ABOUT SIMDE
Southridge Instrumental Music and Dance Ensembles (SIMDE) is a 501c3 non-profit organization that exists to support Southridge High School’s wide variety of instrumental and dance ensembles through education and performance.
SIMDE helps provide a superior instrumental music and dance experience in education through a comprehensive program based on teaching music through performance. Students perform varied literature and study instrument technique, elements of musicianship, disciplines, theory, history and composition. High academic and performance standards are set for every student and every ensemble strives for the highest level of excellence possible. The goal is to challenge students to reach beyond their current abilities in an effort to promote growth both personally and musically. It is our mission for each student to receive a rewarding and enriching experience through music and dance. We also support and encourage students to perform independently in their own small ensembles or as soloists.
SIMDE raises funds and provides logistical and volunteer support to make the music and dance programs at Southridge High School successful and rewarding for our students. It is our hope that these programs will prompt growth and create responsible students who, through their participation in our ensembles, will experience personal growth that will benefit themselves, their family and their community.
SIMDE supports many ensembles including:
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Concert Band
- Symphonic Band
- Wind Ensemble
- Jazz Band
- Marching Ensemble
- Pit Orchestra
- Basketball (Pep) Band
- Indoor Percussion
- Guard Ensembles
Cameron Jerde – Director of Bands
Cameron Jerde has been the Director of Bands at Southridge High School since the 2019-2020 school year. Prior to his time at Southridge, Mr. Jerde taught high school band for three years at Marshfield High School in Coos Bay, OR. He holds two degrees from the University of Oregon: a Bachelor of Music in Music: Pre-Teacher Licensure (Class of 2014), and a Master of Music in Music Education (Class of 2016). While a graduate student, Mr. Jerde was on the instructional staff of the Oregon Athletic Bands as a Graduate Teaching Fellow, working with the Oregon Marching Band, the Oregon Basketball Band, and the Oregon Campus Band.
Mr. Jerde’s responsibilities at Southridge include instructing and directing the two concert bands (Wind Symphony and Concert Band), two Jazz Bands (Jazz 1 and Jazz 2), Pit Orchestra, History of American Popular Music, and Personal Finance. He is a member of the Oregon Music Education Association (OMEA), the Oregon Band Directors Association (OBDA), and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).