Performing Arts
At Tahoma High School, we believe the arts are an integral part of a student's holistic education. We are proud to offer a wide array of performing arts classes and extracurriculars, where students can express themselves as artists and grow as human beings.
Choir Programs
There are nine choirs at Tahoma High School. Men's Choir and Women's Choir are open to all singers, Beginning Vocal Jazz is open to all students who are also enrolled in one of the other choirs, and the other four choirs are by audition only.
For more information about Tahoma High School's Choir Programs, please visit the Tahoma Choirs website:
Instrumental Programs
Orchestral Strings
Tahoma Strings Website Orchestra Calendar
String Orchestra
The String Orchestra is open to all string players who have had a minimum of three years of ensemble or consistent private lesson experience. Special director permission may be received. Please email Mr. Cole with questions (mcole@tahomasd.us). This ensemble also includes students who play piano.
This ensemble develops intermediate performance skills and beginning music and rhythm theory. Members perform a variety of concerts, festivals, contests and community events throughout the school year. Towards the end of the school year, hard-working members of this ensemble may be invited to join with Chamber Orchestra, members of the Wind Symphony and Advanced Percussion Ensemble to perform symphony literature together.
Instrumental specialists will provide workshops during designated rehearsals throughout the school year. Chair placement and Concert Master/Mistress auditions will be held at the beginning of each concert season. The first placements will occur during the first FULL week of school.
All students in this ensemble are provided additional opportunities such as honor ensembles, regional solo and ensemble contest, combined Tahoma Symphony positions, student leadership positions, a traveling spring tour (every 2 years) and outside community ensembles. Orchestra Syllabus.
Chamber Orchestra
The Chamber Orchestra is comprised of mainly juniors and seniors. This ensemble is an audition-only ensemble open to students in grades 9-12. Please email Mr. Cole with questions (mcole@tahomasd.us). This ensemble also includes students who play piano.
This ensemble develops advanced performance skills and music and rhythm theory. Members perform a variety of concerts, festivals, contests and community events throughout the school year. Towards the end of the school year, all members of this ensemble join with members of the Wind Symphony and Advanced Percussion Ensemble to perform symphony literature together.
Instrumental specialists will provide workshops during designated rehearsals throughout the school year. Chair placement and Concert Master/Mistress auditions will be held at the beginning of each concert season. The first placements will occur during the first FULL week of school.
All students in this ensemble are provided additional opportunities such as honor ensembles, regional solo and ensemble contest, combined Tahoma Symphony positions, student leadership positions, a traveling spring tour (every 2 years) and outside community ensembles. Chamber Orchestra Syllabus.
Wind Bands
Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble is comprised of mainly juniors and seniors. This ensemble is an audition-only ensemble with specific instrumentation open to students in grades 10-12. This ensemble develops advanced performance skills and music theory. Members perform a variety of concerts, festivals, contests and community events throughout the school year. All members of this ensemble join with the other concert ensembles, percussion ensembles and color guard to participate in a fall marching curriculum with level-of-student-involvement options. In the winter, the combined ensembles are split into a "Blue" and "Gold" Pep Band. In the spring, all of our members come together into one large parade band participating in traditionally two parades - one day travel and our Maple Valley Days Parade.
All of our Wind Symphony members also participate in a summer instrumental field show or parade camp in August. There is a $75/semester (Fall & Spring) participation fee that may be paid online, payment-planned, scholarshipped or waived if needed.
All students in this ensemble are provided additional opportunities such as honor ensembles, collaborative Tahoma Symphony positions, student leadership positions, a traveling spring tour (every 2 years) and outside community ensembles. Wind Ensemble Syllabus
Symphonic Winds
The Symphonic Winds ensemble is comprised of mainly sophomores, juniors and seniors. This ensemble is an audition-based ensemble with open (yet balanced) instrumentation open to students in grades 10-12. Incoming 9th grade band students may also submit an audition for advanced placement into this ensemble. This ensemble develops intermediate to advancing performance skills and intermediate music and rhythm theory. Members perform a variety of concerts, festivals, contests and community events throughout the school year. All members of this ensemble join with the other concert ensembles, percussion ensembles and color guard to participate in a fall marching curriculum with level-of-student-involvement options. In the winter, the combined ensembles are split into a "Blue" and "Gold" Pep Band. In the spring, all of our members come together into one large parade band participating in traditionally two parades - one day travel and our Maple Valley Days Parade.
