Welcome to River Ridge Hawks Band!
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The River Ridge Band includes numerous focused performing groups & ensembles. Performances range from school assemblies to athletic competitions, and large community and regional events.
We are graciously supported by our volunteer organization, the River Ridge Band Boosters, helping raise funds for travel, equipment, music, and more.
Director: John Theine jtheine@nthurston.k12.wa.us
Mr. Theine has led the River Ridge High School band since the fall of 2000. He is a graduate of Western Washington University and holds a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Seattle Pacific University. He also teaches beginning band at Evergreen Forest Elementary and Seven Oaks Elementary. As a musician, he performs with the Northwest Wind Symphony (where he is the Personnel Manager), the Capital City Brass Quintet (one of the founding members), and the Capital Area Concert Band (which he is an Assistant Conductor for as well as a player in). Mr. Theine has also been a past member of the board for the Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia for several years, serving once as the board president.
Our Performing Groups
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Pep Band
The Pep Band performs at home football games, basketball games, school assemblies, and functions, as well as at community events by special request.
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Concert Band
Our non-auditioned ensemble performs at three concerts per year and combines with the Wind Ensemble to form the pep band and the marching band.
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Wind Ensemble
Our auditioned ensemble performs at three concerts per year, biannual performance tours of the West Coast, and combines with the Concert Band to form the pep band and marching band.
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Jazz Band
“Dark & Early” is the motto here. This select group meets before school in “zero hour” (6:30 AM – 7:20 AM) and performs at various concerts, school functions, and community events.
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Percussion Ensemble
This newest River Ridge Band group (as of fall of 2022) meets during the school day in-between classes twice a week, focusing on building percussion skills, and is open to all band students.
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River Ridge Taiko Ensemble
Washington State’s only active Japanese Drumming group in the public schools is a fixture at many local events, has been nationally publicized, and has performed as far north as Bellingham, WA, and as far south as Anaheim, CA, twice receiving an invitation to perform at the Disneyland Resort. This group is open to all River Ridge students.
https://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/RiverRidgeTaiko
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Tubapalooza Brass Choir
A fun and raucous group of brass players who occasionally invite in a percussionist or two, this group meets during the school day twice a week in between classes and works on everything from formal brass choir music to polkas (for our “Octubafest”) and New Orleans brass band music. This group performs at concerts, school functions, contests, and community events.
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Chamber Ensembles
Dependent on student interest, these groups meet outside of school hours and perform at local and state festivals, and are available for other events.
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Capital Area Concert Band
While not an RRHS ensemble, this community group meets at River Ridge once a week on Monday nights and is open for students to participate if they wish to enrich their musical experience. River Ridge Band Director, Mr. Theine, is a performer and assistant conductor with the group. This advanced group performs several times a year between the fall and early Summer.