The West Bend High School Bands offer a variety of co-curricular ensembles that students in the program can take part in. These groups typically meet outside of the school day and perform separately from school band concerts. Rehearsal times and performance schedules may vary from year to year for each group.
Students who participate in any of the following groups need to register in Arbiter Sports.
PULSE*
PULSE is the name of WBHS jazz big band. Instrumentation for this group includes trumpet, trombone, saxophones, guitar, bass, piano, and drum set. Repertoire will be chosen from the WSMA jazz ensemble library as well as compositions written and popularized by jazz legends like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, and more. PULSE performs each year at the WSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival, the West Bend Rock and Jazz Fest, Wisconsin Lutheran Jazz Fest, and the West Bend Brat Fry. Auditions will be held in October (keep an eye on daily announcements for more info).
WB3*
WB3 stands for “West Bend Brass Band” which is a group designed to perform a unique style of jazz music from the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans. Instrumentation for this group includes trumpet, trombone, saxophones, sousaphone, and mounted percussion (snare, cymbal, and bass drum). This unique ensemble will perform music ranging from classic Dixieland pieces to modernized hip-hop and funk-influenced music from groups like “Youngblood Brass Band” and “Rebirth Brass Band”. WB3 performs each year at the Wisconsin Lutheran Jazz Fest, West Bend Rock and Jazz Fest, and West Bend Brat Fry. Auditions will be held in November (keep an eye on daily announcements for more info).
Brass Wind and Fire!*
Brass Wind and Fire!, or BWF!, for short, is the high-energy East and West Varsity Basketball pep band. This group performs each year at twelve Girls and Boys varsity basketball games and one G-League basketball game with the Wisconsin Herd in Oshkosh. Instrumentation for this group includes flute, piccolo, clarinet, saxophones, trumpet, mellophone, trombone, baritone, sousaphone, drum set, and percussion. Auditions are only required for percussionists. Sign up in November!
Chamber Music Program
The WBHS chamber music program features small ensembles composed of brass and woodwind players in the Wind Ensemble. These groups include woodwind and brass quartets and quintets with a variety of differing instrumentation. Performances for chamber groups include WMSA Solo and Ensemble Festival. Membership is determined by invitation (students in Wind Ensemble).
Solo and Ensemble
The WSMA Solo and Ensemble festival takes place each March at a regional high school. Students select and prepare a piece of music as an individual or small ensemble (duet, trio, quartet) for an adjudicator who will provide feedback and a score. Students will earn medals based on those results and could qualify for the state-level festival if they score a 1* on a class A event. Participation is voluntary and open to all students in Band.
West Bend High School Bands 