All of our Symphonic Winds members also participate in a summer instrumental field show or parade camp in August. There is a $75/semester (Fall & Spring) participation fee that may be paid on-line, payment-planned, scholarshipped or waived if needed.
All students in this ensemble are provided additional opportunities such as honor ensembles, collaborative Tahoma Philharmonic positions, student leadership positions, a traveling spring tour (every 2 years) and outside community ensembles. Symphonic Winds Syllabus
Concert Band
The Concert Band is comprised of mainly freshman and sophomores. This ensemble is an open instrumentation ensemble open to students in grades 9-12 who have had previously successful playing experience of 3+ years. Concert Band includes upper class band members who are learning a secondary instrument, students returning back to the band program, those preparing for a career in music education, students who have a scheduling conflict with another ensemble, etc. This ensemble develops intermediate performance skills and beginning to intermediate music and rhythm theory. Members perform a variety of concerts and in one festival during the school year. All members of this ensemble join with the other concert ensembles, percussion ensembles and color guard to participate in a fall marching curriculum with level-of-student-involvement options & opportunities. All Concert Winds members default to our Fall Parade Ensemble; however, individuals may audition in to the field show ensemble. Email Mr. Cole for additional information (mcole@tahomasd.us). In the winter, the combined ensembles are split into a "Blue" and "Gold" Pep Band. In the spring, all of our members come together into one large parade band participating in traditionally two parades - one day travel and our Maple Valley Days Parade.
All of our Concert Winds members also participate in a summer instrumental workshop as part of our field show or parade camp in August. There is a $75/semester (Fall & Spring) participation fee that may be paid on-line, payment-planned, scholarshipped or waived if needed.
All students in this ensemble are provided additional opportunities such as honor ensembles, student leadership positions, a traveling spring tour (every 2 years) and outside community ensembles. Concert Band Syllabus
Jazz Bands
Beginning Jazz Band (Not offered this year)
The Beginning Jazz Band is comprised of students 9-12. This ensemble is a director-placed ensemble with open instrumentation. This ensemble includes standard jazz instrumentation, plus welcomes additional concert instruments such as flutes, clarinets, euphoniums, etc. This ensemble is a learning and development ensemble open to students who want to learn about a variety of styles under the "Jazz" umbrella. No audition is required to participate in this ensemble; however, students must have at least 3 years of successful previous concert band or lesson experience. This is a great ensemble for students to try jazz for the first time, continue developing their skills and for upper class students to experience more lead responsibilities. This ensemble develops beginning to intermediate (high school standard) performance skills and beginning solo/improvisation techniques (primarily - modal, blues scales, and chordal). Students will also learn jazz specific concepts such as vocabulary, back-tonguing, swinging, phrasing, back-phrasing, etc. Members perform a variety of concerts, festivals, contests and community events throughout the school year.
All members of this ensemble must be concurrently enrolled in one of the concert ensembles offered (Concert Band, Symphonic Winds, Wind Symphony, Orchestra or the Percussion Ensembles).
