Traverse City West Senior High - Music and The Arts

Music and The Arts

Traverse City West has an active music program, with multiple choirs, bands (wind ensemble, symphony band, and concert band), and orchestras. In addition to the larger groups, there are also numerous small ensembles, including two jazz bands, small vocal groups (Choral Aires, Bella Voce and Westmen), and some student-led chamber ensembles. Every three years the Chorale goes on a tour throughout Europe. The first time Euro-Chorale went to Europe they won 3rd place in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Two years later Chorale went again and was awarded 2nd place. In 2006, Chorale did not make the festival. They did, however, perform at the Eisteddfod as a general concert outside of the competition. In 2009, The Traverse City West Chorale traveled to Europe again, where they were invited to sing at Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, and to compete in The Musica Mundi International choral competition located in Budapest, Hungary, where they won 1st place in the "Folk Music" and "Mixed Choir" categories.

The school puts on an annual musical which involves students from all fields. Musicals performed at West include such classics as Patience, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Pirates of Penzance, The Music Man, Ruddigore, Les Misérables, West Side Story, Aida, The Mikado, Me and My Girl, The Secret Garden, and The Phantom of the Opera .

The Theater Arts classes put on several different shows for the public each year; in addition, the Thespian club puts on a performance and competes at drama festivals.