Greetings Everyone!

The 2008-2009 school year is about to begin, and it looks to be a most exciting year for our instrumental music program.  The marching band season kicks off its season on Tuesday, August 12^th with the first day of Band Camp.  Band Camp concludes on Friday, August 22^nd, and not long after the Simi Valley High School “Marching Pride” Pioneer Marching Band takes to the streets for the Simi Valley Days Parade.  This is a historic year for the music program, in that we will be hosting the 40^th Annual Band Spectacular.  Band Spectacular, our own marching band field show competition, is the longest running competition in Ventura County, and one of the longest running field show competitions in all of Southern California.  This season also marks the occasion of our first trip to a college bowl game.  The “Marching Pride” will be participating in the festivities of the Holiday Bowl this December, in San Diego.  This will be a year long remembered for our marching band and color guard.

The excitement isn’t reserved for the marching band alone, however.  Concert band, orchestra, and wind ensemble each have fabulous performance experiences in store this year, including our orchestra’s annual appearance at the Simi Valley Senior Center’s Thanksgiving Dinner. 

Our jazz season will begin earlier than ever this year, thanks to the return of Jerry Steinholtz.  Auditions for the Latin band will be early and highly competitive, so be prepared.  We also hope to add a second, fully instrumented, big band this year.  Any jazz hopefuls should talk to Mr. Sternberg as early as possible.  We are looking forward to an even more successful Valentine’s Dinner this year, and to a triumphant return to the Reno International Jazz Festival.

This is just the beginning!  Please check the website regularly for updates, and come to the music booster meetings to know what’s going on, and how you can help support our outstanding program.

-Mr. Sternberg