St John Neumann Catholic Middle School’s Concert Band is an ensemble of 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade musicians. Classes are divided between a 5th and 6th grade class and a 7th and 8th grade class that meets during the school day. Each week, the full 5-8 grade ensemble rehearses together after school. The band is directed by Shaun Salem and assisted by Jay Romines, band director at Catholic High School.
During the school year, the SJNCS Middle School Band performs at school pep rallies, a Christmas Concert in the auditorium with the Catholic High School Band at Knoxville Catholic High School, a Spring Concert in the Gymnasium at St. John Neumann, and the Knoxville Catholic High School graduate ceremony with the Knoxville Catholic High School Band at the end of the year.
Additionally, SJN Band students are eligible to audition for Junior Clinic in Oak Ridge, Tennessee where they proudly represent the Catholic faith community with their gifted musicianship if selected for clinic based on the success of their audition. SJN has been blessed with consistent placement at Junior Clinic for the past several school years.
The SJN Middle School Band is active in the local community, performing in assessments organized by the East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association (ETSBOA) in Knoxville and the Smoky Mountain Music Festival in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. At these festivals, the SJN Middle School Band has received very competitive, superior ratings in each assessment caption for many years and has also been invited to perform at TN State Concert Festival.
Any SJN student or parent interested in becoming part of this award-winning SJN Middle School Band program can email Mr. Salem (ssalem@sjncs-knox.org) to express their interest in this very special program at St John Neumann Catholic School.
