Embedded Files
The music program at Southeast Polk has over 180 students participate every year at the high school level, across 6 different bands, and prides itself on being inclusive to all students.
The Southeast Polk Band Program excels in developing well-rounded musicians through comprehensive instruction and performance opportunities in marching band, wind ensemble, symphonic band, and jazz band. With a focus on musical excellence, discipline, and teamwork, Southeast Polk Band program fosters leadership, dedication, and a lifelong appreciation for music.
Band Update 11/7/25
Hello Band Families,
Marching Band Season is complete! Thus begins the next round of band craziness! Pep Band, Show Choir Band, Musical Pit Band, Honor Bands, Jazz Two, this list goes on!
PEP BAND SEASON HAS ARRIVED!
We are excited for another year of pep band fun, supporting our varsity basketball teams! We have approximately 139 students (9-12) signed up to participate! Our rehearsals take place on Wednesday mornings from 8:15-9:15am in room S123. Here is the link to rehearsal and performance dates and times. If your child is participating, be sure to have these dates and times marked in your calendars. All conflicts must be recorded in the pep band sign up form AND communicated with both directors.
The “audition process” for pep band is as follows…
Attendance: No unexcused absences or tardies. More than 2 absences or 2 tardies will result in removal from the band.
Behavior: Rehearsals are our time to learn, improve and increase the number of tunes we can play in public. Behavior expectations should be adhered to. Behavior issues may result in removal from the band.
Ability to perform the music: The pep band music is available for students to practice. Books can be used during a practice session and then returned at the end of that session to enable others to use the books as needed.
As is our policy in all areas of our band program, work is never an excused absence. The dates are communicated in advance so students can adjust their work schedules as necessary.
Students can receive letter points for participating in pep band as well. 25 points can be earned for full attendance and no tardies. These points will be recorded in May prior to our end of the year awards banquet.
Pep Band is an extra-curricular activity that requires students to maintain passing grades. A non-passing grade in any class will result in ineligibility. The Activities Office will track and provide a list of students who fall under this category and the dates in which they will NOT be able to participate.
Participating students will need to purchase a pep band t-shirt through 515 Creative Designs. A message will be sent via Remind when the shirts are available for purchase.
Each game, we will be looking for some parent help with passing out water to the students during our break. Here is the volunteer sign up. Please consider helping us out! Thank you in advance!
SHOW CHOIR BAND
Show choir band has been rehearsing on Wednesdays after school from 3:10-4:00pm in room S122. These rehearsals will continue through early December. If your child is participating in show choir band, they will be busy! It is such a great musical experience and one that promotes tremendous performance growth. Below are the calendars for each band (not including “just” band rehearsals on Wednesdays) and the contract that was sent home with all students to be read and signed by both the student and parent/guardian. If you have questions regarding show choir band, please contact Mrs. Meunier, Mrs. Logan (Ramification director) or Mr. Carew (Vocal Gold director).
25-26 Show Choir Band Contract
Ramification Band Calendar / jamie.logan@southeastpolk.org
Vocal Gold Band Calendar / patrick.carew@southeastpolk.org
Please note, there are a few students who perform in both ensembles. Thank you for your support through this long season of rehearsals and performances!
MUSICAL PIT BAND
Musical pit band rehearsals have been in full swing and students have been working hard! Be sure to attend one or all of their performances this coming week! 2025 Seussical Tickets & Info. For questions, please contact Mr. Schott.
HONOR BANDS
Each year, students have opportunities to sign up showing interest in being selected to perform at honor bands.
ALL STATE
This year we had 22 students successfully complete an audition for the Iowa All State Band or Orchestra. 3 SEP students were accepted to the Iowa All State Band, one of the highest honors a high school student can receive and 3 students were accepted as 1st Alternates to the band.
Accepted students: Bella Justice on Bass Clarinet (2nd year!), Brett Bergman on Tuba, and Tabitha Mauss on Oboe.
1st Alternates: Jameson Mauss on Euphonium, Caleb Butterworth (9th grade) on Tenor Sax, and Sam Kolsrud (9th grade) on horn.
The festival will take place Thursday, November 20 thru Saturday, November 22. See important information regarding the event for those attending here.
SCIBA HONOR BAND
This is our district honor band and it is primarily made up of students who auditioned for All State but were not accepted. Acceptance is an extremely high honor. There is a cap on the number of students we can take to the auditions. We had MANY students who completed a pre-audition to be accepted to participate in the honor band auditions on Thursday, December 4th at Roosevelt High School. Congratulations to the students on this list for being accepted to audition! Students who are accepted to perform in the SCIBA Honor Band will need to be available for the day of rehearsals and the evening concert on Saturday, January 10th. More information will be available once auditions are completed.
DRAKE UNIVERSITY AND IOWA STATE HONOR BANDS
Every year, we have many students accepted to these university honor bands. Students express interest, fill out nomination forms and the universities choose who is accepted. More information will be available once students are accepted. See specific honor band dates below.
JAZZ BANDS
JAZZ ONE
A performance date has been set for our annual NOCE performance. Plan to check out SEP Jazz One at Noce on Tuesday, April 21st!
JAZZ TWO
Jazz Two is in full swing (pun intended)! Jazz Two will perform at the following events this year:
December 8 - Jazz Two Clinic - 3:30-5:00pm, Concert w/ Guest Artist @ 7:00pm, SEPHS
December 13 - SCIBA Jazz Festival
January 23 - Simpson Jazz Festival
February 3 - Drake Honor Jazz Band (for students interested/selected)
February 20 - Tallcorn Jazz Festival
March 6 - Jazz Two Clinic at SEPHS, Times TBD
March 31 - Jazz Spectacular Concert
GENERAL UPDATES
REMIND CODES:
Please take a moment to make sure you and your student are enrolled on Remind in each class that your child participates in. To enroll, text the code below to 81010.
Pep Band: @25seppep
Show Choir Band: @shchb25
Jazz One: @25sepjazz1
Jazz Two: @25sepjazz2
Symphonic Band: @sepsb25
Wind Ensemble: @sepwe25
SEP BAND APPAREL STORE
Check out the store for all of your SEP Band apparel needs! https://www.515creativedesigns.com/collections/sep-marching-rams
AMAZON WISH LIST
If you’d like to help the band program in tangible ways, please check out our wish list. It is constantly changing and evolving.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
11/14-11/16 - High School Musical Performances
11/18 - Band Booster Meeting
11/20-11/22 - IHSMA All State Music Festival
12/4 - SCIBA Honor Band Auditions - Roosevelt HS Evening
12/5-12/6 - Drake University Honor Band
12/8 - Jazz Band Guest Artist Clinics (Jazz 1 & 2)
12/8 - Jazz Concert w/ Guest Artist (Jazz 1 & 2) - 7:00pm, SEP HS
12/11 - High School Winter Band Concert - 7:00pm
12/13 - SCIBA Jazz Festival (Jazz 1 & 2)
1/6 - Pep Band
1/9 - Pep Band: Alumni Night
1/10 - SCIBA High School Honor Band
1/13 - Pep Band
1/16 - Pep Band: 8th Grade Night
1/23 - Simpson Jazz Festival (Jazz 1 & 2)
1/23 - Pep Band
1/30 - Pep Band: Senior Night
2-6 - Pep Band
2/6-2/7 - Iowa State University Honor Band
Go Rams!
Mrs. Jacqui Meunier (jacquelyn.meunier@southeastpolk.org)
Mr. Gabriel Schott (gabriel.schott@southeastpolk.org)
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