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Husky Bands represent North High School in Eau Claire, WI and are directed by Scott Hensiak. Band 9 Incoming students spend one year performing with Band 9, or "Frosh Band." The main objective of Band 9 is to have fun and play a lot! Band 9 performs at the Holiday Concert, Mid-Winter Concert, Pops Concert, and makes up one very important third of the Husky Marching Band. Varsity Band Varsity Band is the first of two upper-division bands at NHS. Made up of 10-12th grade students and select freshmen, Varsity Band aims to have fun enjoying music while taking the next steps toward musical excellence. Varsity Band performs at the Holiday Concert, Mid-Winter Concert, Pops Concert, and as part of the Husky Marching Band Wind Ensemble Wind Ensemble is the most advanced concert ensemble at NHS. Auditioned 10-12th grade students and select freshmen, Wind Ensemble is responsible for performing the most challenging concert music and for setting the bar high at North. Wind Ensemble performs at the Holiday Concert, Mid-Winter Concert, Large Group Contest, Pops Concert, and as part of the Husky Marching Band. Jazz Orchestra Jazz Orchestra is the top-level jazz ensemble at NHS that meets daily as a curricular class. Made up of 10-12th grade students, Jazz Orchestra performs challenging repertoire based in Swing, Latin, Rock, and Contemporary jazz styles while emphasizing a strong understanding of jazz improvisation. Jazz Orchestra performs at the Monster Bash for the Eau Claire Children's Theater, the Fall Jazz Concert, Winter Jazz Concert, Big Band Bash at North High School, and at various jazz festivals throughout the region. Jazz Workshop Jazz Workshop is the entry level jazz ensemble at North High School. Class meets every other day opposite a study hall during 6th hour. Emphasis is put on the basics of jazz styles--Swing, Latin, and Rock, while beginning the journey of jazz improvisation over blues and basic chord progressions. Jazz Workshop performs at the Fall and Winter Jazz Concerts, Big Band Bash, select jazz festivals, including the UW-Eau Claire Jazz Festival.
About the Director
Scott Hensiak came to North High School in Fall 2018. Prior to teaching at North High School, Mr. Hensiak taught for three years at Memorial High School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and two years of teaching at Unity High School in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin. Mr. Hensiak currently serves as the artistic director for the Chippewa Valley Jazz Orchestra, a group in which he has also played saxophone. Mr. Hensiak attended the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire for music education, studying saxophone and playing in the prestigious Jazz Ensemble I and in the Wind Symphony. From 2016-2018, he attended The College of St. Scholastica for his master's degree in education. He grew up in Muskego, Wisconsin, where his parents still reside, and is extremely happy that his sister Jill, brother-in-law Eric, and his two adorable nephews Brooks and Grady live here in Eau Claire--they're super fun to have around! Mr. Hensiak and his wife Tara Grubbe (Band Director, Menomonie Middle School) live in Chippewa Falls with their "husky," Brecker. When not talking about band or hitting the dog park with Brecker, their favorite Netflix/HBO binges include The Office, Game of Thrones, and Fixer Upper :)
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