The Palm Springs High School Music Department consists of more than five hundred music students that encompass the band, choir, orchestra, guitar, and visual teams. In 2013, the “Spirit of the Sands” Band and Visual Corps was selected from more than 2800 applications to represent the Great State of California at the 57th Inaugural Parade in Washington D.C. performing in front of hundreds of thousands live, the President and Vice President, and televised on every major television network and streamed across the globe. The award winning band has traveled around the world as America’s Youth Ambassadors of Music . In March 0f 2014 the band was the first international band to perform at the 103rd National Youth Day Celebrations in Taipei as part of a China/ Taiwan Performance tour. In April of 2012 the band performed in Wales and Scotland has part of the Edinburgh Spring Festival. In June of 2009, the group completed a “trail blazing” performance tour to South Africa performing at the Capetown City Hall (home of the Capetown Symphony), Affies Theater in addition to the Guglethu and Soweto Townships. In 2007 they were televised to more than ONE BILLION people  while performing on the Great Wall in China as part of the Olympic Music Festival and performing concerts for thousands live. They have also performed on the main stage at the Sydney Opera House in Australia twice, at the Videopolis Stage at Disneyland Paris, France, represented all of the United States at the Convegno Bandistico Internationale in Brianza - Italy, has performed at the New Year’s Festivities in London England, was part of the Inaugural Edinburgh Music Festival in 2003, performed at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen - Denmark, at  the Hyack Festival in Vancouver- Canada, and has twice toured New Zealand acting as American Ambassadors to the world. They also performed at the 2004 CMEA (California Music Educator’s Association) State Music Conference. This group also performs at countless charity and community events close to home and have performed for celebrities from Presidents to Hollywood’s elite including Barry Manilow, Max Weinberg, have appeared on film with Chris Botti and television on ABC, CBS, NBC, Huell Howser ‘s California Gold,  TMZ, Entertainment Tonight, the BBC, CCTV, and many others.

   The Band also offers special programs in addition to their performances to benefit the community. This includes after school instruction for Elementary students and supporting Middle School Flag Programs. They also provide concerts with world class entertainers, bands, and orchestras that come to play to support music education at the 1100 seat Palm Springs Auditorium. From Glenn Miller, Count Basie Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton Alumni Band, to the Dallas Brass, and “Beatles” tribute bands, they share their gifts with the students and the community.

The Director of Bands and Fine Arts Chair - Brian Ingelson

Visual Corps Director- Beverley Ingelson