Instrumental Music Program
One of the more prosperous programs in the school is the instrumental music program. Since 2002, the Bear Creek Instrumental Music Department has been under the direction of Tammy Ahmed. The program includes a concert band, a marching band, a jazz band, string orchestra, winter percussion, and a winterguard, among other various small ensembles.
The Bear Creek High School Winter Percussion ensemble is noted to be one of the best in the state and the nation. Competing in Percussion Scholastic Concert Open since 2006, the ensemble has been the State Champion twice, State Silver Medalist once, and in 2008 was named the Winter Guard International Concert Open Silver Medalist.
The marching band has also been competitive in the state, being named a Semi Finalist in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and Finalists in 2010 after appearing as a finalist numerous times in the 1990s and the year 2000. In 2006 and 2007, the Marching Band was named the Most Improved Band for those seasons. The marching band has a history of strong Drum Majors, the director-chosen students who conduct the band. Recent Drum Majors include: Jason Davis (2003 & 2004)~Flight of the Griffin, Nick Martinez (2004 & 2005)~Fanfare for a Golden Sky, Kyle Jones (2005 & 2006)~River of the Ancients(Jones also won first place in the March-Off of over 600 students at the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy), Dylan Ford (2006 & 2007)~A Dream to Fly, Steven Woods (2007 & 2008)~Gloria, and Trey Tafoya (2008–2010)~Reflections of the Orient & "Africa: Ceremony, Song & Dance." In 2010 Trey Tafoya conducted the marching band to state finals placing them in eighth over all in the state of Colorado. This was the first time in ten years that Bear Creek had made the state championship finals. In the following season (2011) Liesel Feth took the podium as drum major from 2009 to 2011; following her place will be Kristen Romano. The Bear Creek High School Drum Majors attend each year the Bands of America/Music for All Summer Symposium, where they attend the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy. At this camp, they learn valuable leadership skills, conducting skills, and teaching techniques.
In the spring of 2008, the Concert Band was selected to perform at Colorado State University at a showcase of bands that performed very well earlier in the year. This is the first time the Concert Band has been selected to do this since the 1990s.
Read more about this topic: Bear Creek High School (Denver, Colorado)
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