About the Bands
Under the guidance of co-directors, Sam Ormson and Mark Claassen, the Mountain View High School band has achieved excellence in all areas of musical performance. Offerings include three concert bands, two jazz ensembles, percussion ensemble, string orchestra, chamber orchestra, pep band, and a wealth of chamber music ensembles. The Wind Ensemble at Mountain View has performed at the keynote address of the Washington Music Educators Convention (2010), Western International Band Clinic (2006), and the Washington State Music Educators Convention (2006). The jazz ensembles have placed in the top four at every festival entered in the last five years, winning top honors at the Clark College Jazz Festival (2010, 2011), Skyview Jazz Festival (2008, 2009, 2010) and the Mt. Hood CC Festival (2009). The jazz ensemble I was invited to perform at the 2011 Midwest Clinic along side world class jazz saxophone player Pete Boule, Scott Wilson, faculty from University of Florida, and Jeff Coffin, lead saxophone player for the Dave Mathews Band. There are a number of graduates from the Mountain View program who have gone on to major in music education and performance at Berklee, USC, University of North Texas, Indiana, DePaul University, Central Washington University, and many more. The program involves over 300 students representing over 20% of the school population.
The Mountain View High School Instrumental Music program is the 2017 recipient of the Program of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award from the National Band Association.
The Blue Ribbon Award, is a national award with the purpose of recognizing schools that continually exhibit excellence in all aspects of music performance. Programs were evaluated on four years of recordings of different school ensembles, regional festival evaluations, individual student achievements, quality of repertoire performed and more.
After an extensive screening and ranking process, Mountain View was selected as meeting the highest standards of program excellence in the United States. MV joined three other schools being recognized – Broken Arrow HS in Oklahoma, James Madison HS in Virginia, and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Florida. Mountain View is the first high school from the Pacific Northwest to be recognized.
The Mountain View High School Instrumental Music program is the 2017 recipient of the Program of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award from the National Band Association.
The Blue Ribbon Award, is a national award with the purpose of recognizing schools that continually exhibit excellence in all aspects of music performance. Programs were evaluated on four years of recordings of different school ensembles, regional festival evaluations, individual student achievements, quality of repertoire performed and more.
After an extensive screening and ranking process, Mountain View was selected as meeting the highest standards of program excellence in the United States. MV joined three other schools being recognized – Broken Arrow HS in Oklahoma, James Madison HS in Virginia, and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Florida. Mountain View is the first high school from the Pacific Northwest to be recognized.
"Attending and performing at the Midwest Clinic [in Chicago, 2011] had a profound effect on me as both a musician and as a human. The months of intensive rehearsal and personal practice taught me a great deal about the importance of discipline and motivated repetition. The payoff of the trip actual was made all the better by this work. Finally, the actual experience of going to Chicago was one of some serious importance to me: nothing can ever top listening to world class musicians with friends that love the music as much as you do. In short, the Midwest Clinic trip had a huge impact on my own decision to pursue music and at at the same time made me develop skills that have helped me in multiple areas of my life."
- Connor Simons, MVHS Band alumnus 2012
About our Music Directors
Sam Ormson:
[email protected]
Sam Ormson is currently in his 18 th year of teaching and his 15 th year at Mountain View HS. At Mountain View, Sam teaches the Jazz Ensemble I, Chamber Orchestra, team-teaches three concert bands and oversees the chamber music program. Additionally, he is active as an adjudicator, clinician, and teacher throughout the region, have previously conducted the Southwest Washington Wind Symphony, an adult concert band based in Vancouver, is currently adjunct professor of saxophone at Clark College, recently conducted the All-star honor band at the University of Montana, and is on staff of the Central Washington University summer band and leadership camp.
His groups have performed at numerous national and international events including the Midwest Clinic, the National Concert Band Festival, the Western International Band Clinic, the Tournament of Roses Parade, and more. His has performed and collaborated with many artists including; the Count Basie Orchestra, Wayne Bergeron, Jeff Coffin, Bob Reynolds, Peter Boonshaft, Patrick Sheridan, Gary Green, Mallory Thompson, Carlos Kalmar, Tim Lautzenheiser and others.
Sam is an active member of the Washington Music Educators Association, currently serving as the band curriculum officer on the state board and has presented sessions at the National Association for Music Education Northwest conference, Washington Music Educators conference, and Montana Music Educators conference.
A two-time Grammy Signature school award winner and the 2015 On-Point Community Credit Union teacher of the year, Sam received his AA degree from Columbia Basin College (1996), BA degree from Central Washington University (2000), his MA from the American Band College (2005), his National Board Certification in Music (2007), and his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Music Education from Boston University (2015).
Prior to becoming a high school band director, Mr. Ormson was a professional woodwind player for Carnival Cruise Lines, performing on ships in Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Bahamas. He has performed with artists such as O’Jays, Lou Rawls, Allen Vizzuti, David Sanchez, Floyd Standifer, Don Lanphere and many others. As a classical saxophone player, he has performed with the Yakima Symphony and the Mid-Columbia Symphony.
Sam is married to his wife Carinn, Evergreen School District Instructional Specialist for Fine and Performing Arts and 19-time winner of the annual “best music teacher in this marriage” award. They have two sons, Jack and Henry, ages 13 and 8.
