About our Band


	Great Bridge Middle School is located in Chesapeake, Virginia, one of the five cities which comprise the southside Hampton Roads area. It is one of ten middle schools in our city and has an enrollment of approximately 1350 students in grades six through eight. After eighth grade, students continue their education at Great Bridge High School or the new Grassfield High School.

The Great Bridge Middle School bands have been under the direction of Michael Oare since 1991. In 1997 Mark Gerhardt joined the Great Bridge faculty, after 24 years as Director of Bands at Chesapeake’s Western Branch High School. During this period, the program has enjoyed tremendous success.

The Great Bridge Band program has been honored to perform for the VMEA conference on six occasions. The Great Bridge Junior High Band, under the direction of Craig K. Mills, performed in 1981 and 1987. The Great Bridge Middle School Band, under the direction of Michael Oare, was the first group to perform at the 1995 conference at The Homestead. In 2000, Mr. Oare and Mr. Gerhardt presented a session titled “The Three Little Pigs Go To Middle School” featuring the GBMS Band in a recruitment and community service program for pre-school aged students. The Great Bridge High School Honors Band, under the direction of Rob Carroll, performed for the 2002 conference held in Norfolk. Finally, in 2003 the middle school band was again honored to accept the invitation by VBODA to perform for the Virginia Music Educators’ Conference.

Each year, a large number of our students participate in District Band auditions. For many years the District IV Middle School Band has been comprised of a significant number of Great Bridge students, often totaling as much as 1/3 of the District Band’s enrollment. The Great Bridge Middle School Symphonic Band has consistently received straight superior ratings at District Band Festival, performing grade III and IV music.

Our bands meet in 40 – 45 minute daily periods, where elective and physical education classes share a 80-90 minute grade level block. Course offerings include three performing ensembles: 6^th grade Beginning Band, 7^th grade Intermediate Band, and the 8^th grade Symphonic Band.


	We also offer an 8th grade non-performance based band class, which focuses on music fundamentals in a smaller classroom environment. Students are also offered the opportunity to participate in a co-curricular Stage Band, which rehearses before school twice a week.


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