Ensembles of Berkley High School
Marching Band | 1st-Semester | 1 Period
The Marching Band is the most visible of the bands at Berkley High School and may include students from every high school grade level. The Marching Band performs at all Varsity High School Home Football games and many other performances throughout the fall.
The Marching Band begins in the spring with some evening rehearsals. Marching Band students must attend two weeks of camp rehearsals at the end of July and the first week of August. Attendance is crucial for each student and the Marching Band as a collective to be successful. Marching Band camps are at BHS and Hurley Field. There is no overnight component to the marching band camps.
***At Berkley High School, we want the Marching Band to be as inclusive as possible, but participating in the Marching Band may not be suitable for every student who wants to participate. There are also different levels of the marching band a student may participate in e.g., pre-game, in the stands, and half-time show. Contact Mr. Thomann if you have questions.
Concert Band (First Semester) | 1st-Semester | Period 2
Concert Band is our second band and is composed of students in all four grades. To be a member of this group, a student must demonstrate musical maturity, technical proficiency, and commitment to rehearsal and practice time. Participating in the MSBOA District IV solo and ensemble festival, and taking private lessons are strongly encouraged.
Students who are not enrolled in the marching band are placed in Concert Band during the first semester of the school year and will be placed in the appropriate band class according to their band placement audition for the second semester.
Symphonic Band | 2nd-Semester | Period 1
Symphony Band is considered the top performing ensemble in the band program and is open to students in all four grades. In order to be a member of this group, a student must demonstrate the highest level of musical maturity, technical proficiency, and commitment to rehearsal and practice time. A student must seriously pursue individual goals on their instrument as well as working diligently toward ensemble goals. Auditioning for MSBOA All-State Band, playing a solo at the MSBOA District IV solo and ensemble festival and taking private lessons are strongly encouraged.
Concert Band | 2nd-Semester | Period 2
The Concert Band is the entry-level concert band at Berkley High School and may include students from every high school grade level. The Concert Band curriculum grows and develops efficient rehearsal etiquette, musicianship, preparedness, performance, and respect for colleagues and teachers. Members of the Concert Band are encouraged to study privately on their instruments and are encouraged to participate in MSBOA Solo and Ensemble Festival.
***There is currently no audition necessary to participate in the Concert Band
Wind Symphony | 2nd-Semester | Period 3
Wind Ensemble is considered the second performing ensemble and is also composed of students in all four grades. To be a member of this group, a student must demonstrate a high level of musical maturity, technical proficiency, and commitment to rehearsal and practice time. Participating in the MSBOA District IV solo and ensemble festival, and taking private lessons are strongly encouraged.
For the 2024-25 school year the Wind Ensemble Class is a percussion focused class. The effects of the pandemic had a great impact on the students participating in music and consequently the number of students enrolled in the band program do not constitute a third concert band. To improve the effectiveness of instruction the Winds and Percussion are split into separate classes. Percussionists who are not in the Symphonic Band are now placed in Wind Ensemble second semester and will combine with the Concert Band (winds class) to perform on concerts. Percussionists in this class will receive special instruction, work on concert band music for concerts, and percussion ensemble music.
Combined/Joint Concert Band and Wind Symphony for 2023-24
*** Pre-online teaching/learning (covid-19 shutdown) The Berkley High School Bands' student participation was over 10% of the total high school population. Currently, the total number of students enrolled in the BHS program is just over 6% of the high school population has forced the band program to combine the Concert Band and Wind Symphony until the number of students enrolled in the high school band program increase. Student enrollment is almost back to normal (pre-covid) numbers in the current 5th, 6th, and 7th-grade band classes. The future looks bright.
For the 2023-2024 school year, students who do not audition and earn a spot in the Symphonic Band will be enrolled and placed in Concert Band or Wind Symphony based on homogenous instrumentation. The Concert Band and Wind Symphony will work on the same pedagogy and music literature and combine for all BHS concert and festival performances.
Jazz Ensemble | Zero-Hour Year-Round | Monday, Wednesday, Friday | 7:30 am - 8:15 am
The Jazz Ensemble is considered the elite jazz band at Berkley High School and may include students from every high school grade level. The Jazz Ensemble is similar to an advanced placement course. Students who earn a position in the Jazz Ensemble must demonstrate and model the best rehearsal etiquette, musicianship, preparedness, performance, and respect for their colleagues and teachers. This select group will also participate in outside musical opportunities when they present themselves.
