Music Department
Torrey Pines High School
Design by Yumi Yamazaki
Scott Sayre
Scott Sayre
Scott Michael Sayre is a TPHS Alumnus of the class of 2004. He grew up playing low brass and jazz piano. Pursuing a career in music creation, he earned a B.M. in computer music composition from the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University and M.M. in composition from the University of South Carolina. Now back in North County, Scott shares his talents at Torrey Pines by coaching the band classes and the drumline. He also teaches private lessons at the Youth Arts Academy at the Boys & Girls Club in Carmel valley.
Shelly Yeager
Shelly Yeager is a soprano who grew up singing in her dad’s church in Houston, Texas. After leading the adult and youth choirs starting at age seventeen, she went on to the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston where she graduated cum laude with a Music Education degree in Choral Conducting. Shelly then taught high school choir in the Cypress Fairbanks district where her choirs won many competitions including UIL Sweepstakes for multiple years. She now owns Yeager Hunter Productions, LLC, a musical theatre production company that stages full-scale musicals, on-site, for schools desiring to provide their students a legitimate theatrical experience.
Ian Buss
​TPHS Alumnus Ian Buss is a saxophonist, composer/arranger, and music educator. A graduate of the New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music, he has performed at numerous venues in the NYC area, including the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn Bowl, and the United Nations. As a sideman, Ian has shared the stage with Gilbert Castellanos, Jon Faddis, Bobby Sanabria, and others. In addition to maintaining his own private lessons studio, he teaches at Palomar College, the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory, and the UCSD Jazz Camp. Now an Artist in Residence at TPHS, Ian specializes in Jazz Band and Jazz Improvisation.
Amy Gelb
Amy Gelb
Where To Go and What To Bring
Auditions will be held in our new music room, room number (M)-501. (The number on the building is M-501. The campus map says 501.) Park in the rear parking lot near the PAC. Walk up the stairs on the right side of the PAC, turn right, walk up more stairs and you will be at M-501.
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If you have a conflict with the audition dates please email Mrs. Gelb at amy.gelb@sduhsd.net
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Please print and fill out your Audition Information Sheet prior to your audition. Please bring it to your audition.
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Audition Information Sheet
Please print and fill out the Audition Information Sheet
You will either bring this with you to the audition or email it to Mrs. Gelb at amy.gelb@sduhsd.net prior to your audition time for virtual auditions.
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Please arrive 5-10 minutes before your audition. Please bring your Audition Information Sheet (fill it out prior to your audition) and your audition excerpt or other music to your audition.
Audition Requirements for 2020-21
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Please check this page for updated information regarding the requirements for the 2021-2022 auditions. Requirements may change or they may remain the same as for the 2020-2021 auditions, listed below.
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Symphonic Band & Intermediate Orchestra
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No Audition necessary. but encouraged. Neither class is a beginning level and experience is required (auditioning is still recommended)
Wind Ensemble
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Sight reading
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Students should play the listed excerpts or something of their own choice at the advanced level.
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Flute, Oboe & Bassoon (prepare 1st parts pages 1 & 2)
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Trumpet & Horn (prepare 1st parts pages 1 & 2)
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Percussion (prepare xylophone part page 1 & snare)
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Low Brass (prepare 1st parents pages 1 & 2)
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Clarinet & Saxophone (prepare 1st parts pages 1 & 2)
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Jazz Band
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Sight reading
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Improvisation- 12 Bar Blues in the following keys: F, G & Ab (concert pitches, transpose for instrument) backing track will be provided.
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Be prepared to play any part of the following excerpts:
Advanced Orchestra
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Student should prepare the following excerpts or play something of their own choice at an advanced level.
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Violin 1 (be prepared to play any part of piece)
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Violin 2 (be prepared to play page 1 & 2)
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Viola (be prepared to play page 1 & 2)
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Cello (be prepared to play any part of piece)
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Bass (be prepared to play any part of piece)
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forms below are
obsolete forms. removed from contact page sept. 2021. boosters form mapped to tphs.music.boosters@gmail.com
TPHS Music Booster President
Scott Michael Sayre is a TPHS Alumnus of the class of 2004. He grew up playing low brass and jazz piano. Pursuing a career in music creation, he earned a B.M. in computer music composition from the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University and M.M. in composition from the University of South Carolina. Now back in North County, Scott shares his talents at Torrey Pines by coaching the band classes and the drumline. He also teaches private lessons at the Youth Arts Academy at the Boys & Girls Club in Carmel valley.
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Moving to TP Over the Summer?
Auditions for class placement are now open. Please upload your audition video recordings on the Audition Form by the first day of school, Tues., August 16, 2022.
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Please follow directions on our Auditions page for audition requirements and how to submit your recordings on the Audition Form.
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Welcome Incoming TPHS Music Students
We are so happy to have you on board! Check out our FAQs page for helpful information including how to sign up for your music class when you register for classes.
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Auditions for 2023-2024 are now open. Visit our Auditions page for complete instructions.
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Music Parent Meeting 2023-2024
Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 at 6:30 pm
TPHS PAC
Please put this important meeting on your calendars now. This meeting is for parents of students in Orchestra, Band and Jazz Band. The Music Parent Meeting is mandatory and at least one parent or guardian from each family must attend.
