Ensembles
Jazz Auditions – 2025-26
Jazz Auditions are open! Anyone wishing to play in the jazz program during the 25-26 school year must audition. To get info and download the audition materials click here.
Marching Band
The RUHS Marching Band is comprised of all concert bands, the percussion master class, and the color guard class. The award winning Ranger Marching Band performs for home football games and select away games, as well as parades and contests. During the fall semester, the band rehearses to perform a crowd-pleasing, competitive show. They have received Superior with Distinction ratings at both regional and state competitions. The Marching Band was selected in 2008 to perform at the Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship and Parade. The band is also a favorite at UA Band Day, receiving the prestigious Milton B. Nunamaker Award in 2009, 2011 and 2013. They were the inaugural state champions in Arizona Marching Band Association.
Prerequisites: None. Wind players MUST be enrolled in a concert band class. Percussionists must be enrolled in the percussion master class. Guard members must be enrolled in the color guard class. The marching band is open to anyone who plays a musical instrument. Beginners can be accommodated. Some members may be required to switch to an appropriate marching instrument for the marching season. There may be a placement audition.
Concert Bands
The Concert Bands are divided by year in school in order to allow students to perform a diverse selection of select wind band repertoire. The bands offered at Rincon and University High Schools are Symphonic Band (for upper-class wind players), Concert Band (for freshman wind players), and Beginning Band (for 9-10 graders interested in horn/mellophone, trombone, euphonium, and tuba.
Prerequisites: None except marching band for all incoming members. The concert bands are open to any wind players.
The top level concert band is the Wind Ensemble which is open by audition only. Students prepare music for performances throughout the spring semester, as well as audition and perform in regional and state honor bands and orchestras.
Jazz Ensembles
The RUHSJazz Bands are auditioned groups that provide top musicians at Rincon and University High Schools with a big band jazz experience. The Jazz Ensemble I has performed at the North Texas Jazz Festival, Northern Arizona Jazz Festival, the AMEA State Convention, The Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and at numerous private engagements throughout Southern Arizona. The bands have consistently received Superior with Distinction ratings at state and regional competitions. Students in the Jazz Ensemble have performed in Arizona All-State Jazz ensembles, and many have continued on with jazz performance and music performance at prominent music schools throughout the United States.
Prerequisites: Participation in the jazz program is strictly by audition. The audition determines participation and placement. Auditions are generally held in April. One year of marching band (may be taken concurrently with the first year of jazz band).
Percussion Ensemble
All percussionists will enroll in the percussion master class. In the fall, this group is the marching band percussion section. In the spring, the class is the percussion section for both the concert bands, a percussion ensemble and the Indoor Percussion ensemble.
Prerequisites: None. The percussion class is open to anyone who plays percussion. Beginners can generally be accommodated after a meeting with the director. There may be a placement audition. Fall percussionists are members of the RUHS Marching Band.
Color Guard
The dance line/color guard is auditioned during the spring and work throughout the summer in order to perform as members of the marching band. By adding additional color, contemporary dance and pageantry to the fall marching show these highly talented students add excitement to the marching band family. In the Sprin sememster this class becomes the Winter Guards.
Prerequisites: Auditions held each spring.
Indoor Percussion
During the spring semester students can participate in Indoor Percussion. It is an ensemble which prepares a competitive indoors show. They participate in the WGAZ circuit through the state. Each show is designed to increase the student’s awareness of music and motion and to provide students with a performance opportunity that explores self expression through movement. It is an intense percussion experience.
Prerequisites: By audition. The percussion class is open to anyone who plays or is interested in percussion. All members must be enrolled in the percussion class, except in special cases.
Winter Guard
During the spring semester students may participate in Winter Guard and will be placed in one of our two Guards based on ability. Each group participates in the WGAZ circuit through the state and WGI nationally. Each show is designed to increase the student’s awareness of music and motion and to provide students with a performance opportunity that explores self expression through movement.
Prerequisites: Participation in the Winter Guard is by audition. Members must be a member of the color guard class. The audition determines participation and placement. Auditions are generally held in November. Fall Guard Members are members of the Ranger Marching Band.