All students in this ensemble are provided additional opportunities such as honor ensembles, student leadership positions, a traveling spring tour (every 2 years - opposite from the main program spring tour) and outside community ensembles. Beginning/Intermediate Jazz Band Syllabus
Advanced Jazz Band
The Advanced Jazz Band is comprised of mainly students 10-12. This ensemble is an audition-only ensemble with specific jazz instrumentation. This ensemble includes standard jazz instrumentation, plus offers priority to those who double on instruments
- Saxophone/Flute or Saxophone/Clarinet or Saxophone/Bass Clarinet or Multiple Saxophones
- Upright/Electric Bass
- Drum Set/Vibes or Drum Set/Latin Percussion
This ensemble is a learning, development (and competitive) ensemble open to students who want to challenge themselves in a variety of styles under the "Jazz" umbrella. This ensemble develops intermediate to advanced (high school standard) performance skills and advancing solo/improvisation techniques (primarily - modal, bepop, and chordal). Students will continue to develop jazz specific concepts such as a variety of articulation styles, swinging, phrasing, back-phrasing, etc. Members perform a variety of concerts, festivals, contests and community events throughout the school year.
All members of this ensemble must be concurrently enrolled in one of the concert ensembles offered (Concert Band, Symphonic Winds, Wind Symphony, Orchestra or the Percussion Ensembles).
All students in this ensemble are provided additional opportunities such as honor ensembles, student leadership positions, a traveling spring tour (every 2 years - opposite from the main program spring tour) and outside community ensembles. Advanced Jazz Band Syllabus
Percussion Ensembles
Percussion Ensembles Website Band & Percussion Calendar
Beginning Percussion Ensemble
The Beginning Percussion Ensemble is open to students grades 9-12. This ensemble develops fundamentals on instruments throughout the entire percussion family (including rudimental snare, timpani and mallets). Techniques for multiple percussion, drum set, concert and marching band are also included. Students develop intermediate rhythm- and note-reading.
Students perform with various concert wind groups, fall parade or fall field show, pep band, percussion ensembles, solo/ensemble contest and spring parade season. Members perform a variety of concerts, festivals, contests and community events throughout the school year. In the spring, all of our members come together into one large parade band participating in traditionally two parades - one day travel and our Maple Valley Days Parade.
All percussion members also participate in a summer percussion technique camp at the end of July AND a full instrumental field show or parade camp in August. There is a $75/semester (Fall & Spring) participation fee that may be paid on-line, payment-planned, scholarshipped or waived if needed.
All students in this ensemble are provided additional opportunities such as honor ensembles, combined Tahoma Symphony positions, student leadership positions, a traveling spring tour (every 2 years) and outside community ensembles. Beginning Percussion Syllabus
Intermediate/Advanced Percussion Ensemble
The Int./Adv. Percussion Ensemble is open to students grades 10-12. This ensemble develops intermediate-advanced concepts on instruments throughout the entire percussion family (including rudimental snare, timpani and mallets). Advancing techniques for multiple percussion, drum set, concert and marching band are also included. Students develop advancing rhythm- and note-reading.
Students perform with various concert wind groups, fall parade or fall field show, pep band, percussion ensembles, solo/ensemble contest and spring parade season. Members perform a variety of concerts, festivals, contests and community events throughout the school year. In the spring, all of our members come together into one large parade band participating in traditionally two parades - one day travel and our Maple Valley Days Parade.
All percussion members also participate in a summer percussion technique camp at the end of July AND a full instrumental field show or parade camp in August. There is a $75/semester (Fall & Spring) participation fee that may be paid on-line, payment-planned, scholarshipped or waived if needed.
All students in this ensemble are provided additional opportunities such as honor ensembles, combined Tahoma Symphony positions, student leadership positions, a traveling spring tour (every 2 years) and outside community ensembles. Int. & Adv. Percussion Syllabus
Theatre Arts
Tahoma High Schools offers both curricular and extracurricular opportunities in the theatre arts. Alongside classes such as acting, improv, theatre and others, students may also choose to participate in the nationally-renowned Tahoma Drama Club. Learn more about Tahoma's Theatre program at the Tahoma Drama Club website:
Contact Information
Kenneth Riggs
Director of Choral Activities
kriggs@tahomasd.us
Matthew Cole
Director of Instrumental Programs
mcole@tahomasd.us
Melissa Bean
Theatre Arts Teacher
Tahoma Drama Club Director
mbean@tahomasd.us
Melanie Barber
Asst. Orchestra Director
mbarber2@tahomasd.us