Thank you for your interest in the Plainfield Central High School Band Program! Our performance ensembles at PCHS are part of the curriculum guide offered by Plainfield School District 202. Students that are part of the band program are enrolled in a band class during the school day in which they earn a grade just like all of their other classes. All students that are enrolled in a band class at PCHS are required to participate in the marching band. While there are many other opportunities detailed below, students that enroll in a band class at PCHS are only required to participate in their curricular band class as well as marching band. For information about each class, please continue reading below.
Curricular Bands
Concert Band
Grades Open: 9-12 Term: Full-Year Credit: 1.0 Fine Arts/Foreign Language
Questions about this ensemble should be directed to Ms. Mullard
Concert Band is the introductory level performing band at Plainfield Central High School. Incoming 8th grade students are enrolled in Concert Band by default, and will be moved into a different band class after completing the audition process, if necessary. Performance is the focal point of the class. Students are evaluated by their in‐class and out‐of‐class preparation. During August, September, and October, the content of the class is balanced between concert band and marching band music as deemed necessary by the directors. Students enrolled are required to attend out‐of‐school functions, such as concerts, parades, field trips, and extra rehearsals/sectionals. Students perform a variety of styles of music ranging in difficulty from grade 1 to 3 on the American Band College grading scale.
Symphonic Band
Grades Open: 9-12 Term: Full-Year Credit: 1.0 Fine Arts/Foreign Language
Questions about this ensemble should be directed to Ms. Mullard
Symphonic Band is the intermediate level performing band at Plainfield Central High School. Students are enrolled in Symphonic Band by default for scheduling purposes and may be moved into Wind Ensemble if deemed appropriate by the directors. Performance is the focal point of the class. Students are evaluated by their in‐class and out‐of‐class preparation. During August, September, and October, the content of the class is balanced between concert band and marching band music as deemed necessary by the directors. Students enrolled are required to attend out‐of‐school functions, such as concerts, parades, field trips, and extra rehearsals/sectionals. Students perform a variety of styles of music ranging in difficulty from grade 2.5 to 4 on the American Band College grading scale.
Wind Ensemble
Grades Open: 9-12 Term: Full-Year Credit: 1.0 Fine Arts/Foreign Language
Questions about this ensemble should be directed to Mr. Vanderwall
Wind Ensemble is the premier performing band at Plainfield Central High School. Students must audition for a place in this ensemble annually. During August, September, and October, the content of the class is balanced between concert band and marching band music as deemed necessary by the directors. Students enrolled are required to attend out‐of‐school functions, such as concerts, parades, field trips, and extra rehearsals/sectionals. Students perform a variety of styles of music ranging in difficulty from grade 4 to 6 on the American Band College grading scale.
Co-Curricular & Extra-Curricular Bands
Marching Band (Co-Curricular)
Students in Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble are required to participate in Marching Band
Questions about this ensemble should be directed to Mr. Vanderwall
The PCHS Wildcat Marching Band performs at football games, marching arts competitions, the Plainfield Homecoming Parade, and the Plainfield Memorial Day service. Color Guard is part of the Wildcat Marching Band and is open to any student attending Plainfield Central High School (flags, rifles, sabres, dance). Students that wish to participate in Color Guard must attend auditions and are not guaranteed a place. Percussion students must also attend auditions for placement in either the drumline or pit. The Wildcat Marching Band performs a competition-style show with the goal of enriching the musical and educational experience of all students through the marching arts. Attendance at camp, rehearsals, football games, and competitions are mandatory. That being said, our educational philosophy includes a flexible approach in which we encourage students to participate in multiple clubs, sports, and activities to develop an understanding of themselves, their interests, and their potential career opportunities. The schedule for Marching Band is released every spring for the following school year.
Pep Band (Extra-Curricular)
Questions about this ensemble should be directed to Ms. Mullard
The PCHS Pep Band is open to students that are enrolled in either Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble at Plainfield Central High School. The PCHS Pep Band performs approximately six times at boys and girls basketball games during the winter months of December, January, and February. Students that sign up to participate in Pep Band have a 100% attendance expectation at games and rehearsals as assigned by the director. The schedule for Pep Band is released in November/December.
Jazz Band (Extra-Curricular)
Questions about this ensemble should be directed to Mr. Vanderwall
The PCHS Jazz Band maintains traditional instrumentation of trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and a rhythm section consisting of drums, piano, bass, and guitar. The jazz band performs several times per year at concerts and other venues as opportunities arise. Jazz Band starts following the conclusion of marching season and continues through the end of April. The trumpet, trombone, and saxophone sections of Jazz Band is open to students enrolled in either Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble while the rhythm section is open to any student enrolled as a student at PCHS due to the fact that all instruments in the rhythm section are specifically not taught as parts of the curricular bands (students learn drum set via private teachers, not through their participation in band). The schedule for Jazz Band will be released before students sign up, but is subject to changes/additions as needed.
Madrigal Recorders
Questions about this ensemble should be directed to Mr. Vanderwall
The PCHS Madrigal Recorders perform at the annual Madrigal Dinners as well as the Holiday Collage Concert and may perform as other opportunities arise. This ensemble performs a variety of period-appropriate renaissance music as well as other holiday music as selected by the director. Students may participate in this ensemble based on the admission from the director, but due to a limited number of instruments, students that have participated in the past are admitted first followed by others on a first-come basis at the discretion of the director.
Madrigal Brass & Herald Trumpets
Questions about this ensemble should be directed to Ms. Mullard
The PCHS Madrigal Brass performs at the annual Madrigal Dinners as well a the Holiday Collage Concert while the Herald Trumpets perform exclusively at the Madrigal Dinners. These student-led ensembles are provided with music by the director and are expected to prepare as a chamber ensemble (without assistance). Because of this, these ensembles are most frequently open only students enrolled in Wind Ensemble. If there are openings in these ensembles that are not able to be filled by students in Wind Ensemble, those positions will be filled at the director’s discretion.