The jazz combo class is known as the South Medford Suitz, a small jazz ensemble in the swing band style.  The Suitz perform at a variety of venues including concerts, festivals, competitions, weddings, receptions, and parties.  Students earn membership into the Suiz through auditions held every spring.  Mr. Stan Mark, a retired band leader and famed jazz performer, is heavily involved with the South Medford Suitz.  In May of 2007 the Suitz made their second straight appearance at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, one of the largest invitation only jazz festivals in the United States.  The Suitz will be featured at the upcoming 2008 Medford Jazz Jubilee.  This lively group, zoot suits included, has become very popular and performs frequently throughout the Rogue Valley.  For rates and availablity, please contact Dr. Sharer.

The South Medford Marching Band is made up of all band students from all band classes.  The Marching Band performs at home football games, post-season football games, the JacksonvilleChristmas Parade, and the Medford Pear Blossom Parade.  Entertaining large crowds at Spiegelberg Stadium, the Marching Band is a large contributor to the "college football-like" atmosphere at South Medford football games.  The South Medford Drumline debuted new drums in the fall of 2007 (Pearl drums with black finish).  Members of the Marching Band attend a mandatory six-day band camp during the third week of August to learn their music and drill for the upcoming season.  Students really enjoy this week, especially the evening fun activities.  Band camp ends on a Saturday evening (Parent's Night) which includes a potluck dinner for students and families, a parent meeting, and a performance by the marching band in Spiegelberg Stadium.

The wind ensemble class is known as the South Medford Wind Ensemble and is intended for advanced woodwind and brass players.  The Wind Ensemble performs at concerts, festivals, and competitions.  Students earn membership into the Wind Ensemble through auditions held every spring.  With a grade V and VI repertoire, the South Medford Wind Ensemble is a very proficient and professional ensemble.  For the past two years the Wind Ensemble has placed 2nd in class 6A at the Southern Oregon Music Educators Association Band Contest.  A majority of the students enrolled in this class take private lessons and participate in community organizations such as the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon (YSSO), Ashland City Band, and Rogue Valley Symphonic Band.  Other extracurricular student activities include competing in the Oregon Music Educators Association Solo & Ensemble Competitions, and participating in the Western International Band Clinic (WIBC) in Seattle, WA.    

The concert band class is known as the South Medford Concert Band and is intended for intermediate woodwind and brass players.  The Concert Band performs at concerts, festivals, and competitions.  Students do not have to audition to enroll in the concert band class.  With a grade III and IV repertoire, the South Medford Concert Band focuses on developing student's musical abilities and ensemble skills.  In a sense, the Concert Band is a training program for future Wind Ensemble classes.  Most band students will begin their South Medford band studies in this ensemble with the intent of working their way up to the Wind Ensemble.  Students enrolled in this class are strongly encouraged to take private lessons.     

The percussion ensemble class is known as the South Medford Percussion Ensemble and is intended for all percussion players in our band program.  The Percussion Ensemble is a fairly new ensemble at South Medford, performing a wide variety of literature - hand drumming, ragtime, novelty, and contemporary selections to name a few.  This versatile class also participates as the drumline in the marching band, percussion sections for the wind ensemble and concert band, and is open to beginning percussion students with a desire to study the percussive arts.  Students do not have to audition to enroll in the percussion ensemble class.  The abilities to multi-task and self-motivate are required for this class, as students frequently have to prepare for performances with multiple ensembles at one time (marching band, wind ensemble, concert band, and percussion ensemble) and are expected to work together in small rehearsals groups to prepare selections.  The South Medford Percussion Ensemble is a highly entertaining, visually stimulating ensemble gaining rapid popularity and a "must-see" group this concert season!