Music Programs
Music Programs Overview
MIHS Band
ABOUT US
The Mercer Island Band Program is proudly no-cut, non-competitive and strives for excellence resulting in international awards and performance opportunities. Close to 300 strong, one-in-four high school students and over 700 students district-wide participate in the grade 5-12 band program.
MIHS Choir
Annalise Rockow, Choir Director
Contact via email: annalise.rockow@mercerislandschools.org
Bel Canto Choir is the concert choir at Mercer Island High School. No audition is required in order to register for Bel Canto. Singers perform a wide variety of vocal music from a variety of cultures, time periods, and genres. This class meets during 2nd period, and is a year-long course. If you'd like to know more about joining MIHS Bel Canto, reach out to Mrs. Rockow via email.
MIHS Jazz Choir is our vocal jazz ensemble at Mercer Island High School. Students rehearse twice per week on Monday and Thursday mornings from 7:00-7:50 in room 503. At this time, no audition is required. Students who participate in MIHS Jazz Choir must also be enrolled in a concert music ensemble: Choir, Band, or Orchestra. All music students are welcome! Students receive 0.5 Fine Arts credit throughout the course of the school year by meeting the 75 hour requirement and passing all assignments and assessments.
MIHS Orchestra
MISD Orchestra Program
An MISD orchestra student’s journey through eight years of beautiful music is both mapped out with high expectations of outcomes and differentiated to his or her personal musical ambitions and passion.
Every orchestra student at any ability level can fully participate in the orchestra program through high school. They will be challenged with every opportunity to perform in solos, ensembles, in a large orchestra, and to compete if they wish. Extra help is provided through coaching in each grade – all funded through donations. From 5th to 8th grade, parents play an important role in their children’s music education – from parent-child lessons in 5th grade through instilling good practice habits and assessment in the middle school.
Advanced students, those who are pursuing music with outside lessons and additional practice, have extra sectional, performance and other opportunities starting in 5th grade. As examples, 5th grade advanced students meet separately on Wednesdays; high school students may have a master class with a professional musician; and in all grades, advanced students are given solos or ensembles at concerts. Finally, an audition-based Chamber Ensemble is a class opportunity for advanced students in 10th-12th grades.