Save the Date for the Spring 2024 Concert!

Congratulations to the 2023 OSAA State Champion Concert Band and Concert Choir!

Department Overview

• Glorify God
• Sing with excellence
• Show the love of Christ

• Soli Deo Gloria: Students also have the opportunity at the end of the school year to tryout for the varsity mixed ensemble, Soli Deo Gloria, for the upcoming year. This varsity group has an annual tour singing around Portland through the holiday season.
• Concert Choir: All Soli Deo Gloria singers join our choir to comprise our Oregon 3A State Championship Concert Choir. Each year the Concert Choir competes in a District choral competition to qualify for the Oregon state choral competition. Westside’s choir has qualified to compete in the OSAA State Choral Competition for the past seventeen years and has won the State Championship for the last thirteen consecutive years. By invitation only, the choir has participated in the National Festival of the States in Washington D.C. and at Carnegie Hall. They have also performed at the National Cathedral and the Russell Senate Building.
• Worship Class (Ignite): In the fall of 2005 Westside began offering a worship class. In this class students discuss the role of worship in the life of the believer and develop skills that aid students in leading the body of Christ in corporate worship. These students serve the student body by providing musical leadership during the weekly chapels.
• Concert Band: In 2016, Will Fox, Music Director, started the Westside Christian High School Concert Band. In only its second year, the Concert Band won its first state championship and then won again in 2019 with only 9 students. The Concert Band continues to be a growing program at Westside Christian offering the opportunity for students to learn and develop their musical talents. 
• Drumline: Westside Christian offers a unique opportunity for students to learn to play marching percussion instruments in the WCHS Drumline. This group is open to all students and provides an exciting and dynamic performing arts environment that trains them to work together with precision as they play the rhythmic patterns inherent in a marching drum line. Drumline performs primarily at student athletic events, as well as community festivals.

WCHS Music - Tradition of Success

Ending the Year on a High Note! Westside Christian High School Captures it's 14th Consecutive Choir State Championship and its 3rd Consecutive Band State Championship

Westside's Concert Choir and Concert Band continued their winning ways as the easing of the pandemic allowed live music to be on display again this spring at the Choir State Championships on May 5th and the Band State Championships on May 12th.

The Concert Choir performed well and won their division by over 100 points. They achieved all of the goals Mr. Fox had set before them, including performing before the Oregon Music Educators  Association annual conference in January, having the highest score at their state-qualifying festival, and performing at a high level at the state championships.

The Concert Band played well and consistently! Judges are amazed at how in tune our band plays, especially for its size. Mr. Fox says, "Our band students have so much fun together. They consistently have me laughing, but they're also committed to working hard and playing musically. And they've been rewarded for that!"

On a side note, Will Fox, Westside's Music Teacher, is among the most decorated director's in the history of Oregon's music state championships. He's the only director ever to have won ten consecutive state championships. He's currently tied for the most choir state championships. He's one of only two directors who has ever captured state championships in both choir and band. And he's accomplished that feat three times to date. Of course, he would say, "It's really about the students, the memories, the music, the music department goals (Glorify God, Show the Love of Christ to Others, and Sing/Play with Excellence), the families, and the school. I'm just grateful to be part of this great season!"

Whether you're a new student to Westside or a current student, we encourage you to join choir and band for the new school year. Help us to build and realize more great musical memories at Westside! Those memories will last your lifetime!