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Mrs. Gelb and our Music Parent Liaisons will discuss the plans for the year, concert schedule, festival schedule, parent volunteer opportunities, the music department budget for this year, and our fundraising needs for this year. We will also discuss our fundraising plans and ask parents to make a voluntary donation. Parent donations make up the largest part of our fundraising efforts. The music program gets no funding from the district other than teacher salary, yet music programs are typically very expensive to run.
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See you on Sept. 5!!
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Moving to TPHS over the summer? Auditions for students who will be moving to TP over the summer will be submitted online during the summer. Audition submissions are due by the first day of school, August 13, 2024. Visit our Auditions page for complete instructions. ​ Check out our FAQs page for helpful information including how to sign up for your music class when you register for classes.
Music Parent Meeting 2024-2025​
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Parents are asked to make a donation to support the program so we can continue to provide a well-rounded, high caliber musical education for your students. Our goal is 100% participation. Please donate what you can. See the Parent Meeting slides for complete information about donations and everything else we covered at the meeting.
Our annual Mandatory Parent Meeting is coming up soon! This meeting is for parents of students from all music classes At least one parent from each family must attend this important meeting. Information presented at this meeting will cover Music Department plans for the year including trips, competitions, concerts, volunteer opportunities for parents, our proposed budget for 2024-2025, and our fundraising needs and plans. Parents will be asked to make a donation to support the program so we can continue to provide a well-rounded, high caliber musical education for your students.
Auditions for students moving to TPHS over the summer will be submitted in the summer. Audition submissions are due by the first day of school, August 13, 2024. To audition please make video recordings following the instructions and requirements on this page. Then fill out our Audition Form and upload your recordings to the form.
Welcome Incoming Music Students Music classes for 2025-2026: Click on class names for more information about each class. ​ Symphonic Band Wind Ensemble Intermediate Orchestra Chamber Strings Jazz Band MIDI Composition (Recording Arts)​ Instrumental Music ​​ Check our FAQ’s for Prospective Students for information on how to sign up for music classes and more.
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Moving to Torrey Pines in the Fall?
If you are moving to the area over the summer and will be choosing your high school, we invite you to explore our website to learn more about the music program at TPHS.
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Check out our FAQ's for Prospective Students page where you will find information about registering for classes and other important information about being a music student at TPHS.
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Visit our Auditions page for complete information on how to audition. For students new to TP in the fall, video auditions must be submitted online by the first day of school.
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See's Candies Fundraiser
Our See’s Candies online fundraiser is now underway! Help support our music program by stocking up on delicious See’s Candies for yourself or as gifts for family and friends. See’s Candies make perfect holiday gifts too.
See’s Candies ships directly to you and the music program earns between 20-50% of the retail price.
This fundraiser runs through December 31st, so you have plenty of time to stock up for the holidays.
Here is the link to our TP Music See’s Candies Storefront. You can help us by sharing the link with others as well!
Pannikin Coffee Fundraiser Our popular Pannikin coffee sale is back again this year and it will run from Nov. 18 through Dec. 1.  Perfect for holiday gifts for friends and family.  Orders will be delivered the week of Dec. 20. ​​ You must enter the name of a current TPHS music student on the form. Students will deliver your order to you. If you don't know a current music student, you can still support our fundraiser by making a donation to TPHS Music on the coffee order form. ​ Coffee Fundraiser Online Order Form ​ Pannikin Coffee Sale Flyer
Announcing TPHS Music Summer Camps 2025!!!
We are excited to announce that the Music Department will be offering band camp for summer 2025!
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The camp will be led by our music director, Amy Gelb. Have fun playing and learning with new friends.
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAMP
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TPHS MUSIC SUMMER CAMPS REGISTRATION FORM
​Please note, the Orchestra Camp and the Jazz Clinic have been cancelled.
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Youth Band Camp
July 14-17
8:30 am - 12:00 M-Thur
5th - 9th grade
$175/camper
Requirements: at least 2 years of experience playing and access to an instrument
Mandatory Music Parent Meeting
September 10, 2025 @ 6:30 pm
TPHS PAC
All music parents must attend (parents of students in Orchestra, Band, Jazz Band, Instrumental Music, and MIDI/Recording Arts)!!!
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Mark your calendars now for our annual Mandatory Music Parent Meeting! At least one parent from each family must attend this important meeting. This meeting will cover different information than Back To School Night. Parents should attend both meetings.
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The Parent Meeting will cover all aspects of the music program including plans for this year's concerts, trips, festivals and competitions. We will also discuss the expenses of running the music program and our fundraising goals for the year. Parents will be asked to make a voluntary donation to support the music program this year. Our goal is 100% participation. We will discuss corporate matching of donations. You will also learn how you can get involved by volunteering for the music program.
Parent Meeting Recap
​We had a very well-attended Parent Meeting on Sept. 10. Many thanks to the parent who have already made a donation to support the music program! If you missed the meeting, or if you attended and you want to review the information that was presented, check out the slide presentation from the meeting. The slides include links for the Music Department calendar, course syllabi, our social media, making a donation online, and employer matching.
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Our parent donation goal this year is $32,000. These contributions form the foundation of our program funding and allow us to keep the music strong.
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Right now, you can make the biggest impact:
$300 suggested donation for Band/Orchestra/Jazz : That's $30/month for a 10-month school year