ALL BAND STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM MUSIC THEY HAVE REHEARSED IN CLASS AT A WINTER AND SPRING CONCERT. ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING ASPECTS OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE BAND IS PERFORMING CONCERTS FOR THE SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WE HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND. WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO INVITE FRIENDS AND FAMILY!  ALL BAND STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE CONCERTS AND IT IS NATURALLY PART OF THE GRADING PROCESS AND CURRICULUM. INFORMATION ABOUT THESE CONCERTS WILL GO HOME IN THE FALL AND WINTER.

7^TH AND 8^TH GRADE BAND STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE NORTH CAROLINA BAND MASTERS ASSOCIATION MUSIC PERFORMANCE ADJUDICATION. THIS STATE ADJUDICATION ALLOWS OUR BAND TO PERFORM THREE PIECES OF MUSIC AND ONE SIGHT-READ PIECE OF MUSIC FOR THREE JUDGES. JUDGES WILL PROVIDE FEEDBACK THAT WILL ENCOURAGE STUDENTS’ MUSICAL GROWTH, FOLLOWED BY A SCORE THAT CAN COME OUT TO 1 OF 5 RATINGS: SUPERIOR, EXCELLENT, AVERAGE, FAIR, OR POOR. THIS IS ONE, IF NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR, AND IS OFTEN COMPARED TO EOGS FOR BAND STUDENTS. ALL STUDENTS IN 7^THAND 8^TH GRADE BAND ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONCERT, AS WELL AS A PRE-MPA CONCERT. THESE TWO CONCERTS ARE NATURALLY PART OF THE GRADING PROCESS. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MPA AND PRE-MPA WILL BE SENT HOME IN THE WINTER.

ALL-COUNTY HONOR BAND IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR BAND STUDENT TO PERFORM WITH SOME OF THE BEST STUDENTS IN CABARRUS COUNTY. STUDENTS WHO AUDITION AND ARE PLACED INTO THE ALL-DISTRICT HONOR BAND WILL AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR THE ALL-COUNTY HONOR BAND. STUDENTS WHO DID NOT MAKE THE ALL-DISTRICT HONOR BAND CAN BE NOMINATED BY THEIR DIRECTOR AND COULD BE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE. MORE INFORMATION WILL BE SENT HOME IN THE WINTER.

ALL-DISTRICT HONOR BAND IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR BAND STUDENT TO PERFORM WITH OTHER STUDENTS FROM THE SOUTH-CENTRAL DISTRICT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BAND MASTERS ASSOCIATION. STUDENTS WHO AUDITION AND ARE PLACED INTO THE ALL-DISTRICT HONOR BAND WILL SPEND THE WEEKEND AMAZING MUSICIANS FROM AROUND THE CHARLOTTE AREA. DURING THE CLINIC, STUDENTS WILL WORK WITH A GUEST CONDUCTOR AND PERFORM A CONCERT FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THIS IS A HUGE HONOR THAT STUDENTS SHOULD DOCUMENT ON SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AND RESUMES. STUDENTS WHO PLACE AT THE TOP OF THEIR SECTIONS WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AUDITION FOR PLACEMENT INTO THE ALL-STATE HONORS BAND LATER IN THE YEAR. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT WILL BE SENT HOME IN THE FALL.

ALL STATE HONOR BAND IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR BAND STUDENT TO PERFORM WITH THE BEST MUSICIANS FROM ACROSS THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. STUDENTS WHO ARE PLACED AT THE TOP OF THEIR SECTIONS IN THE ALL-DISTRICT HONOR BAND WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AUDITION FOR THE ALL-STATE BAND. DURING THE ALL-STATE CLINIC, STUDENTS WILL WORK WITH A GUEST CONDUCTOR AND PERFORM A CONCERT FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THE CLINIC IS HOSTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA GREENSBORO. THIS IS A HUGE HONOR THAT STUDENTS SHOULD DOCUMENT ON SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AND RESUMES. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT WILL BE SENT HOME IN THE WINTER FOR STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY.

SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL IS A FUN OPPORTUNITY BAND STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN TO SHOW OFF THEIR HARD WORK AND MUSICAL SKILLS AS INDIVIDUALS OR IN SMALL GROUPS. EVERY YEAR, HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS FROM THE SOUTH-CENTRAL DISTRICT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BAND MASTERS ASSOCIATION PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT BY PERFORMING A PIECE OF MUSIC THAT THEY CHOOSE. STUDENTS PLAY THEIR PIECE FOR THE JUDGE AND ARE PROVIDED FEEDBACK THAT WILL ENCOURAGE STUDENTS’ MUSICAL GROWTH. STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A RATING OF SUPERIOR, EXCELLENT, AVERAGE, FAIR, OR POOR. STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE A SUPERIOR RATING WILL EARN A SOLO AND ENSEMBLE MEDAL. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT WILL BE SENT HOME IN THE SPRING.

THE HICKORY RIDGE PEP BAND, OR THE "SOUND OF THE RIDGE", IS AN ATHLETIC BAND COMPRISED OF DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE 7TH AND 8TH GRADERS. THE PEP BAND PLAYS FOR ALL HOME BASKETBALL GAMES, AND BRINGS A NEW LEVEL OF ENERGY AND FUN EVERYWHERE THEY GO. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO PLAY ENERGETIC, POPULAR MUSIC TO HYPE UP THE CROWD AND CHEER ON OUR MAVERICKS! ALL 7^TH AND 8^TH GRADE BAND MEMBERS ARE WELCOMED, HOWEVER, STUDENTS THAT SIGN UP SHOULD HAVE A 70% OR ABOVE IN BAND. THOSE THAT WISH TO BE ON THE DRUMLINE MUST AUDITION FOR THEIR SPOT. SIGN-UP AND AUDITION INFORMATION WILL GO HOME IN THE FALL.

THIS YEAR WE WILL BE ADDING A JAZZ BAND TO THE BAND PROGRAM AT THE RIDGE. IT IS AUDITION ONLY AND OPEN TO ALL 7TH AND 8TH GRADERS. WE WILL BE LEARNING ABOUT STYLE, COMPOSERS, SOLOISTS, IMPROVISATION, AND CALL-AND-RESPONSE. THERE WILL BE TWO CONCERT OPPORTUNITIES AND HONORS BAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN JAZZ BAND.