Taft High School Performing Ensembles
Taft Freshman Concert Band
The Taft Freshman Concert Band is the performing ensemble at the Taft Freshman Academy. It is for incoming freshman with experience on any of the band instruments. The Freshman Concert Band performs at 4 concerts throughout the year. They also compete at CPS city band and orchestra festival.
Taft Symphonic Band
The Taft Symphonic Band is the second band at the Taft varsity campus. It is for students with some experience and a desire to keep improving their skill and musicianship on their instruments. The Symphonic Band performs at 4 concerts, the IHSA large ensemble competition, and various area festivals.
Taft Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble is the top band at Taft and is made up of students who have 1 or more years of experience and a desire to excel on their instruments. The Wind Ensemble performs in 4 concerts, attends 2-3 area festivals, the IHSA large ensemble competition, and submits audition materials to the U of I superstate competition
Marching Eagles
The Marching Eagles are a competitive marching band traveling to 3-4 area competitions per season. The band is completely voluntary and they rehearse twice a week after school. Our season starts in mid August with a 2 week long band camp. The season ends after the ISU illinois state marching band championships in mid October
Jazz Ensemble
The Taft Jazz ensemble is a curricular group meeting every day during the school day. Interested students should be in their junior or senior year and have multiple years of experience on their instrument. The jazz ensemble plays 5-6 concerts throughout the year and attends multiple jazz festivals. They also compete at the Regional Ellington Festival and the IHSA large ensemble competition. A select group from the jazz ensemble are chosen to form the Taft jazz combo #1 which also performs at many of the same festivals.
Jazz Lab Band
The Taft Jazz Lab Band is an extra-curricular band and currently on hiatus. The plan is to bring the band back to be a once a week ensemble that meets at 6:45 before school and will perform at several concerts throughout the year. No experience is needed to be in the jazz lab band.
Taft Freshman Concert Band
The Taft Freshman Concert Band is the performing ensemble at the Taft Freshman Academy. It is for incoming freshman with experience on any of the band instruments. The Freshman Concert Band performs at 4 concerts throughout the year. They also compete at CPS city band and orchestra festival.
Taft Symphonic Band
The Taft Symphonic Band is the second band at the Taft varsity campus. It is for students with some experience and a desire to keep improving their skill and musicianship on their instruments. The Symphonic Band performs at 4 concerts, the IHSA large ensemble competition, and various area festivals.
Taft Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble is the top band at Taft and is made up of students who have 1 or more years of experience and a desire to excel on their instruments. The Wind Ensemble performs in 4 concerts, attends 2-3 area festivals, the IHSA large ensemble competition, and submits audition materials to the U of I superstate competition
Marching Eagles
The Marching Eagles are a competitive marching band traveling to 3-4 area competitions per season. The band is completely voluntary and they rehearse twice a week after school. Our season starts in mid August with a 2 week long band camp. The season ends after the ISU illinois state marching band championships in mid October
Jazz Ensemble
The Taft Jazz ensemble is a curricular group meeting every day during the school day. Interested students should be in their junior or senior year and have multiple years of experience on their instrument. The jazz ensemble plays 5-6 concerts throughout the year and attends multiple jazz festivals. They also compete at the Regional Ellington Festival and the IHSA large ensemble competition. A select group from the jazz ensemble are chosen to form the Taft jazz combo #1 which also performs at many of the same festivals.
Jazz Lab Band
The Taft Jazz Lab Band is an extra-curricular band and currently on hiatus. The plan is to bring the band back to be a once a week ensemble that meets at 6:45 before school and will perform at several concerts throughout the year. No experience is needed to be in the jazz lab band.