ABOUT

Welcome Incoming Sheldon High School Band & Color Guard Members!

We are looking forward to having you all join the award winning Sheldon High School Band & Color Guard Program. The program has had an amazing 2023-24 school year full of concerts, festivals, and competitive performances. Here’s a few highlights of our successes this year:

Marching Band & Color Guard finished in 8th place at the Northwest Marching Band Championships. The Sheldon Marching Band & Color Guard is the only competitive marching band in Lane County.
Sheldon Jazz Combos placed 1st & 3rd at the Pleasant Hill Jazz Festival
Sheldon Winter Color Guard won 4th place at the Northwest Winter Guard Championships
Sheldon Wind Ensemble won the OSAA 6A Southwestern League Band Competition & will be competing at the OSAA State Band Festival on May 11th. This is the first time that a band from Lane County has won the league festival.

In Eugene, Oregon, we are a fast-growing high school music and performing arts program with unlimited potential. Since 1963, our concert bands, jazz bands and marching band have created music for our Eugene community to enjoy. Over the years, a lot has changed about Sheldon's music program, but our band has sustained a few core values-- the drive and motivation to always reach a higher level of perfection, the value of working together and building friendships through the music we create, and the commitment to giving back to our community that so generously supports us.

Our bands play advanced music and learn it at an exceptional rate, all under the direction of our Director of Bands, Ms. Julie Bounds. In addition to performing at concerts and festivals, we play around our community at various venues, at school functions; such as football games, basketball games, and school-wide assemblies. With Ms. Bounds, our enthusiastic leadership council, motivated students, and a supportive group of parents, alumni, and community members, the Sheldon High School Band and Color Guard truly has unlimited potential!

How Does Band Work in High School?

In high school we have three general types of bands: Concert Bands, Marching Band, and Jazz bands.

At Sheldon HS, each 9th grade band member will be automatically registered for Symphonic Band. In addition any 9th graders who want to join our marching band for the marching band needs complete the NEW MEMBER FORM and attend our August marching band camp (required for all members).

Symphonic Band is band class that meets during the regular school day. You will review instrument fundamentals, pep band music and new music for our concert.

All band members may audition for a zero period jazz band in September after schools starts.

We highly encourage all of our members to participate in the Marching Band & Color Guard that takes place during fall semester after school. Please see the Marching Band page for more information.

Traveling

Not many people know this, but the band travels all around the region, performing and competing at jazz and music festivals, state football playoffs, semi annual trips, and marching band competitions. These activities occasionally take place during the school day but primarily on weekends.

Extra Band Activities

In support of our love for music, we enourage and support students to take on other activities such as Western International Band Clinic (WIBC), Music in May, solo ensembles, summer camps, Oregon Ambassadors of Music, chamber groups, and more! We will gratefully help our students find what music suites them best and how to fulfill our students' needs.

The 8 Myths About the Sheldon HS Band

Myth #1: I won’t have time to do band in high school: In high school you have many choices for classes, activities, sports, and clubs. Truth: What's great about the Sheldon Bands is that all of us register for one band per trimester. Ms. Bounds works with each students' unique schedule if and when conflicts arise between sports and other activities. Band students can choose to participate in jazz bands and other activities such as honor bands and basketball pep band.

Myth #2: I want to be in marching band as a freshman, but I heard it was hard to get in. Truth: If you are interested simply contact the director, Ms. Bounds at sheldonhsband@gmail.com to apply.

Myth #3: I can’t do Band and _______ (IHS/Honors/SI/Languages/Sports/etc.). Truth: We have several students in the band that participate in IHS, honors courses, advanced language programs, sports, and other activities. Each student’s schedule and situation is unique and we work with each student to allow them to participate in the program!

Myth #4: I am not good enough to do high school band. Truth: The high school band members all come from different musical backgrounds and levels. It’s our job to help you grow into the best musician that you can be!

Myth #5: Band won’t be the same as it was in middle school. Truth: You are right! It won’t be the same but that doesn’t mean it won’t be awesome. You will get to meet many more students, play in concerts, attend festivals and participate in BAND TRIPS!!!

Myth #6: I am not going to be a professional musicians, so why should I keep playing? Truth: Participating in music doesn’t have to be tied to a career. You can participate in music because you love it! You can continue playing music after high school and not be a music major or make it a career!

Myth #7: Marching Band Camp is too hard! Truth: Marching Band camp is a required camp that lasts from 9am-5pm the two weeks before school starts. Detailed schedules are provided in the spring for all marching band members. The band camp is actually a day camp that focuses on teaching the students basic marching band techniques and the drill moves for the show. The camp also includes music rehearsals and sectionals. What's great about marching band camp is that the days are spent doing marching and music rehearsals, so you aren't marching the entire time! We also have a lot of social events, learn our fun pep band music to play at games, play community gigs (last year we played an Em's Baseball game during band camp), and have snacks daily! We spend a lot of time repeating things so learning how to march and learning how to memorize your music will actually be much easier than you probably think!

If you have any further questions or are seeking more information, email Ms. Bounds at sheldonhsband@gmail.com or call/text her at (971) 808-0341.