2023-24 Awards
Hartman Band Award – Logan J. Merkle
John Phillip Sousa Award – Logan J. Merkle
Louis Armstrong Award – Matthew Creech
Freshman of the Year – Rafeal Reside
Program Mission
The mission of the Archbishop Curley Instrumental Music Program is to provide students with opportunities for self-expression, discipline, excellence, and life experiences through musical performance, fostering lifelong performers and supporters of quality music.
Our goal is to help our young men become versatile musicians, and we do this through a highly comprehensive curriculum. The Instrumental Music Program sets the highest standards and provides the students with a progressive four-year, five-step system of musical requirements and evaluation. Each step consists of sequential studies in applied instrumental technique, theory and music history. The members of the Curley Instrumental Music Program strive, through self-discipline, hard work, and determination, to perform at a professional level.
Instrumental Ensembles
Symphonic Band – The Archbishop Curley Symphonic Band is open to all students , grades 9-12, who play a wind, brass, or percussion instrument. This beginning/ intermediate/advanced level ensemble performs at local, state, and regional festivals and assessments.
Jazz Ensemble – The Archbishop Curley Jazz Ensemble is open to all students by invitation only. This group performs intermediate to advanced level repertoire in all styles, including swing, Latin, funk, and rock. This group performs frequently off campus at local and regional jazz festivals.
Drumline – The Archbishop Curley Drumline is a marching percussion ensemble composed of percussionists. The Curley Drumline performs at on-campus sporting events and off-campus at special events.
Percussion Ensemble – The Archbishop Curley Percussion ensemble meets from November through May and is an ensemble which focuses on reinforcing playing techniques on concert percussion instruments.
Jazz Lab – The Archbishop Curley Jazz Lab is a training ensemble preparing students with basics in the jazz idiom. This ensemble meets once a week.
Instrumental Music Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can my son be in athletics and or clubs as well as participate in the band?
Yes, the many Curley athletes also participate in the Curley performing ensembles.
Q. Does the band take trips?
Yes, every spring the Curley Bands take a trip to perform in a regional music festival. The Curley Bands consistently receive Gold and Superior ratings at these festivals. Past trips have included Boston, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, New York, Chicago, and Nashville.
Q. Is there an audition for the instrumental program? If so, when do the
auditions occur?
Yes, there are instrumental music scholarships available. Auditions for these
scholarships take place in January. Requirements are listed in the Admissions section
Awards
The Curley Band Program consistently receives top honors and recognition at these regional music festivals. In addition, students from the Curley Band Program have earned positions in the Maryland All-State Ensembles, National Honor Bands, and many have earned scholarships to the nation’s top music schools.
Student Recitals
The Honors/Scholarship Recital is for our advanced music students studying in the Honors Instrumental Music Pathway. These students perform a representative solo work with piano accompaniment at a recital in May.