About THE wshs music program

West Springfield High School (WSHS) Band Program

Additional Music Programs at WSHS In addition to the course offerings in band, West Springfield offers:
  • Guitar Program: six sections of guitar, including two concert Guitar Ensembles and a Jazz Guitar Combo.
  • Choir Program: The choirs include Bel Canto, Concert Choir, Madrigals, and Personality, the West Springfield Show Choir.
  • Orchestra Program: Orchestral offerings include Concert Strings, Symphonic Strings and Chamber Strings.
  • AP Music Therory: For advanced instrumental and vocal students, the music department offers Advanced Placement Music Theory.
  • After-school Full Symphony Orchestra
  • Additional After-school groups and ensembles
  • After-school Vocal Groups

In total, the Music Department serves almost one-third of the students enrolled at West Springfield High School.
West Springfield is pleased and proud to be part of the Fairfax County Public Schools, with its devotion to academic achievement and commitment to excellence in music education. The West Springfield Wind Symphony is the premier concert ensemble at West Springfield High School and is comprised of sixty of the band program’s more than 150 enrolled students. There are two additional performing concert bands, a jazz ensemble, color guard, drum line, and several chamber ensembles. The Marching Spartans are a seven time U.S. Bands Virginia State Champion, a three time U.S. Bands All-States Champion, and have participated in Bands of America Regional events in both Maryland and Ohio.
Course offerings include:
  • Beginning Band
  • Brass and Woodwind Class
  • Percussion Class
  • Concert Band
  • Symphonic Band
  • Wind Symphony and
  • Jazz Ensembles
Co-curricular offerings include (These activities are open at discretion of the director and not guaranteed to happen annually.)
  • Marching Spartans
  • Marching Color Guard
  • Winter Guard
  • Percussion Ensemble
  • Indoor Drum Line
  • Chamber Ensembles
  • Pit Orchestra
  • West Springfield Symphony

We have an active and supportive student population and parent booster organization. In addition to our band director, the Spartans have a large and highly qualified supplemental instructional staff of teachers, instructors, and clinicians. We believe that our rigorous course of music study through band will help our students to grow and succeed in their musical, academic, personal and professional pursuits.

MR. WOLSON GUSTAMA, WSHS BAND DIRECTOR

Wolson Gustama currently serves as the Director of Bands for West Springfield High School in Springfield, Virginia. In this role, Gustama oversees nearly 160 students in several ensembles, including the West Springfield High School Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, the WSHS Spartan Marching Band, Jazz Band, and numerous chamber ensembles. Mr. Gustama is also the eighth Music Director and Principal Conductor of the National Concert Band of America. Prior to his work at West Springfield, Mr. Gustama served as the director of bands for Dutchtown High School in Hampton, Georgia. Under his leadership, the band was invited to several prestigious events, including the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) In-Service Conference, the University of Georgia January Festival "Janfest", the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic (SEUS) at Troy University, the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival at Georgia State University and the University of South Carolina Honor Band Clinic. Before joining Dutchtown High School, Gustama served as the assistant director of bands at Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Bethune-Cookman University, a Master of Music in Music Education from Florida State University, and an Educational Specialist Degree (EdS) from Piedmont College. He is the National Band Association (NBA) committee chair for the William P. Foster Project. He holds memberships with the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA), Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA), National Band Association (NBA), Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster’s Association, and the National Association for Music Educators (NAFME). Gustama is a native of Brooklyn, New York, and currently resides in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife, Sergeant First Class Adiza Jibril, and their dog, Sushi.

WSHS Music Band Staff

The West Springfield Band program has many dedicated professionals working to provide the highest quality of instruction to all of our students and ensembles. In additon to our full-time faculty members we have many adjunct instructors, ensemble directors, sectional clinicians and private lessons instructors. Each of our instructors has a history of successful teaching and has been approved by the Fairfax County Public Schools.
  • West Springfield Performing Arts Faculty
  • Wolson Gustama, Band
  • Dustin Brandt, Choir, Music Theory
  • Keith Owens, Guitar
  • Jennifer Herrera, Orchestra
  • Maeve Nash, Theater Arts

ensembles of WSHS band

The performance opportunities available to our students:
For information on Concert Attire, click here.
wind symphony
The premier concert band at West Springfield, the Wind Symphony exclusively performs literature deemed of the highest quality from the repertory of both traditional and contemporary compositional styles at the grade V-VI level. Students will develop a deeper sensitivity not only toward outstanding musicianship, but with regard to historical style, performance practices, and aesthetics. Although not required, students are highly encouraged to take private lessons. Membership in the Wind Symphony is open to any student who qualifies through audition; all members of the Wind Symphony participate in the Marching Spartans. (Course #923416/923417)
symphonic band
The Symphonic Band is one of our two advanced concert bands. This class is designed to develop the student musician through the rehearsal and performance of quality wind band literature typically at the grade IV-V level. It is also designed to prepare the musician for performance at the most advanced level. Musical, historical and theoretical concepts are discussed and applied appropriately to every piece of music. Membership in the Symphonic Band is open to any student who qualifies through audition. All Members of the Symphonic Band participate in the Marching Band. (Course #923415/923316)
CONCERT BAND
Concert Band is open to all students at West Springfield High School and will focus on basic skills such as tone production, rhythm, scales and sight-reading. Students with no previous band experience may start an instrument but only at the discretion of the director; this is also a great class for those students interested in switching instruments. The first semester will focus on foundational performance concepts and techniques while the second semester will provide performance opportunities. Members of this group are highly encouraged to participate in marching band. (Course #923315)
jazz band
The Jazz Band rehearses once a week after school from November until June and performs at concerts, school functions and community events. The Jazz Band performs literature from swing, latin, funk and rock genres. Membership in the Jazz Band is open to any student who qualifies through audition. (Course #924015)
marching band
The Marching Spartans ensemble is designed to perform modern field shows at the highest level possible. The Marching Spartans compete at marching competitions and parades and perform at home football games. Emphasis is placed equally on musical and visual excellence. Membership in the Marching Spartans is open to all band students.
Color guard
The WSHS color guard is the visual representation of the marching band. Color guard members are trained in movement, dance, and the manipulation of equipment such as flags, rifle, and sabre. Color guard is open to any student who qualifies through audition; the guard also competes during the winter season.