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.
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.