Directors Henri Zabawski Mr. Harry Pfingsten 1964-1991 Mr. Gerald Severns Mr. Craig Orr Mr. David Eddleman 2005-2021 Mr. Joshua Brunger 2021-
Students have a number of award-winning ensembles to choose from at Avon Lake High School. Incoming freshmen are offered the opportunity to audition for the Symphonic Bandbut most will enroll in the Concert Band. The Symphonic Band and the Concert Band combine in the fall to create the Marching Shoremen. Almost all of the students, with a few athletic exemptions, are members of the Marching Shoremen, a vital part of our high school music program, and...if you ask our students, they will tell you it's the most fun!
Upon completing an audition and with permission from the director, students may enroll in the Avon Lake Jazz Ensemble which meets during the school day and once a week after school. This ensemble explores improvisation through many styles of music including blues, swing, fusion, latin jazz, bebop, and cool jazz.
TheAvon Lake Pep Band is a volunteer group that plays in the winter at varsity boys and girls basketball games, hockey, and wrestling. The Pep Band is often called upon to provide "send-offs" to individuals and teams heading to the state playoffs.
The Avon Lake Bands, under the direction of Mr. Joshua Brunger, have earned 40+ Superior Ratings at Ohio Music Education Adjudicated Events, which includes performances by the Marching Band, the Symphonic Band, and the Concert Band. The superior ratings affirm the quality of Avon Lake's music programs. The acclaimed Avon Lake Symphonic Band has performed at Severance Hall in Cleveland, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, and at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The award winning Marching Shoremen, eight times State Marching Band Finalists, have performed at the Gator Bowl, Champs Bowl, Outback Bowl, Camping World Bowl, Indy 500 Parade, Universal Studios, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Progressive Field, the InfoCision Stadium at the University of Akron, and at Ohio Stadium at The Ohio State University.