Band Programs

Symphonic Band performs advanced high school literature and is considered the next stage of musical development after performing in Middle School Band in MBUSD.

This course is an intermediate to advanced level performance-based instrumental music ensemble for wind and percussion players which teaches and develops the higher order of thinking skills involved in the musical performance process. 

With the core principle of communicating musical intent with clarity, students pursue the ability to think and play creatively, collaboratively, and critically as the primary focus of this course.  As a subsequent focus, students will progress in their ability to acquire and apply historical and theoretical knowledge about the music literature being studied.

Performances outside of regular school time are required.

Students in Wind Ensemble will advance their musicianship through the study and performance of challenging band, wind ensemble, and chamber music. 

Students will participate in performances and occasional rehearsals outside of the school day

Students in Wind Symphony participate in the Mira Costa Symphony Orchestra.  This is a performance-based class designed for highly skilled and versatile string musicians selected through an advanced audition process. This course involves a comprehensive education covering a variety of genres, elements, and performance techniques. 

Performances and rehearsals outside of regular school time are required.

This course offers instrumental music students the opportunity to explore the areas of traditional and contemporary big-band jazz music of various styles through group rehearsals and public performances. 

Instrumentation includes trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and rhythm instruments (i.e. piano, guitar, bass, drums, and percussion).

Marching Band takes the musicianship learned in one of the core music ensembles outdoors, onto the football field and into the stands. Advanced training in visually expressing music through marching and movement is acquired through practice during after school hours commensurate with a sports team.  

It is a no cut program and can be taken for PE credit and no prior marching band experience is required.  However, as a competitive "Sport of the Arts", Marching Band is a physical demanding team where everyone performs at the Varsity level. 

Performance opportunities include: marching band tournaments, home and away football games, and local parades.

Mira Costa’s award-winning program is a year-round sport that combines athleticism, creativity and artistry.  

COLORGUARD is a performance sport that utilizes flags, rifles and sabers to create a visual show.  In the Fall, the Colorguard is part of the Marching Band, and performs along with the Band at home and away football games, participates in parades, and competes in Field Tournaments with the Marching Band.  In the Spring, the Colorguard goes inside, and performs as ​WINTERGUARD in the gym.  Using the same skills, the team performs a themed show using flags, rifles, and sabers.  

During the Spring season, Winterguard participates in competitions throughout Southern California.  Flags and Colorguard are offered to all Mira Costa students. The students learn movement, dance techniques, choreography, manipulation of traditional Colorguard equipment (flag, rifle, and saber), as well as non-traditional equipment and choreographed routines. 

This class is open to all levels of participation and interest.  Students who sign up for the course are expected to participate in after school practices and weekend competitions for both seasons.  During marching season, students are expected to attend all home football games and perform at halftime. 

Placement Assessments for wind and percussion players are held in June for the following school year.  Assessments are not auditions - the data is then used to appropriately group players of similar capabilities within the three Concert Ensembles (Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony) as well as to determine part assignments for Marching Band and placement within the Full Symphony Orchestra which is formed from members of the Wind Symphony.  The purpose is to ensure that every musician is placed in the band that is the best fit to ensure that the development level and challenges allow the student to thrive.

There are two Band concerts per academic year - the Winter Concert in December and the Pops Concert in May.  These concerts are held in the Mira Costa Auditorium.  Additionally, there is an All District Band Concert held in February.  There are also separate Jazz and Percussion Concerts.  Each of the bands perform in all these concerts and participation is mandatory.

An Evening of Eclectic Ensembles is now an annual Spring music event where Mira Costa Band and Orchestra students combine in small ensembles to play a variety of music genres.

All bands participate in off campus festival performances each year.  

The MB/X Foundation sponsors numerous High School Booster Clubs organisations and their efforts to raise money in support of of their activities. Donations received are directed to the Booster Club. 

MB/X is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a Section 501(c)3 organization and as such donations received are deductible to extent allowed by law.

The MCHS Band Booster Club is an organization of parents, alumni and community members who provide monetary and volunteer support to the Mira Costa Bands.  By having a student in the program, you are automatically a member.   They  support quality instruction and curricular and extracurricular experiences for MCHS students and promote music education and appreciation throughout the community.  Parents work behind the scenes to benefit all of our young musicians to sustain a truly excellent music program.

The Booster Club organises volunteers, keeps parents up to date on events and all things band throughout the year, including important announcements relating school trips, concerts and festivals.  The Booster Club also helps raise funds for the Band Program as families defray nearly all costs associated with providing for the program; including, the purchase of new instruments, music scores, licensing, coaching fees, concert costs, festival fees, Financial Assistance and other incidentals.