About the Band

Castle High School “Marching Knights” Band

The Castle High School Marching Knights Band and Color Guard hails from the Windward side of our island in the city of Kaneohe. In past years, the band has traveled to Maui, California, Washington DC, New York, Florida, Japan, Paris, and London. Locally they march annually in the Aloha Festivals Parade, the Waikiki Holiday Parade, the Kaneohe Christmas Parade, and the Honolulu City Lights Parade. The band program also participates in numerous events organized by the Oahu Band Directors Association and has also performed for Hawaii International Jazz Festival, Oahu Interscholastic Association Corporate Banquet, and the Oahu Public Schools Foundation Banquet. Our Jazz Band has performed at the USS Battleship Missouri, Blue Note Hawaii, Gordon Biersch, Kahala Mall, Ala Moana and Windward Mall.

Band 1 – 4: 1 credit

Each class is designed to perform appropriate music, and to develop musical skills, leadership, self-discipline, and an appreciation for all types of music. A positive attitude and willingness to cooperate with the band director, staff, chaperones and fellow students is required. Individual practice, section practice, auditions and performance tests are also part of the coursework.

All band students are required to purchase uniforms and supplies for their instruments. In lieu of a set lab fee, voluntary membership in the Castle Band Aid Association (CBAA) is strongly urged in order to raise funds to offset the costs of uniforms, instrument repairs/supplies, needed instruments, bus transportation and other operational expenses. Students are encouraged to participate in fundraising to offset costs for band related purchases and activities.

The band classes are divided into two performing large ensembles which are the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble. Placement in these ensembles is done by approval of the Band Director and determined by auditions, playing tests and attitude.

The following activities are required for all band students who are registered for Band 1-4:

Pep Band at Football Games

Aloha Week Parade

Winter Concert (December)

Spring Concerts (March/May)

Parade of Bands (April)

Waikiki Holiday Parade

Kaneohe Christmas Parade

Honolulu City Lights Parade

CHS Graduation (Excluding Seniors)

All bands also have required sectional/practices/rehearsals and or other band functions / concerts (Windward Mall, Community Concerts, etc.) as they occur. Summer parade marching practices before school opens are mandatory for the annual Aloha Week Parade.

Field Show: ½ credit

Field Show-Marching Band students will learn all the necessary elements of a marching field show. Mandatory practices are held during the late summer before school opens. The practices include a weeklong band camp during the summer and evening/weekend practices during the fall semester. These practices will culminate with mandatory performances at selected CHS football games, and the various local marching band festivals.

Afterschool ¹/2 credit class for the 1st semester. Members of the band perform music while executing drill designs. The band performs at various marching festivals, such as the Rainbow Invitational, OIA Marching Band Festival, Moanalua Menehune Classic, Mililani Trojan Bandfest, Kapolei Marching Band Festival, Kamehameha Tournament of Bands.

Jazz Ensemble: 1 credit

Approval and concurrent enrollment in a Symphonic Band class is required for enrollment in the Jazz Ensemble. The Jazz Ensemble class will have the same requirements as the Symphonic Band Classes that are listed above. Students enrolled in the Jazz Ensemble will perform on an instrument of regular Jazz Ensemble instrumentation (saxophone, trombone, trumpet, piano, trap set percussion, electric bass, electric guitar). The Jazz Ensemble meets during non-school hours. There are required performances at CHS Band Concerts and other venues as they occur. Students enrolled in this ensemble study and rehearse a variety of jazz styles, including classic and contemporary arrangements and improvisation. The Jazz Ensemble performs at the Winter and Aloha Concerts and at various venues throughout Oahu.

About our Band Director

Mr. Arnold A. Alconcel was raised in Aiea and is a graduate of Aiea High School. He attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa and holds a bachelor’s degree and a Professional Diploma in Secondary Music Education.

Mr. Alconcel is an experienced music director. His past experience teaching music includes Aiea Intermediate School, Kaimuki Middle School and Kalakaua Middle School. The vast majority of his teaching career has been here at Castle High School teaching music and directing the band since 1996. Outside of his teaching at Castle High School, Mr. Alconcel is also an active member of the Oahu Band Directors Association (OBDA), and has served as President of the OBDA. He has also served as chair of the OBDA High School Select Band.

On a personal note, Mr. Alconcel plays the saxophone, and loves to eat sushi.

Castle High School Band – Estimated Costs

Download estimated costs

CBAA membership dues – TBD
Uniforms Purchased through CBAA
1. Marching Shoes (all students) $40.00 – $45.00*
2. Field Show T-shirts (field show students) $15.00 – $19.00
3. Field Show Uniform Dry Cleaning Fee (field show students only) $25.00*
4. Color Guard Cleaning Fee (field show color guard students only) $25.00*
Uniforms Purchased through Denis Uniforms:
560 N Nimitz Highway Suite 107C, Honolulu; (808) 396-9318
Please call before visiting the store–store may hours vary
1. Pep Band Polo Shirt (all students): $32.00*
2. Black Parade Pants (all students)
  1. Men – black flat front pants: $42.00-$45.00*
  2. Women – black flat front pants: $28.00-$33.00*
3. Maroon Band Jacket: $50.00*
4. CBAA Chaperone Polo Shirt: $32.00*
Concert Attire
1. Boys – Black Tuxedo (notch label coat, black pants, white tuxedo shirt, maroon bow tie, maroon cummerbund, long black dress socks, black dress shoes)
2. Girls – Black Concert Dress (short/long sleeve, floor length, elegant black dress, black dress shoes/sandals – two-inch heal or less).
  ** NO plunging necklines, NO low backs, NO embellishments, NO slits**

Do’s Formal
50 N. King Street Honolulu, HI
(808) 537-6041
Store Hours (call to confirm store hours):

Package: $209.00 (coat, pants, shirt, bowtie, cummerbund)

Men’s Wearhouse
310 Kamakee Street, Space 10, Honolulu, Hawaii
(808) 593-9151 – Call or visit website (https://www.meanswearhouse) for store hours
Tuxedo rental available – Approx. $179.99 (coat, pants)

*Prices are subject to change..