Carmel High School offers one of the nation’s best performing arts programs for freshmen through seniors.  The entire community attends outstanding choir, band, orchestra and theatre performances in the high school’s 1,500-seat Dale E. Graham Auditorium.

The CHS Performing Arts Department offers students a full and diverse curriculum (over 45 courses) within six divisions, and serves about forty percent of the student population at Carmel High School.

The band program consists of marching band, five concert bands, four jazz ensembles, and percussion ensembles.  The choral division includes ten choral music ensembles.   The orchestra program includes three full orchestras and two string orchestras. Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Piano classes as well as Music Theory, Composition and Electronic Music are offered. Marching Band, Color Guard and Winter Guard students are enrolled in Dance Performance Class throughout the school year. The Theatre & Film division offers two levels of Theatre Arts, Advanced Acting and Theatre Production. Students may also take classes in Technical Theatre, Advanced Theatre Management and Advanced Theatre Design.  International Baccalaureate courses are offered in Music, Theatre, and Film.

Most recent accomplishments:

Band

2010 - Marching Band invited to participate in the 2011 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

2010 - All four concert bands received a Gold rating with distinction (highest possible rating at ISSMA Concert Band Contest)

2010 - Wind Symphony I ISSMA Concert Band State Finals - State Runner-up

2010 - Hosted the Carmel Concert Percussion Ensemble Festival

2009 - Bands of America Grand Nationals 5th place - 14th consecutive year in national finals and 10th top 5 placing. (Marching Band)

2009 - Bands of America Louisville and Centerville Regional Champions (Marching Band)

2009 - Bands of America Percussion Festival Performance

2009 - Hosted the Leigh Howard Stevens Marimba Seminar

2008 - Bands of America Grand Nationals Outstanding Achievement Award for Best Music Performance at Finals (Marching Band)

2005 - Bands of America Grand National Champions (Marching Band)

2005 - Performed at Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (Wind Symphony I)

Choir

2008, 2007, 2006 - Indiana State School Music Association Women's Show Choir Champions

2008, 2007 - Indiana State School Music Association Mixed Show Choir Champions

Orchestra

2010 - Indiana State School Music Association Concert Orchestra Champions (Symphony Orchestra)

2009 - Midwest Clinic Performance

2009 - National Orchestra Cup Grand Champions (Symphony Orchestra)

2008 - Indiana State School Music Association Concert Orchestra State Champions

2007 - Indiana Music Educators Association Convention Performance

Theatre

2010 - 2nd Place at the Indiana Thespians Regional Conference

2009 - First Place at the Indiana Thespians Regional Conference

2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 - Performed at the Indiana State Thespians Conference                   

2009, 2008, 2007 - Participated in the IndyFringe Festival in Indianapolis

2008 - Participated in the International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland

Tech Theatre

2010 - USITT Tech Challenge Indiana 1st Runners Up
2009 - USITT Tech Challenge Indiana  State Champions

Winter Guard

2010 - WGI Scholastic World Class Finalist - 2nd place in the world

2010 - Indiana State Champions and Gold Medalist

2009 - WGI World Championships--4th place, Scholastic World Class                          

2009 - IHSCGA State--Silver Medalist, Scholastic World Class                               

2008 - IHSCGA State--Bronze Medalist, Scholastic World Class                               

2008 - WGI Scholastic World Class Finalist

2007 - IHSCGA State-- Silver Medalist, Scholastic Open Class

2007 - WGI Scholastic Open Champions-Gold Medalist

2005 - IHSCGA State-- Bronze Medalist, Scholastic Open Class