Band

The Pinecrest Academy Band program was founded in the Fall of 2009 with fewer than 100 beginning band students in grades 4th-11th. Nineteen months later, the band performed at the Heritage Music Festival in New York City, winning their class, and receiving an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall the following spring. Since then, our private school band has been invited to perform at many prestigious music festivals throughout the world.
 
The High School Wind Symphony has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, and at the U.S. Bands National Concert Band Festival in Philadelphia. Students have performed at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, FL, and even received an invitation to perform for Pope Francis at the Vatican for the “Day of Peace.”
 
Band students have represented our Catholic school well, performing in numerous honor bands, including the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) All-State Band, the GMEA All-District Bands, the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) All-Select Bands, University of Georgia Honor Bands “Janfest,” Troy University Honor Bands, Young Harris College Honor Bands, and the Reinhardt University Honor Band.
 
Although our award-winning Band program is small in numbers, our achievements in a short period of time have been many. Plus, each student is blessed to receive personalized instruction from our director, perfecting their skills and growing in deep appreciation for their instrument. And, band students are able to form lifelong friendships with their fellow bandmates. Some of our graduates have gone on to continue their music studies in college, with acceptances to the Juilliard School of Music, Rice University, and others.

Courses

List of 4 items.

  • 4th Grade Recorder Band

    This class is geared for students who are preparing to play in 5th-grade band by learning recorder.  The class meets twice a week and will focus on reading notes and rhythms, tone development, technique, articulation, breathing, listening, and goal setting. They perform on the Christmas program, Dessert Concert, Lower School Showcase, and Band Spring Concert.

  • 5th Grade Band

    This class is geared for students who are learning a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument for the first time. The class meets twice a week and will focus on reading notes and rhythms, tone development, technique, articulation, breathing, listening, and goal setting. They perform on the Christmas program, Dessert Concert, Lower School Showcase, and Band Spring Concert.

  • Middle School Symphonic Band (Advanced)

    This course provides instruction in the fundamentals of wind performance. Emphasis is placed on tone quality, intonation, phrasing, breathing, technique, reading, listening, and goal setting. This class is designed for the student with a minimum of 1 year experience in band. Instruments offered are flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and concert percussion. Students will perform in concert in both the fall and spring semesters and may require rehearsals outside of the school day. They perform on the Band Fall Concert, Christmas program, and Band Spring Concert.

  • High School Wind Symphony

    This course provides instruction in the fundamentals of wind performance. Emphasis is placed on tone quality, intonation, phrasing, breathing, technique, reading, listening, and goal setting. It is an honors level course and is designed for the advanced musician who has 3 years of prior experience. Instruments offered are flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and concert percussion. Students will perform in concert in both the fall and spring semesters and may require rehearsals outside of the school day. They perform on the Band Fall Concert, Christmas program, Open House, Band Spring Concert, Graduation, and at a National Music Festival each spring.

Awards & Accolades

  • Performed at New York Heritage Music Festival - Straight Superior Ratings, 1st Place - 2011
  • Performed at the National Band and Orchestra Festival at Carnegie Hall, New York City - 2012 (not rated)
  • Performed at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center -2013 (not rated)
  • Performed at the Worldstrides Festival of Gold at Orchestra Hall, Chicago, IL - 2014 (not rated)
  • Performed at Worldstrides OnStage! Music Festival in Williamsburg, VA - Straight Superior Ratings, 2nd place overall - 2016
  • Performed at Worldstrides OnStage! Music Festival at Universal Studios - Straight Superior Ratings, 1st Place - 2017
  • Performance scheduled for the US Bands National Concert Band Festival - Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA - 2018 (not rated)
  • Received numerous invitations to perform at prestigious music festivals throughout the world

List of 1 items.

  • Pinecrest High School Band Program
    Where Eagles Soar - Steven Reineke
    Among the Cloud - Brian Balmages
    Loch Lomond - Frank Ticheli
    Ride - Samuel Hazo
  • Pinecrest Middle School Band Program
    The Cluster Fluster Buster March - David Holsinger
    Imperium - Michael Sweeney
    In A Gentle Rain - Robert W. Smith
    Afterburn - Randall Standridge

Pinecrest Academy

955 Peachtree Parkway
Cumming, GA 30041
Phone: 770.888.4477
Fax: 770.888.0404
info@pinecrestacademy.org