Band Department

The Holy Cross Band is a sequential music program for young men in grades 5-12, the only such program of its kind in New Orleans. There are four large performing ensembles including the middle school beginning and advanced Bengal Bands, and the high school Tiger Marching and Symphonic Bands. There are also many smaller ensembles to fit everyone's interests, such as, jazz band, percussion ensemble, saxophone quartet, and brass quintet.

It is the goal of the program that upon graduating a student be prepared to actively participate in a college/university music program. Students study and perform all types of music, from classical to pop. Performance skills are learned side by side with music theory and history. The latest technology is used in the classroom to ensure the band is on the cutting edge of performance practices. Musical instruction culminates in various performances throughout the school year by all ensembles.

The band was formed in 1894 by Father F.A. Reuter, CSC, and has been making music for 115 years. Since its earliest days the band program has been carrying out the tradition of a true Holy Cross education to, "not educate the mind at the expense of the heart." A Holy Cross education values the arts and all students at some point in their studies are exposed to arts education. Holy Cross Bands have a longstanding tradition of music education excellence in the city of New Orleans. Bandsmen have continued on to earn college scholarship, returning to our community to strengthen New Orleans jazz and classical music. The men of the Holy Cross Bands have been and continue to be a group of dedicated young men, who, through hard work and sincere enjoyment, form lasting friendships that last a lifetime.

Beginning Band

Grade 5: Students begin learning a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument in grade 5. Instruments are selected within the first week of school, under the guidance of the band director. Special care is taken to ensure the student is paired with the instrument they will be most successful on.

Grades 6-7: Students in grades 6 and 7 may also join the band as beginners. These students must contact the band director in the spring or summer prior to the start of school to select an instrument and set up private lessons with a reputable private instructor. Lessons ensure the student will be able to play at the level of their peers when they return to school in the fall. These students are then placed in an accelerated beginning class.

Intermediate & Advanced Band

Grades 6-7: Students are allowed to participate in the intermediate and advance Bengal bands after one year in a beginning band or by audition.

Tiger Marching Band

The Tiger Marching Band is one of the most spirited and rewarding organizations on campus. The band can always be found at the front lines of every major Holy Cross event including football games, home basketball games, pep rallies, and special ceremonies. Rehearsals are held every day before school during football season, leaving time after school for the members to be involved with various sports and activities on campus.

Members of the Tiger Marching Band kick the marching season off with a week-long overnight band camp held the last week of July or first week in August. Camp not only provides the band students with a great bonding experience, but it also essential to putting together the halftime field show. Students that are new to the Holy Cross Tiger Band attend Rookie Camp, held the week before band camp at school, to learn the fundamentals of marching.

The Holy Cross Tiger Band is award winning, participating in competitions during the fall. Recent awards include superior trophies at the L.M.E.A. District VI Marching Festival, the Morgan City Marching Festival, and the Sulphur Marching Festival. The drumline has also taken home Best in class Drumline trophies. Nationally, the band has performed at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and at Walt Disney World.

Tiger Symphonic Band

The Symphonic Band is the premier concert ensemble at Holy Cross, performing various styles of music from classical to pop. Symphonic Band rehearsals begin once marching season is over. The band participates annually in concert festivals and have received superior trophies at the L.M.E.A. District VI Large Ensemble Festival for 40 consecutive years. The Symphonic Band travels annually and has been to such cities as Chicago, St. Louis, Washington D.C., Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, and Orlando.

Director of Bands

Mr. Michael Urbaszewski

As a native of Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Urbaszewski is the Director of Bands at Holy Cross School. He has spent half of his eight years in education here at Holy Cross. He attended Southern Illinois University where he received his Bachelors in Music Education and Masters in Music Performance.

Asst. Director of Bands

Ms. Katie Codina

Ms. Codina is in her fifth year as the Director of the Bengal Band and Marching Band Director of the Tiger Band. A native of Lafayette, LA, she is a graduate of Comeaux High School. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Loyola University-New Orleans with a Bachelor of Music Education. Ms. Codina has performed as Principal Flutist with the Loyola Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, Piccoloist with the Acadian Wind Symphony, and Principal Flute in the CBDNA Intercollegiate Honor Band of 2007. She has received the Theodore Presser Musician of the Year Award, the Rev. R.J. McNaspy Musician of the Year Award, and the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity for Women Sword of Honor. In 2011 Ms. Codina was named “Elementary Band Director of the Year” by the District VI Band Director’s Association. Ms. Codina is a member of the Louisiana Music Educators Association, Louisiana Bandmasters Association, Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity for Women, and Music Educators National Conference. As a member of the District VI Band Director’s Association, she has chaired the Marching Band Festival annually since 2009 and co-chaired Elementary Honor Band since 2010.