The Lakeville South High School Band Program is a growing department serving over 240 students. The comprehensive program is comprised of curricular offerings including three Concert Bands, two Jazz Ensembles, AP Music Theory, Beginning Guitar, and a host of Small Ensembles including Percussion Ensemble. Extracurricular opportunities include two Marching Bands, Athletic Bands, and Fall and Winter Color Guard. The mission of the Lakeville South Band Program is to serve our students, school, and community while displaying passion and pride!
The three concert ensembles are the nucleus of Lakeville South High School’s band program. The Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble groups are largely ability-based and perform high quality literature. Each year, several students are accepted into prestigious programs like the Minnesota All-State Band and Orchestra.
The jazz program is one of the newest curricular offerings performing a wide array of styles including swing, rock, latin, and ballads. They perform at formal concerts, conference jazz events, outside events and most popularly, Nightclub. Nightclub is a dinner show featuring jazz standards from artists such as Count Basie and Frank Sinatra along with our top performing vocal ensemble, ENCORE. In 2019, the Jazz Ensemble auditioned and was honored to be selected to perform at the prestigious Minnesota Music Educator’s Conference.
The Lakeville South Marching Band is also known for performing with Passion and Pride. Most recently, the Marching Cougars performed in Ohau, Hawaii to honor those who serve our country at the 2019 Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade, also earning the title of grand champion. They performed in the 2018 Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade and received the Spirit of the Parade Award! The band marches corps style and prides itself on its passion and pride. In the fall and winter season, the LSHS Pep Band is one of the most visible groups around, increasing school spirit at varsity volleyball, hockey, and basketball games. In addition to musical ensembles, the Lakeville South Band Department also offers an introductory Guitar course and Advanced Placement Music Theory.
The LSHS Color Guard was started by Melissa Nielsen in 2016 and has grown in numbers, skill level and opportunities! Our Color Guard now has rehearsal and performance opportunities almost year-round from Summer Parades, to Fall Field Shows and Winter Guard indoors shows. Our Color Guard is known for passion and leads the band program’s physical training and body movement training.
The LSHS Bands are directed by Chad Bieniek and Nick Castonguay, percussion instructor Matt Clark and Color Guard coaches Melissa Nielsen and Jonathan Su. To learn more about the LSHS Bands, visit their website at LakevilleSouthBands.com.