• The HAHS Marching Cougars consist of students from grades 8-12 who perform outdoors and indoors throughout the school year in parades, competitions, community and holiday celebrations, and public concerts. The Marching Cougars travel each year as ambassadors of the Hazleton Area School District to perform in such places as Chicago, Ohio, Washington D.C., and Florida, to name a few. They have, in recent years, performed in the Disney Magic Kingdom, the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame, and in the National Memorial Day Parade held in Washington D.C. The members work hard on everything from marching skills, instrument technique, color guard technique, social skills, and team work. The group has earned many awards in Cavalcade of Bands Marching Competitions, Jazz Competitions, and was the featured guest Concert Band at Marywood University in 2017. Many students have also been recognized and accepted to perform by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, the National Association of Music Educators, and the Pennsylvania Lions All-State Marching Band. Members have participated in Luzerne County, District 9, Region 4, All State, All Eastern, and National band and orchestra levels.

    The Hazleton Area HS Band Boosters are comprised of parents who volunteer in support of all the student’s activities. Their help alongside the HASD helps to provide the students with the resources needed for yearly success and achievement.

     

    The group is under the direction of Joseph Stefanko and John Hofmann. 

     

    The HAHS Concert Band consists of students 9-12 from the Marching Band Class and Concert Band Class combined for indoor performances. Concerts are usually held every December, March, and May in the HAHS Auditorium. The group also performs at the annual HAHS Graduation Ceremony. Students are exposed to diverse, multi-cultural music, traditional marches, and band literature. The goal is to challenge all students to improve their musical and technical playing abilities and to ultimately present these skills in a public performance setting. Concert Band is under the direction of Joseph Stefanko.

     

    The HAHS Jazz Ensemble consists of students 9-12 who must audition to enter the group. The ensemble performs for various community celebrations and organizations and school concerts. The students meet each week after school for rehearsal from October until the end of the year. The jazz ensemble also travels to festivals to be judged on their performance and meet with student musicians from other schools. The group is comprised of four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and rhythm (piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, auxiliary percussion). Our goal is to provide exposure to various jazz styles, encourage self-expression through improvisation, and enjoy the benefits of public performance. Jazz ensemble is under the direction of Joseph Stefanko.