The Instrumental Music Association (IMA) is a non-profit fundraising organization that provides organizational and financial support to the EAHS Instrumental Music Department and its director by funding projects and purchasing instrumental-related items not funded by the Easton Area School District.
IMA mailing address:
Instrumental Music Association
c/o Easton Area High School
P.O. Box 3535
Easton, PA 18043
About the Instrumental Music Department
The Easton Area School District supports twenty music educators across the school district and two instrumental music teachers at the high school.
At Easton Area High School, there are three concert bands and two orchestras that rehearse during the school day. The three concert bands include: 10 – 12 concert band, wind ensemble, and 9th grade concert band. The two orchestras that rehearse during the school day include: 10 – 12 symphonic orchestra and 9th grade orchestra. All students involved in the concert band program are also involved in the marching band. Extra curricular ensembles include Jazz Lab, Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Strings, Pit Orchestra, and Pep Band.
The Instrumental Music Department at Easton Area High School serves approximately 375 students across both band and orchestra courses. Accomplishments of the Instrumental Music Department include performing in the 2005 Presidential Inauguration (George W. Bush), multiple appearances in Walt Disney World for the Main Street USA Parade (FL), the 2020 Gator Bowl Halftime performance (FL), 2022 Shenandoah Apple Blossom Parade (VA), 2022 NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade (NY), and the 2025 Sugar Bowl Parade (LA). Additionally, violinists in our orchestra program have performed with The Piano Guys on numerous occasions.
In the 2026 – 2027 school year, our program will host students from the Altes Gymnasium in Flensburg, Germany for a week-long stay and our jazz ensemble will travel to Germany in May for a reciprocal stay.
Marching Band
The Easton Area High School “Red Rover” Marching Band consists of over 300 students in grades 9 – 12. The group builds upon itself each year and works hard to improve to continue the legacy of the program. The marching band provides our students with numerous experiences and opportunities they will carry with them throughout their lifetimes.
The goal of the marching band is to provide students with an enriching experience, both musically and non-musically, along with strengthening the ties with our community through entertaining and exciting performances. The band works on one competitive, yet entertaining, show throughout the marching season. Additionally, the band prepares a pregame show that is performed at each home football game in Cottingham Stadium.
The band performs at every Easton Area High School football game throughout the season. One of the highlights of our season is the annual Easton vs. Phillipsburg Football game played on Thanksgiving each year. It is among the oldest high school football rivalries in the country. In addition to performances at football games, the marching band also hosts its annual “First Flags Over the United Colonies” band festival at the end of September. The band performs in various other festivals throughout the area, along with an annual Halloween and Memorial Day Parade in Easton, Pennsylvania. The band also travels to Philadelphia to perform in the West Chester Christmas Parade annually.
The Easton Area High School Marching Band performs throughout the community, state and country. National performances include the 1994 Rose Bowl Bowl Parade, Citrus Bowl, 1997 Sugar Bowl, Walt Disney Main Street Parade, 2005 Presidential Inauguration Parade, 2010 Bridgepoint Holiday Education Bowl, 2014 Orange Bowl, 2017 Fiesta Bowl Parade, 2020 Gator Bowl Halftime Performance, 2022 Shenandoah Apple Blossom Parade, 2022 NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and 2025 NOLA Sugar Bowl Parade.
“Tradition is the hard work and dedication of those that stood here before you. TODAY is your turn.”
Orchestra
The Easton Area High School Orchestra program consists of approximately 120 students in grades 9 – 12. Curricular offerings for the orchestra program include a symphonic orchestra, exposing students to full orchestra repertoire, along with a 9th grade string ensemble. Students may also audition for extra curricular ensembles including Chamber Strings and Pit Orchestra.
Chamber Strings is an auditioned ensemble consisting of only string students. This group learns advanced repertoire and performs consistently throughout the community and at various school events. Our pit orchestra performs during our Spring Musical.
Recent accomplishments of the orchestra program include performances in Orlando, FL and New Orleans, LA. Recently, eight EAHS violinists have had the opportunity to perform with the Piano Guys as they tour and perform in the State Theatre in Easton, Pennsylvania. Additionally, our orchestra program 6 – 12 hosted an “Electrify Your Strings” concert in the spring of 2022.
Jazz Band
The jazz program at Easton Area High School consists of two extra curricular ensembles, along with two curricular classes. Students may choose to take Honors Jazz Improvisation & Arranging I or Honors Jazz Improvisation & Arranging II during the school day. Through these courses, students learn about jazz harmonies, scales, and theory. Additionally, students listen extensively and learn in depth about significant musicians of the genre. Students in the second level of the course compose a chart for a full jazz ensemble.
Every student has a place within the jazz program at Easton Area High School. Any student wishing to perform jazz may participate in Jazz Lab. Acceptance into Jazz Band is based upon audition. The jazz program at EAHS annually hosts a jazz festival, inviting local bands and guest clinicians. Additionally, the jazz program holds its annual “Christmas…and All That Jazz” holiday concert and “Saturday Night Swing” event in the spring.
The Jazz Band travels and competes extensively throughout the spring season. The band consistently receives high ratings and outstanding section awards. The Jazz Band rehearses on Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 9:00 PM. Students also hold sectionals outside of rehearsal.
The jazz program has a longstanding partnership with the Altes Gymnasium in Flensburg, Germany. Through this partnership, the two jazz bands travel back and forth from Germany to the United States and vice versa every few years. In doing so, the students learn about each other’s cultures, traditions and have the opportunity to perform together. In October 2026, students from the Altes Gymnasium will travel to Easton, Pennsylvania to continue this tradition. Students from Easton Area High School will travel to Germany in May 2027.