Carmel Bands

Nearly 600 students participate in a band or guard activity at Carmel High School each year.  The Carmel Band Program boasts 6 concert bands, 5 jazz bands, the Marching Greyhounds, 3 winter guards, concert percussion and pep band.  The Carmel Band Program is known for its quality on the state and national level.

Carmel, Indiana has received the NAMM Foundation “Best Community for Music Education” from 2008 through 2020.  This award recognizes and celebrates school districts and schools for their support and commitment to music education and efforts that assure access to music for all students as part of a well-rounded education.

The Carmel High School Band Program received the NBA Blue Ribbon Program of Excellence Award in 2018. This is a national award recognizing high levels of program excellence in bands and band music.  Bands are evaluated over a four year period on 8 criteria that touch nearly every aspect of the band program. 

The top concert band, Wind Symphony I, is a 7-time ISSMA State Champion and 26-time ISSMA State Finalist.  Wind Symphony I was invited to perform at the 2020 CBDNA North Central Division Conference, the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival four times and the prestigious 2005 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.  They also are a 4-time performer at the IMEA State Convention.  For more information on the Concert Bands, click here:  

Concert Band Overview       Concert Band Accomplishments

The Carmel High School Marching Greyhounds are 6-time Bands of America Grand National Champions and 26-time Grand National Finalist.  At the state level, the Marching Greyhounds are 6-time ISSMA State Champions and have made State Finals for 32 years. The Marching Greyhounds were invited to perform in the 2014 Rose Parade, 2011 and 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades and 2004 London New Year’s Parade.  In 2007 the marching band was invited to play on the USS Missouri with the Hawaii’s Royal Band.  For more information on the Marching Greyhounds, click here:  

Marching Greyhounds Overview       Marching Greyhound Accomplishments

The Jazz Bands perform at the annual Jazz Expressions concert and the annual Jazz a-la Mode event.  Jazz a’ la mode is a three night extravaganza held in our own band room, dressed up as a vintage intimate night club, with pie and drink service. In March of 2012, four Jazz Bands performed at the Ball State Jazz Festival in Muncie.  All four bands won high honors and our Jazz Band I was invited to perform in the evening performance featuring the Ball State Jazz Band.

The Carmel World Guard is a 4-time World Champion in the Scholastic World Class division of Winter Guard International (WGI) and 8-time State Champion in the World Class division of the Indiana High School Color Guard Association (IHSCGA) circuit.  The A Guard is a 3-time WGI Regional Champion and IHSCGA A Class Champion. The winter guard program also offers a combined middle school competitive Junior Varsity (JV) Guard. 

Concert Percussion-coming soon