BAND

The Blessed Sacrament Band Program officially begins in the Fifth grade with Beginning Band. Generally, students choose to play an instrument from the Woodwind, Brass, or Percussion families of instruments. Starting near the end of August, on Mondays, the students meet for sectional instrument instruction during the school day. Their lesson times are rotated so that they do not miss the same academic class instruction each week. Beginning in October, they meet as a band ensemble before school on Mondays. They play in the annual Christmas Concert in December and the annual Parents' Day Spring Concert on the First Friday in May.  They also participate in the annual Arts in Education programming held outdoors at the Peoria County Courthouse Mall, in April.  Over the past several years, the Beginning Band has provided the National Anthem for the Peoria Chiefs minor league baseball team in May.

The Concert Band is comprised of 6-8 grade students who have had previous experience with their instrument. Concert Band meets for sectional instrument instruction on Fridays during the school day.  Their lesson times are rotated so they do not miss the same academic class instruction each week. They meet as a complete band on Fridays after school. Concert Band provides music for First Friday Benediction, several times during the school year. They also provide music for the parish Mass that begins Catholic Schools Week the last Sunday in January and the Eighth Grade Graduation liturgy in late May. Besides liturgical music, they play in the annual Christmas Concert in December and the annual Parents' Day Spring Concert held on the First Friday in May. They also participate in the annual Arts in Education programming held outdoors at the Peoria County Courthouse Mall in late April. Recently, the Concert Band has also played the National Anthem at a Peoria Rivermen hockey game and also at the Peoria Chiefs baseball game. As members of the Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA), our band students participate in the annual adjudicated Band Contest in February. For this event, we have combined our band with other local Catholic School Bands, notably Holy Family School of Peoria, and St. Patrick School in Washington. Individual band members also participated in the annual Solo and Ensemble Contest held at Illinois Central College in March.

There is a separate activity fee associated with this instruction. We are proud of the Band tradition at Blessed Sacrament School and its positive impact on the implementation and enjoyment of the Fine Arts in our community.