well as community events, and contests.
Additional Ensembles
Additional ensembles are extra-curricular. These ensembles comprise mostly of chamber groups with both mixed and homogenous instrumentation. For example, percussion ensemble, brass choir, and woodwind choir and smaller subsets. We also have a performing indoor drumline/percussion club and competing indoor color guard when interest and student availability are in line.