The Program

The Viking Marching Band is one of the most visible and successful groups on our campus. They perform at all varsity football games, pep rallies, and other events throughout the community. During the concert season the members of the marching band audition and perform as the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band. In addition, they participate in the UIL Solo & Ensemble competition, All City Band, All Region Band, Jazz Band and Symphony Orchestra, and All State Bands and Orchestras. 

Besides being involved in musical endeavors, members of the Viking Band are very active in other areas of LHS where they are involved in virtually every club and organization offered at Lamar High School. The philosophy of the Viking Marching Band is 

to perform at each individual’s best every time they step on the performance field. 

The sense of Tradition, Dedication, Determination, Discipline and Pride is expected from every member of the organization.

WIND SYMPHONY

The Wind Symphony is composed of the top 45 to 60 musicians in the Lamar Band Program. This group is able to perform major works for bands. The Wind Symphony performs several concerts per year, as well as preparing for UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest where they consistently receive Superior 

and Excellent ratings. The top players of this group also comprise the wind and percussion sections of the Lamar Symphony Orchestra.

SYMPHONIC BAND

Symphonic Band is made up of 45 to 60 musicians whose focus is performance and improvement of technical and musical ability. These students are able to perform works for band in the medium to medium-difficult levels. This group performs at UIL where they, like the Wind Symphony, consistently receive Superior and Excellent ratings.

CONCERT BAND

The Concert Band is made up of 45 to 60 students working their way up to medium difficulty music. These students meet together in the fall to work on music for the marching band, as well as improving playing fundamentals. Students in the Concert Band will prepare music for concerts, competition, and participation in UIL Contest when instrumentation allows.

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE

The Percussion Ensemble class is designed to give the students a chance to study percussion of all genres. In the Fall, they focus mainly on marching percussion and All-Region music, which helps the students better understand music and their role in the band program, as well as preparing them for city- and region-wide competition. In the Spring, they focus strictly on concert percussion, exposing students to all aspects of percussion and not limiting anyone to one discipline. This enhances the band program by giving the students a well-rounded percussion musical experience. The Band of Americas accepted the Lamar Percussion Ensemble to perform in Indianapolis March 2009, where Lamar was in the first seed group out of five groups made up of 25 ensembles from across the nation.

JAZZ ENSEMBLE

The Jazz Ensemble consists mainly of students who are interested in Jazz and are participating in their second, third or fourth year of high school band. This group works on developing all jazz styles and improvisation. The Jazz Ensemble competes at several jazz festivals in the area. The jazz ensemble has participated in the Essentially Ellington national jazz program for over 9 years.

COLOR GUARD AND WINTER GUARD

The color guard is the visual ensemble that enhances the marching band in the fall. The guard auditions in the spring and rehearses throughout the summer and fall along with the rest of the marching band. Students train extensively in dance and traditional and non-traditional color guard equipment. After marching season, the member of the color guard go immediately into winter guard season where they perform indoors against 50+ other winter guards in the north Texas area. The Lamar winter guard has been extremely successful over the years including last year where they won the class at many NTCA competitions. The guard also marches in the 4th of July parade and often performs on the spring band trip.