WELCOME TO WILSON MUSIC
If Everything was perfect, you would never learn and never grow...Beyoncé
FROM MS. ELLIS
Hello Students and Parents,
We have a very dynamic and inclusive music department here at Wilson High School. I have been a part of this program since 2010, teaching the string orchestras, Symphonic Winds and Symphony Orchestra (a combination of our Symphonic Winds, Advanced Chamber Strings and Symphony Strings). I have also been known to teach a beginning guitar and piano class when the need arises.
What makes our instrumental music program stand apart is the varied depth of classes we offer (from beginning/intermediate to advanced levels), the high level of performance our groups achieve, and the close camaraderie our students develop and enjoy. Our top groups have achieved high honors, awards, and trophies for their festival performances. Our Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic winds have traveled for performances and festivals in California (World Strides San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles/Hollywood festivals), Utah (Dixie State University clinic/performance and Zion National Park tour) and New York (World Strides Festivals of Gold 2016, Carnegie Hall) We firmly believe in creating opportunities outside of the classroom for students to learn, connect, perform and grow.
The COVID pandemic has affected how we learn and rehearse our ensembles. We are currently working in an online platform but hope to be performing outdoor concerts for our families and the community later this school year. The pandemic has also postponed our traveling and performance plans. Our String Orchestra festival at Knotts Berry Farm and our Symphony Orchestra & Symphonic Winds Spring 2020 performance at Carnegie Hall have been put on hold until this quarantine season is over. We are planning to resume our travels and offer students these opportunities in the near future.
Thank you for your continual support and involvement as we give young people the opportunity to study and participate in this worthy artform.
Sincerely,
Michelle Ellis
“There is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require.” – Edward Elgar
From Mr. Messerschmidt
Hello Music Lovers,
Thank you for visiting our Wilson HS Instrumental Music online home.
First, a little about me. I have taught the Marching Band/Concert Band and Jazz band here at Wilson since 2002.
Before I began my career at Wilson, I was fortunate to play professionally in the Los Angeles area, Disneyland, and on tour with Broadway shows and recording artists. I feel those experiences help shape my philosophy when working with student musicians, and showing them what is possible with desire and hard work. I believe the greatest gift a music ensemble experience gives students is the chance to show what can be done when they work together towards a common goal.
Each Wilson ensemble offers its own unique performance opportunities. Marching Band produces a show that will entertain audiences at football games, parades, and in competition. Members of the Jazz Ensemble develop skills as improvising musicians, and work as a team to produce concerts that entertain and impress their audience.
In a typical year, The Marching Band has 13-16 performances between August and Winter Break, and performs 2 classical concerts in the Spring. The Jazz Ensemble Usually performs 4 shows a year, travels to 2-3 Jazz Festivals, and produces a show at a local music venue.
Due to the COVID pandemic, our work is currently in an online environment. Our goals for this year are to develop individual skill sets in our students, and to produce recording projects that we can post in a virtual concert. Students are not only learning on how to play music on their instruments, they are learning how to arrange, record, and produce music with modern technology that is available. I believe that the silver lining to the COVID era is that more students are learning this technology on a level that would not have happened otherwise.
I am extremely impressed by the resilient maturity of our Wilson Music students, and I believe we will emerge from the COVID era strong and ready to take on the future!
Sincerely,
Mr. Messerschmidt
