Patrick Whalen
Band Director
Cary-Grove Band
Band
Band can be taken as an elective. Any student with previous experience playing a band instrument is welcome to join band. Students can rejoin band at any time, even if they have taken a break during junior high or high school.
Worried about your GPA? Don't be!
All band students may elect to take their band class as "Pass/Fail." This means that your grade in band will NOT count towards your overall GPA if you receive a D or higher; your grade will be entered as a "P". Any "F" grade will be marked as such and count towards your GPA, but this is an extremely rare occurrence.
Auditions for Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo are held in the fall of each year. Please see Mr. Whalen in the band office for more information/audition music, or email pwhalen@d155.org.
Auditions for Wind Symphony are held in the spring to allow time to schedule classes for the following school year. Audition music is available in late February or early March. Auditions must be performed before spring break. Please see Mr. Whalen in the band office for more information/audition music, or email pwhalen@d155.org.
Concert Band (Band III): Open to all ability levels. No Audition needed. Must have some experience playing in band.
Percussion Studies: Open to all ability levels. No Audition needed. Must have some experience playing percussion.
Wind Symphony (Band IV): Audition-only group. Must have advanced skills on your instrument.
Intro to Guitar: Open to all ability levels—no previous experience needed.
Trojan Marching Band/Drumline: Open to all ability levels. No Audition needed. Any student enrolled in band is eligible to participate.
Pep Band: Open to all ability levels. No Audition needed. Any student enrolled in band is eligible to participate.
Jazz Lab Band: Open to all ability levels. No Audition needed. Must have some experience playing your instrument.
Jazz Ensemble: Audition-only group. Must have advanced skills on your instrument. Auditions are held in the fall of each year. Please see Mr. Whalen in the band office for more information/audition music, or email pwhalen@d155.org.
Jazz Combo: Audition-only group. Must have very advanced skills on your instrument and the ability to improvise. Auditions are held in the fall of each year. Please see Mr. Whalen in the band office for more information/audition music, or email pwhalen@d155.org.
Musical & Fall Follies Pit Band: Chosen by instructor based on instrumentation needs of the show and chair placement in top ensembles (Wind Symphony, Jazz Combo, & Jazz Ensemble).
Performances
Admission is free for all performances. We do not sell tickets, and there are no assigned seats. Donations are always appreciated!
Winter Concert
Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium
Pops Concert
Sunday, February 21, 2027, at 3:00 p.m. in the upper gym
Spring Concert
Wednesday, May 5, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium
Jazz Concerts & Events TB
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Auditions for Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo are held in the fall of each year. Please see Mr. Whalen in the band office for more information/audition music, or email pwhalen@d155.org.
Auditions for Wind Symphony are held in the spring to allow time to schedule classes for the following school year. Audition music is available in late February or early March. Auditions must be performed before spring break. Please see Mr. Whalen in the band office for more information/audition music, or email pwhalen@d155.org.
-
Concert Band (Band III): Open to all ability levels. No Audition needed. Must have some experience playing in band.
Percussion Studies: Open to all ability levels. No Audition needed. Must have some experience playing percussion.
Wind Symphony (Band IV): Audition-only group. Must have advanced skills on your instrument.
Intro to Guitar: Open to all ability levels—no previous experience needed.
-
Trojan Marching Band/Drumline: Open to all ability levels. No Audition needed. Any student enrolled in band is eligible to participate.
Pep Band: Open to all ability levels. No Audition needed. Any student enrolled in band is eligible to participate.
Jazz Lab Band: Open to all ability levels. No Audition needed. Must have some experience playing your instrument.
Jazz Ensemble: Audition-only group. Must have advanced skills on your instrument. Auditions are held in the fall of each year. Please see Mr. Whalen in the band office for more information/audition music, or email pwhalen@d155.org.
Jazz Combo: Audition-only group. Must have very advanced skills on your instrument and the ability to improvise. Auditions are held in the fall of each year. Please see Mr. Whalen in the band office for more information/audition music, or email pwhalen@d155.org.
Musical & Fall Follies Pit Band: Chosen by instructor based on instrumentation needs of the show and chair placement in top ensembles (Wind Symphony, Jazz Combo, & Jazz Ensemble).
-
Performances
Admission is free for all performances. We do not sell tickets, and there are no assigned seats. Donations are always appreciated!
Winter Concert
Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium
Pops Concert
Sunday, February 21, 2027, at 3:00 p.m. in the upper gym
Spring Concert
Wednesday, May 5, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium
Jazz Concerts & Events TB