DESA Instrumental Music Department

Performances

A meticulously arranged school band rehearsal space in photographic realism, showcasing rows of gleaming brass instruments—trumpets, trombones, and French horns—resting on black padded chairs, with polished woodwind cases open on nearby stands. The room features acoustic wall panels, a large whiteboard with faint, out-of-focus music notation, and a raised conductor’s podium at the front. Overhead fluorescent lights create bright, even illumination, with subtle reflections shimmering on metal surfaces and soft shadows beneath chairs and stands. Shot from a slightly elevated, three-quarter angle, the composition follows the rule of thirds, leading the viewer’s eye toward the front of the room. The mood is focused, energetic, and disciplined, evoking the daily work behind bold musical performances in a vibrant educational setting.

Student Performances

Explore concerts, festivals, and showcases featuring Duke Ellington School instrumental ensembles.

Upcoming Performances

Nov.7

Ellington Theater

Washington DC

Reserve seats

Nov.12

School Auditorium

Washington DC

RSVP online

Nov.15

Black Box

Washington DC

More details

Dec.3

Performance Hall

Washington DC

Reserve tickets

Dec.10

Regional Theater

Baltimore County MD

Event info

Dec.14

Community Center

Arlington VA

View program

Jan.9

Jazz Club

Washington DC

Join audience

Jan.18

Concert Hall

Silver Spring

Learn more

Jan.25

Festival Stage

College Park

Sign up

A close-up photographic image of a set of orchestral percussion instruments ready for a concert: a pair of majestic copper timpani with taut calfskin heads, a gleaming concert snare on its stand, and suspended cymbals poised above. They are arranged on a dark, polished stage floor with a blurred backdrop of music stands and empty black orchestra chairs. Warm golden stage lights from the side create dramatic highlights along the curved copper surfaces and subtle rim lighting on cymbal edges, casting long, theatrical shadows. Captured from a low angle with shallow depth of field, the timpani dominate the frame while the background softly fades, creating a bold, powerful atmosphere that emphasizes the rhythmic backbone of an instrumental music program.
A photographic scene of a school auditorium lobby display celebrating an upcoming instrumental music concert, without any people present. A sleek black table holds a stack of elegantly designed concert programs, next to a small stand displaying a generic poster with blank, softly blurred areas suggesting concert date, time, and location details without readable text. Behind the table, a glass trophy case glows with reflections of silver and gold music trophies and plaques. Overhead pendant lights cast warm, inviting illumination, creating subtle reflections on the glass and polished tile floor. Shot at eye level with a moderate depth of field, the composition places the display slightly off-center. The atmosphere feels bold, professional, and anticipatory, emphasizing organization, promotion, and pride in the instrumental music department.
A vibrant, photographic overhead shot of a classroom table covered with colorful sheet music, spiral-bound method books, and neatly arranged instrument accessories for a school instrumental music program. A silver flute, a lacquered alto saxophone, and a rich brown violin with its bow rest diagonally across the table, their textures and finishes clearly visible. Soft afternoon sunlight pours in from a nearby window, creating gentle highlights on polished wood and metal, with diffused shadows overlapping the pages. Pencils, highlighters, and a small metronome add academic context. The composition uses asymmetrical balance, with sharp focus throughout to showcase detail. The mood is bold, creative, and aspirational, conveying the blend of study and performance at the heart of music education while remaining clean, modern, and visually engaging.

Highlights