About the Mighty Cardinal Band Program

The Bellaire Mighty Cardinal Band consists of several performing ensembles in which over a hundred students participate in throughout the school. It has been the tradition of the Bellaire Bands to hold several concerts throughout the year as well as to compete in band competitions throughout the area. The Bellaire Bands consist of five different bands: the Marching Band (of which the Drumline and Color Guard are part of), the Symphonic Band, the Wind Ensemble, the Jazz Ensemble, and the Concert Band.

The MCB competes at the UIL Region XXIII Marching Competition, HISD Jazz Festival, UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest, HISD Concert and Sight-Reading Contest, UIL Solo/Ensemble Competition, and UIL Region/Area/State bandCompetition, as well as several other public appearances and competitions throughout the academic year. The MCB has been consistently represented with Division I and II ratings at Region and State Solo/Ensemble Competition and Concert Festivals and in the Region XXIII Band.

In addition to musical skill, high academic upkeep is highly stressed throughout the band program due to its strong importance in determining one's character and one's participation in the band program.

The Bellaire Band Parent Organization (BBPO) is the parent organization of the Bellaire MCB and booster club of the Bellaire High School Bands. This ever-growing group is involved in the spirit, assistance, and fundraiser aspects of the band. We ask all parents of current band members to join this important and essential part of the Bellaire Band program.

The Marching Band - Winds, Percussion, and the Color Guard

The Marching Band combines the musical and visual artistic elements to create a high energy entertainment package featured at all BHS varsity football games. This ensemble is divided into three different classes (Winds, Percussion, and the Color Guard) during the school day to accommodate for specific needs. The Marching Band is competitive at local, regional, and state sponsored festivals. This is a fall semester activity which takes place during the football season.

Winds - The wind section of the marching band consists of the various instruments of the brass and woodwind families.

WINDS PREREQUISITE: None.

Percussion - The percussion section of the marching band is divided into battery and pit percussion. The "Battery" consists of snares, tenors, cymbals, and bass drum. The "Battery" is an integral part of the visual picture on the field. The "Pit" consists of a variety of percussion instruments vital to the musical package but not conducive to carriage on the football field (timpani, keyboard, concert bass drum, electric bass, etc.) The "Pit" is located on the front sideline during performance.

PIT PERCUSSION PREREQUISITE: None.
BATTERY PERCUSSION PREREQUISITE: Audition.

The Color Guard/Auxiliaries/Flags - The auxiliaries are responsible for the visual element of the marching band. This group includes flags, rifles, batons, dancers, and gymnasts. The auxiliaries meet during 5th period throughout the school year. In the spring this group competes independently in the regional, state, and nationwide competition called "Winter Guard International."

PREREQUISITE: Audition.

Marching Band Contests/Festivals

The marching band competes at the VARSITY classification at all competitions and festivals that it attends and has the privilege to compete with nationally-ranked bands at the UIL Region XXIII Marching Competition. Bellaire is one of the few HISD schools that compete at the varsity level at the UIL Region IX Marching Contest. "One becomes great when he surrounds himself with great people."

  • Blinn College Marching Contest
  • UIL Region IX Marching Contest
  • Sam Houston University Marching Contest

Winterguard Contests/Festivals

  • Clear Brook HS Invitational
  • Cypress Falls HS Invitational
  • Texas Colorguard Circuit Championships

The Symphonic Band

The Symphonic Band is the fall semester concert band and is comprised of the Marching Band when the football season comes to a close. This group performs concert literature ranging from classical pieces such as Mahler's Symphony No.3 to selections of themes from well-known popular venue. The SB holds its only concert at the Winter Concert, which takes place at the end of the first semester.

PREREQUISITE: Marching Band.

The Wind Ensemble

The Wind Ensemble is the premier MCB concert band which convenes during the second semester and performs the highest grade concert literature available. Local auditions, which take place at the end of the first semester at BHS, participation in the UIL Region IX Band Auditions and/or UIL Solo/Ensemble Competition, participation in the Marching Band during the fall semester as well as high academic upkeep are all prerequisites for admission into this group. This band competes at the UIL Region IX Concert and Sight-Reading Contest as well as the HISD Concert Festival and performs at two concerts a year as well as at special events.

PREREQUISITE: Marching Band, Audition, high academic upkeep.

Wind Ensemble Contests/Festivals

The Wind Ensemble competes at the VARSITY classification at all competitions and festivals that it attends and has the privilege and opportunity to compete with nationally-ranked bands at the UIL Region XXIII Concert and Sight-reading Festival and HISD Concert and Sight-reading Festival.

  • HISD Concert and Sight-reading Festival
  • UIL Region XXIII Concert and Sight-reading Festival

The Jazz Ensemble

This ensemble consists of a small group of musicians, who perform more popular styles of musical literature such as traditional and contemporary jazz, latin, and rock-n-roll musical styles rather than concert literature. Unlike all the other bands, this band is active throughout the entire school year, meaning it convenes in the first semester and continues through the second semester. Instrumentation in this group consists of saxophones, trombones, trumpet, bass guitar, piano, and a rhythm section (percussion - including the drum kit, congas, bongos, etc.) This group performs at all band concerts and represents BHS at regional and state jazz festivals.

PREREQUISITE: Freshmen must participate in Marching Band; Audition; high academic upkeep.

Jazz Ensemble Contests/Festivals

The Jazz Ensemble competes at the VARSITY classification at all competitions and festivals that it attends.

  • HISD Jazz Festival

The Concert Band

This group convenes in the second semester and is open to all musicians who desire to perform concert literature and to those students who seek refinement in their musical skills prior to enrollment into the Wind Ensemble. No audition is required to join this performing group, however, prospective members should have some previous band experience as well as to meet with the Band Director before enrollment into this performing group. The Concert Band performs one to two times a year in the second semester.

PREREQUISITE: Meeting with Director