Jazz Ensemble is a "true" Big Band and an elite ensemble, i.e., 2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, 1 Baritone Saxophone, 3-5 Trombones, 4-5 Trumpets, Drumset, Auxilary Percussion, *Acoustic Bass/Electric Bass, *Guitar, and *Piano. Students in Jazz Ensemble must audition to participate. Jazz Ensemble meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 7:30 am - 8:15 am.
*Open to all Berkley High School Students. Students enrolled in a BHS Orchestra class have priority.
***Students must audition to participate in the BHS Jazz Ensemble
Jazz Lab | Zero-Hour Year-Round | Tuesday, Wednesday | 7:30 am - 8:15 am
The Jazz Lab Band is the entry-level jazz band at Berkley High School and may include students from every high school grade level. The Jazz Lab curriculum grows and develops efficient rehearsal etiquette, musicianship, preparedness, performance, and respect for colleagues and teachers.
Jazz Lab is a novice/experimental jazz experience. All students and instruments can participate as long as they regularly attend rehearsals. Jazz Lab meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 am - 8:15 am.
***There is currently no audition necessary to participate in the Jazz Lab
Directors
G. Jonathan Thomann
Director of Bands, Berkley High School
Artist educator passionate about engaging students in creating, performing, and responding in music, as is critical to the human experience. Mr. Thomann earned his undergraduate degree in Music Education from Eastern Michigan University and obtained a master's degree in Music Education and Wind Band Conducting from The Hartt School, a performing arts conservatory for music, dance, and theatre through the University of Hartford in Hartford, Ct.
Mr. Thomann began his career at Novi High School serving as the Assistant Director of Bands (2007-2009), and Director of Choirs (2010). Mr. Thomann served as the Associate Director of Bands at Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (2011-2015) and Director of Bands (2016-2019). Mr. Thomann directed and conducted the Plymouth-Canton Ed. Park Wind Ensemble at the 2019 Michigan Music Conference and was a guest conductor in 2011 and 2009.
In 2015 Mr. Thomann presented at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael Colgrass and Glen Adsit, Director of Bands, Hartt School in a clinic titled "Teaching Children to Create Music." Mr. Thomann has served as a Challenge Day mentor, RISE (Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality) mentor, and Corwin Student Leadership Program mentor.
Students under Mr. Thomann's instruction have performed at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and The Tournament of Rose's Parade. Bands and Choirs have received top honors at District and State Music Festivals with Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, Michigan School Vocal Music Association, Michigan Competing Bands Association, Bands of America, Festivals of Music, and Dixie Music Festival, and have traveled to Boston, Chicago, New York, California, Ohio, and Indiana.
Mr. Thomann was a free-lance musician and performer in the greater Detroit Metro-area. Mr. Thomann's primary instrument is the saxophone. Highlight performances include a performance at the Detroit Jazz Festival, Thad Jones Celebration concert in Pontiac, MI and the Michigan Music Conference with the EMU Wind Symphony. While at EMU Mr. Thomann served as Drum Major for the Marching Band and performed with Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Thomann marched Euphonium with the Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps and instructed Southwind (2004-2006), and the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps (2009-2013). Mr. Thomann is excited to join the Berkley Community School District for the next chapter in his career.
Doug Engle
Director of Bands, Anderson Middle School
Doug Engle grew up in Royal Oak. In school, Doug played cello until a friend asked him to come play dodgeball at the Salvation Army. When dodgeball was over, everyone went upstairs where each kid was given a brass instrument to learn how to play. Through performing at nursing homes, concerts, parades, and attending camps, Doug learned how being part of a band can be a life-changing experience. Doug has travelled the midwest, Canada, Australia and Southern Africa playing trombone and teaching others how to make music.
Doug attended Central Michigan University and was a Graduate Assistant Oakland University majoring in Music Education.
He and his wife Katy have 3 kids: Clara 4, Evie 2 and Clark (born August 22, 2017)
Carole Hoste
Director of Bands | Norup Interantional School
Ms. Carole Hoste is a brand new addition to the Berkley Music Department. She came to Norup International School in January 2019, where she directs the MYP bands, 5th grade beginning band, and all PYP elementary music classes. Previously, she taught music in Detroit schools for 12 years.
Ms. Hoste is a graduate of Central Michigan University, and an alumni of Delta Omicron co-ed music fraternity. She is former staff of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, where she accompanied their student jazz band on an international tour through Europe. Currently, Ms. Hoste is the music minister of Bethany Christian Church in Detroit, the saxophone and keyboard player for the Heaven Was Detroit tribute band, and a working DJ. She is an instructor for Girls Rock Detroit summer camp program, as well as a member of the organization’s advisory committee. She is the founder of Detroit School of Music lesson studio in Midtown, where she teaches privately.