The Ed W. Clark High School Orchestra program has one of the largest high school enrollments in the state of Nevada. Our school community believes that the arts are an important component of a complete education. The Orchestra has a current enrollment of over 250 students. We offer nine sections of orchestra classes at six levels – Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphonic Strings, Concert Strings, Sonata Strings, and Beginning.

Clark’s orchestra has won numerous awards and accolades at festivals locally and nationally. Many community organizations call on the Clark Orchestra to perform at functions throughout the Las Vegas valley. The orchestra has performed at Carnegie Hall with the Clark High School Band in both 2008, 2012, 2019, and now in spring of 2023. In 2015 the Clark Orchestra won the Grand National Championship at the ASTA National Orchestra Festival in Salt Lake City, UT.

The orchestra also made two appearances at the prestigious Midwest Clinic, an International Band and Orchestra Conference held annually in December. To perform orchestras must complete a competitive audition process. Clark Orchestra was selected and performed in both 2016 and 2019.

Clark Orchestra emphasizes the importance of commitment and rigor while encouraging humanistic ideals. Our orchestra is a musical family dedicated to creating life-long relationships between students, music, and education.

The Ed W Clark High School Band is a diverse group of students representing the diverse population of Clark HS. The school has both a comprehensive high school and a trio of separate magnet programs: the Academy of Math, Science, Arts, & Technology (AMSAT), The Academy of Finance, and the Teacher Education Academy at Clark High (TEACH). Clark High School is a Tier 3 Title I school, located in the zip code with the lowest average income in the entire Las Vegas Valley. The school’s population is broken down as follows:

White – 7.5 %

Hispanic – 58.9%

African-American – 12.6%

Asian – 15.1%

Other – 5.9%

The Clark band program is comprised of several ensembles: the Clark “Charger” Marching Band, the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble, the Jazz Band, the Winter Guard, and the Winter Drumline. Clark's band program is regularly represented at the Clark County Honor Band with upwards of 20 musicians, and usually 5-15 members in the All State Ensembles. The band performs regularly in Las Vegas at local conventions and corporate events on the Las Vegas Strip. The marching band also regularly marches in the Las Vegas Veteran’s Day Parade and the Las Vegas Days “Helldorado” Parade.

The William Paterson University Chamber Wind Ensemble is part of a vibrant musical culture on the WP campus and is a curricular ensemble within the Department of Music and College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Participation in the Chamber Wind Ensemble offers students the opportunity to develop technical skills, grow musicianship and to experience the power of large ensemble music-making. An auditioned group, the Chamber Wind Ensemble performs new and emerging repertoire, as well as standard band literature, and presents performances on our campus and around our community throughout the academic year.

The 40 students performers in today's concert represent a variety of degree programs, majors and musical

backgrounds. Additional opportunities within the WP Band program include the WP Prep Band, Athletic Band and chamber ensembles, ranging from Flute, Saxophone and Tuba/Euphonium Ensembles and Trombone Choir to Saxophone Quartet and Brass Quintet.

The William Paterson University Symphony is comprised of music majors at the University, as well as non-majors, alumni and members of the community. In 2011 the Symphony performed in Lincoln Center, and continues to present classical, pops and family concerts on Campus.