Meet the Director - Band
Jay Gillespie
Band Director
Ballard High School
jrgillespie@seattleschools.org
206-252-1034
Jay Gillespie has been Director of Bands since 2020 at Ballard High School, where he leads three concert bands, a jazz ensemble, a percussion ensemble, and a New Orleans style brass band he developed, the first of its kind in Seattle high schools. Originally from Eagle River, Alaska, he graduated high school from Interlochen Arts Academy with honors and a fine arts award for saxophone performance. He attended the University of Michigan as a classical saxophone performance and jazz and improvisational studies major studying under Donald Sinta and Donald Walden. Upon his departure from Michigan, Mr. Gillespie spent nine years in the Navy Band playing for audiences exceeding 1.5 million as a clarinet and saxophone instrumentalist. Mr. Gillespie performed in, arranged for, and led multiple ensembles in the Navy Band including jazz combos, jazz ensembles, rock bands, concert bands, marching bands and brass bands. After the Navy, Mr. Gillespie attended the University of Washington in Seattle where he earned his degree in music education magna cum laude.
Mr. Gillespie has been honored with the Ballard PTSA Outstanding Educator Award, and his accomplishments at Ballard have been highlighted in feature reports from The Seattle Times and The University of Washington. He has led Ballard’s bands in parades, competitions and other performances at Disneyland, at the Reno Jazz Festival, and across the Northwest. Under Mr. Gillespie’s direction Ballard’s bands, ensembles and soloists have been recognized with awards and top ratings from the Elliott Bay Music Educators Association, the Bainbridge High School Puget Sound Jazz Festival, the Auburn Veterans’ Day Parade, the Ballard Syttende Mai Parade and the Grand Floral Parade in Portland.
Mr. Gillespie lives on the Kitsap peninsula with his wife and two children, and performs professionally with multiple ensembles throughout the region.
Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble is the school’s premier concert band. Membership is by audition only. This ensemble performs the highest level of literature written for the wind band medium by composers such as Grainger, Holst, Ticheli, Bryant, Mackey, and others. Membership in Wind Ensemble is a privilege and not all students will be invited to join.
All members of the Wind Ensemble are required to participate in the Elliott Bay Region Solo/Ensemble contest at Seattle Pacific University in February as either a soloist or as part of an ensemble. The Wind Ensemble also performs at festivals across Washington state.
All members of Wind Ensemble also support the greater school community by performing as part of the Marching Band at football games, basketball games, and parades throughout the Northwest.
Symphonic Band
Membership in the Symphonic Band is by audition only and includes students in grades nine through 12. Students in Symphonic Band perform technically and musically challenging repertoire throughout the year. Fundamental concepts including breathing, instrument-specific techniques, and mastery of musical skills are important components of this band.
All Members of the Symphonic Band also support the greater school community by performing as part of the Marching Band at football games, basketball games and parades throughout the Northwest.
Concert Band
​Membership in the Concert Band is open to all students in grades nine through 12. Students in Concert Band perform technically and musically challenging repertoire throughout the year. Fundamental concepts including breathing, instrument-specific techniques, and mastery of musical skills are important components of this band.
All Members of the Concert Band also support the greater school community by performing as part of the Marching Band at football games, basketball games, and parades throughout the Northwest.
Percussion
The Percussion class is focused on all aspects of percussion technique and playing. Students will learn various skills on mallet instruments, snare drum, timpani, and all other concert percussion instruments. Students in the Percussion class perform as part of Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and various percussion ensembles.
All Members of the Percussion class also support the greater school community by performing as the Drumline for Marching Band at football games, basketball games, and parades throughout the Northwest.
Jazz Bands
Ballard Big Band (Jazz 1) The premier jazz band at Ballard and is one of the Northwest’s top high school jazz bands. This group is by audition only and limited slots are available. The group focuses on modern and classic big band repertoire as well as placing a strong focus on improvisation. The group performs locally in concerts and regionally at festivals across the Northwest, and its members lead regular jam sessions at the Ballard Elks Lodge. Members from this group also comprise the Jazz Combo and the New Orleans style brass band, Ballard Brass. Brass Band meets every Friday during class and performs regularly.
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Ballard Lab Band (Jazz 2) Comprised of students interested in learning the art of jazz through the study of jazz technique and improvisation. This group is by audition only and will contain the instrumentation of a classic big band, much like Jazz 1, and performs in festivals and concerts annually. The group is comprised of a dedicated group of musicians and teaches students the skills expected to enter Ballard Big Band.
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Jazz 3: Jazz 3 is open to all students regardless of experience or instrument. This group will focus on the basics of jazz: articulation, swing, improvisation, theory, etc. but will do so in a small jazz combo format. Jazz 3 performs annually at local jazz venues in a program that includes the Lab Band and Big Band. A great opportunity for students to dip their toes in jazz and see what they can expect at higher levels.
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Jazz Band 1 meets daily before school (7:45am) for credit.
Jazz Band 2 meets M, W, F before school (7:45am) for credit
Jazz Band 3 meets Tu, Th, F before school (7:45am) for credit
Students should also enroll in band, orchestra or choir to play in Jazz Band.
The band is fortunate to have Saxophonist Gary Hammon provide mentoring and coaching. Mr. Hammon emerged from the Seattle funk and free jazz scene, studied at the New England Conservatory of Music, toured with organist Big John Patton, returned to Seattle and recorded Fangs in 2005 with saxophonist Hadley Caliman.
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Jazz Instructor Alexis Rosenberg​​
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​​​​​​​​Alexis Rosenberg is a jazz saxophonist and educator based in Seattle, Washington. She grew up in Los Angeles where she initially developed her passion for jazz music, and went on to study at the University of Oregon where she received Bachelor degrees in Jazz Studies and Music Education. Some of her performance achievements include touring in Europe with the Oregon Jazz Ensemble, headlining a show with her original compositions at the Jazz Station, performing at the North American Saxophone Alliance Region 1 Conference in 2019, and partaking in gig opportunities throughout Oregon when requested. As an educator, she taught music full time for two years at Illinois Valley High School, was a clinician at the McKay High School Jazz Festival in 2022, and taught sectionals/ensembles for local high schools as a college student. She recently relocated to Seattle where she will be teaching the Jazz 2 at Ballard High School, teaching lessons, and playing local gigs. She is looking forward to working with everyone in Jazz II this year!
Marching Band / Pep Band
Marching Band Information
The Ballard High School Marching Band is one of the largest marching bands in all of Seattle Public Schools and is recognized throughout the Northwest and beyond for its excellence in music making and its precision in marching. The band is comprised of ALL students in Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Percussion classes. All students in a non-jazz band class are expected to participate in marching band. The Ballard Marching Band’s excellence has been honored with awards and accolades from parades across the West.
The Marching Band performs at home football games and basketball games, a variety of parades, and at pep assemblies and community events throughout the year. Its highly energetic and entertaining halftime show at the homecoming football game is not to be missed!
Please enjoy the band’s 2021 homecoming halftime show, which was featured in The Seattle Times.
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