Petaluma High School Music Department

Cliff Eveland, Instrumental Director
Elizabeth Robertson, Choral Director

Richard Riccardi, Assistant Instrumental Director & Choral Accompanist

Nick Pulley, Assistant Director & Dixieland Band Instructor

Jon Lehtola, Percussion & Drum Line Instructor

Sarah Kirkbride, Color Guard Instructor

 

PHS Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band

The Wind Ensemble is an advanced level concert band open to instrumentalists with the appropriate skill and maturity (by audition only). The Symphonic Band is an intermediate level concert band open to instrumentalists with the appropriate skill and maturity.  The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band perform at community events, competitions, and numerous concerts throughout the year.  Both groups perform at the Winter and Spring Concerts, and combine to form the PHS Marching Band.

PHS Marching Band

The Wind Ensemble and the Symphonic Band combine to form the Marching Band, so members of the concert bands are automatically members of the Marching Band.  Marching Band students are required to attend a week-long Band Camp at the end of summer to prepare for the Fall marching season.  The Marching Band goes on hiatus at the end of November, but returns to marching in April.  The group performs at several Northern California competitions and events on Saturdays during the school year, and takes a tour to places like Disneyland, Chicago, Vancouver, New Orleans, and Washington D.C. once a year.  The Marching Band has a one hour after-school rehearsal each week on Monday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, and practices during class time as well.

PHS Chamber Choir

The Chamber Choir is an intermediate level class offered to vocalists with the appropriate skill.  The Chamber Choir performs at several festivals and events outside of class during the school year, including the Winter and Spring Concerts, and take a tour to places like Disneyland, Chicago, Vancouver, New Orleans, and Washington D.C. once a year.  The ensemble requires an audition to join.

PHS Varsity Jazz Ensemble & Junior Varsity Jazz Ensemble

The Varsity Jazz Ensemble is an advanced level class offered to instrumentalists with the appropriate skill, maturity, and instrumentation (by audition only).  The Junior Varsity Jazz Ensemble is an intermediate level class offered to instrumentalists with the appropriate skill and instrumentation (by audition only).  The Jazz Ensemble instrumentation consists of saxophones, trombones, trumpets, piano, guitar, bass guitar, and drum set.  The Varsity Jazz Ensemble performs at many community events (including the Mystic Theatre) and Bay Area competitions.  Both ensembles perform at the Winter and Spring Concerts.  Concurrent enrollment in the Wind Ensemble or Symphonic Band is required.

PHS Drum Line

This extracurricular all-percussion group rehearses once a week during the school year, and members are required to attend a week-long Drum Line Camp at the end of summer.  Drum Line is open to any student who is a member of any PHS instrumental ensemble.  The group performs at several school and community events, and at Winter Percussion Competitions during February and March.  The Drum Line currently rehearses on Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.  The Drum Line Instructor is Jon Lehtola.

PHS Jazz Combo

This extracurricular group consists of the most advanced members of the Varsity Jazz Ensemble playing in a smaller ensemble of 5 to 7 players.  The Jazz Combo performs at numerous community fundraisers, charity events, and private parties around Sonoma County.

PHS Dixieland Band

An extra-curricular jazz ensemble that is open to any student who is a member of any PHS instrumental ensemble.  The ensemble specializes in the traditional jazz music of New Orleans.  Rehearsals are currently after school on Friday at 3:15 to 5:00 PM.  The Dixieland Band Instructor is Nick Pulley.

PHS Color Guard

The Color Guard is a coordinated movement, dance, and equipment based performance group open to any PHS student.  The Color Guard performs with the Marching Band at parades during marching season, but also performs separately at competitions during Winter Guard season (February and March).  The Color Guard currently rehearses twice a week after school for two hours.  An audition is required in the Spring, and attendance at the summer Color Guard Camp (concurrent with the summer Band Camp) is also required.  The Color Guard Instructor is Sarah Kirkbride.

Cliff Eveland
Instrumental Director at PHS

As director of all band classes at PHS, advisor to the Drum Line, Dixieland Band, and Color Guard, and the former Choral Director (8 years), Mr. Eveland has proven himself to be a dedicated and hard-working teacher.  For over 15 years, he has elevated the Music Program at Petaluma High School to higher levels of performance; and has developed the Wind Ensemble, the Drum Line, the Jazz Combo, the J.V. Jazz Ensemble, the Dixieland Band, the Annual Mystic Theatre Benefit Concert, and is the Director of the Petaluma Music Festival.  Under his direction, the bands, choirs, Color Guard and Drum Line have placed first in numerous competitions and festivals all over California.  Mr. Eveland attended undergraduate school at San Jose State University, and received his Masters of Music degree and teaching credential from the University of California, Davis.

Elizabeth Robertson
Choral Director at PHS

 

PHS Music Boosters

The PHS Music Boosters is an organization of music parents that provide the financial and physical support necessary to keep the Music Department at Petaluma High operating.  The Boosters main fundraiser is a weekly bingo game.  The game is staffed and operated by the parents of PHS music students in cooperation with the music parents at Casa Grande High School.  The music students at each school set-up the bingo game each week.  Maintaining uniforms, providing transportation, assisting at competitions, and developing fundraisers are other tasks the Booster parents accomplish on a regular basis.

PHS Music Student Leadership

The band and choir classes have student leadership organizations that consist of presidents, treasurers, librarians, section leaders, etc.  These groups are responsible for coordinating fundraisers and activities, and for providing team leadership and general assistance.

Questions?

Questions regarding the PHS Music Program can be directed to Cliff Eveland or Elizabeth Robertson at 769-9650 (PHS Music Office, leave a message).

GO TROY!