[email protected]
Sam Ormson is currently in his 18 th year of teaching and his 15 th year at Mountain View HS. At Mountain View, Sam teaches the Jazz Ensemble I, Chamber Orchestra, team-teaches three concert bands and oversees the chamber music program. Additionally, he is active as an adjudicator, clinician, and teacher throughout the region, have previously conducted the Southwest Washington Wind Symphony, an adult concert band based in Vancouver, is currently adjunct professor of saxophone at Clark College, recently conducted the All-star honor band at the University of Montana, and is on staff of the Central Washington University summer band and leadership camp.
His groups have performed at numerous national and international events including the Midwest Clinic, the National Concert Band Festival, the Western International Band Clinic, the Tournament of Roses Parade, and more. His has performed and collaborated with many artists including; the Count Basie Orchestra, Wayne Bergeron, Jeff Coffin, Bob Reynolds, Peter Boonshaft, Patrick Sheridan, Gary Green, Mallory Thompson, Carlos Kalmar, Tim Lautzenheiser and others.
Sam is an active member of the Washington Music Educators Association, currently serving as the band curriculum officer on the state board and has presented sessions at the National Association for Music Education Northwest conference, Washington Music Educators conference, and Montana Music Educators conference.
A two-time Grammy Signature school award winner and the 2015 On-Point Community Credit Union teacher of the year, Sam received his AA degree from Columbia Basin College (1996), BA degree from Central Washington University (2000), his MA from the American Band College (2005), his National Board Certification in Music (2007), and his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Music Education from Boston University (2015).
Prior to becoming a high school band director, Mr. Ormson was a professional woodwind player for Carnival Cruise Lines, performing on ships in Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Bahamas. He has performed with artists such as O’Jays, Lou Rawls, Allen Vizzuti, David Sanchez, Floyd Standifer, Don Lanphere and many others. As a classical saxophone player, he has performed with the Yakima Symphony and the Mid-Columbia Symphony.
Sam is married to his wife Carinn, Evergreen School District Instructional Specialist for Fine and Performing Arts and 19-time winner of the annual “best music teacher in this marriage” award. They have two sons, Jack and Henry, ages 13 and 8.
Mark Claassen:
[email protected]
Mark Claassen is currently in his twelfth year of teaching and is in his 2nd year Co-Director of Bands, Percussion and Orchestra at MVHS. Mr. Claassen comes to us from Union High School where he taught five years as Director of Bands. At Union HS he directed the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band I, and Percussion Ensemble while co-directing two additional concert bands.
His previous years of teaching have included experiences at the elementary, middle school, high school, and college levels in the Yakima(WA), Bellarmine(WA), and Evergreen(WA) school districts as well as Central Washington University(WA). Under Mark's direction, his ensembles have consistently achieved high levels of success in all areas of instrumental music. Recent performances of note include his bands performing at the 2016 Music For All National Concert Band Festival and 2016 WMEA State Conference. While at Union he has created a successful artist in residence program that includes collaborations with artists such as Anthony Maiello (George Mason University), Emeritus Professor Larry Gookin (Central Washington University), Dr. Robert Taylor (University of British Columbia), and Patrick Sheridan (freelance tubist).
Claassen stays active as an adjudicator and performer, most recently performing as a featured soloist with the Seattle Wind Symphony and is the principle saxophonist in the Southwest Washington Wind Symphony. He is a member of WMEA and currently serves as President for the Lower Columbia River Music Educator's Association.
Claassen holds two Bachelor's Degrees and a Master's Degree from Central Washington University.
Mark is married to his much better half, Kim Claassen, a middle school choir teacher in the Evergreen School District. Mr. and Mrs. Claassen have recently expanded their family to three with their son, Hans.
[email protected]
Mark Claassen is currently in his twelfth year of teaching and is in his 2nd year Co-Director of Bands, Percussion and Orchestra at MVHS. Mr. Claassen comes to us from Union High School where he taught five years as Director of Bands. At Union HS he directed the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band I, and Percussion Ensemble while co-directing two additional concert bands.
His previous years of teaching have included experiences at the elementary, middle school, high school, and college levels in the Yakima(WA), Bellarmine(WA), and Evergreen(WA) school districts as well as Central Washington University(WA). Under Mark's direction, his ensembles have consistently achieved high levels of success in all areas of instrumental music. Recent performances of note include his bands performing at the 2016 Music For All National Concert Band Festival and 2016 WMEA State Conference. While at Union he has created a successful artist in residence program that includes collaborations with artists such as Anthony Maiello (George Mason University), Emeritus Professor Larry Gookin (Central Washington University), Dr. Robert Taylor (University of British Columbia), and Patrick Sheridan (freelance tubist).
Claassen stays active as an adjudicator and performer, most recently performing as a featured soloist with the Seattle Wind Symphony and is the principle saxophonist in the Southwest Washington Wind Symphony. He is a member of WMEA and currently serves as President for the Lower Columbia River Music Educator's Association.
Claassen holds two Bachelor's Degrees and a Master's Degree from Central Washington University.
Mark is married to his much better half, Kim Claassen, a middle school choir teacher in the Evergreen School District. Mr. and Mrs. Claassen have recently expanded their family to three with their son, Hans.
