Last week, Catalina Foothills High School brought the stage to Esperero Canyon and Orange Grove Middle Schools—and what a show it was! CFHS Jazz Band, Change of Pace (our show choir), and Color Guard performed for 8th graders, giving them a preview of the incredible performing arts opportunities awaiting them at the high school level. The message was clear: if you love music, movement, and performance, CFHS has a place for you.
"One of the Most Comprehensive Music Programs in Arizona"
At Esperero, CFHS Assistant Band Director Ian Marcusiu didn't mince words: "I think it's safe to say that at Catalina Foothills High School, we have one of the most comprehensive music programs, not only just in all of Tucson, but in the entire state of Arizona. I think it's by far the best in Tucson."
Bold? Maybe. But the results speak for themselves.
Jazz Band
Fresh back from their performances in New Orleans in early January, the Jazz Band performed a few numbers to kick off the afternoon.
Jazz Band is composed of intermediate to advanced jazz musicians, with emphasis on improvisation, jazz performance techniques, and understanding of jazz styles and history. Students playing saxophone, trumpet, trombone, drum set, piano, guitar, and bass may audition for this select group, which performs at public concerts, clinics, and festivals throughout the year.
Choir
Representing the choir program, Change of Pace performed with the CFHS Jazz Band. Change of Pace is CFHS's elite a cappella and jazz vocal group, directed by Jeffrey Evans. This audition-only ensemble has earned "Superior" ratings (the highest possible) at jazz and madrigal festivals and performs 8–11 times annually at school functions, community events, and graduation ceremonies. It's an opportunity to perform at the highest level and represent CFHS in the community and beyond. In addition to Change of Pace, CFHS offers a range of other choirs: Concert Chorale, Concert Silver, Concert Blue, and Falconaires.
Colorguard
Band Director Renee Shane-Boyd introduced 8th graders to the CFHS Colorguard—a group that blends dance, movement, and visual performance with marching band.
"If you're in Colorguard, you're somebody who enjoys dance and movement," Shane-Boyd explained. "It doesn't mean you're a world-class dancer. It means you enjoy that type of thing—movement and performance—or want to learn about those things."
And the opportunities? They're extraordinary.
CFHS Colorguard recently won first overall at the U of A Band competition, the biggest marching band competition in Arizona. They've traveled to Ireland, Australia, England, Hawaii (multiple times), and New York City twice for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A couple of years ago, they performed in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. This spring, they're heading to Ireland with the marching band.
During the school year, Colorguard performs with the marching band at football games in the fall, then transitions to Winter Guard—a separate competitive season where they create their own show and compete independently. This year's Winter Guard show, "Underground," explores the visual divide between being underground and reaching for light above. The performance is full of flag work, prop tosses, and stunning choreography.
After the performance, 8th graders had the opportunity to try a flag spin under the guidance of the guard leaders.
Band
On Friday morning, 8th grade band students visited CFHS to hear the Wind Ensemble perform and work with high school student leaders in sectionals grouped by instrument.
Shane-Boyd introduced the Wind Ensemble as CFHS's most advanced ensemble, an audition-based group that includes students from all grade levels based on ability, not age.
"This group functions at a higher level because they know how to play their instruments really well," Shane-Boyd explained. "They develop skills in terms of sound, technique, and knowledge. And as they're performing, they make a lot of decisions that I don't have to tell them. That's why we're able to learn music so quickly."
The Wind Ensemble demonstrated this by performing "Rag"—a piece they'd only rehearsed for a couple of days after returning from winter break (and after half the group had been on a band trip to New Orleans the week before!). After their performance in the Music Hall, student leaders worked with 8th graders by section.
"Any music you're hearing on stage is coming not because of anything I'm doing up here, but because of the musicians on stage," Shane-Boyd told the students. "That's what you're shooting for. That's what real professional musicians do—they have a couple of rehearsals, and then they perform. That's what we're building toward."
For students who aren't quite ready for Wind Ensemble, Shane-Boyd reassured them: "It is also okay to just be in our concert band, because you'll gain great skills in middle school, and our concert bands are thriving. All four of our concert bands will take you to the same great places."
The Bottom Line
Whether you're a dancer who wants to spin flags, a musician ready to take your skills to the next level, or a vocalist who loves to perform, CFHS has a music program designed to challenge, inspire, and take you places—literally and figuratively.
Welcome to the stage, future Falcons.