JAZZ CONCERT, MIDDLE SCHOOL NIGHT, AND WBA SO CAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!
GREAT JOB THIS PAST WEEK AT THE CIF HOME FOOTBALL GAME, SATURDAY’S GAHR INVITATIONAL FIELD TOURNAMENT, THE 605 ALL-STAR BAND ON SUNDAY, AND REHEARSAL TODAY! WE HAVE ANOTHER BIG WEEK WITH OUR FIRST EVER FALL JAZZ CONCERT TOMORROW, A PANDA EXPRESS FUNDRAISER THURSDAY, MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND & GUARD NIGHT FRIDAY, AND THE WBA SO CAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ON SATURDAY. WE NEED EVERYONE TO BE 100% AND HEALTHY – SO PLEASE WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY, STAY HYDRATED, GET PLENTY OF REST, AND WEAR A MASK IF YOU HAVE THE SNIFFLES!
GAHR INVITATIONAL – THANK YOU!
Thank you to all the parents, students, and alumni that made the 9th annual Gahr Invitational Field Tournament a huge success! This was the biggest competition we’ve ever hosted with 33 performing bands. We received countless positive comments from band directors, adjudicators, and spectators about how impressed they were with our parents, students, and the overall tournament. We would like to thank everyone who helped make this such an incredible day — especially all the dedicated volunteers who worked the entire day. We are so fortunate to have such amazing booster parents and alumni!
We would also like to thank ABCUSD School Board President, Sophia Tse, for attending and presenting the sweepstakes trophy, ABCUSD School Board Vice-President, Ernie Nishii, as well as our Principal, Dr. Richard Moore, Assistant Principal, Stefani Palutzke, School Dean, Dr. Cynthia Gutierrez, School Dean, Ariel Legaspi, teachers Anna Steffen, Terra Ojeda, Kerry Grover, Lori Rodig, Colbie Ragsdale, and the many other Gahr High School staff and teachers who attended the tournament!
Thank you to our executive booster board, chairs and representatives, and the Gahr Invitational team leaders for all their behind the scenes work and planning to make the event so successful: Dee Dee Varney and Ammie Goncalves – main concessions, Angie Cruz and Cassandra Barrera – tickets, Karen Kasumi – hospitality, David Wiitanen and Dawn Eddards – stadium traffic, Teri Islas – satellite concessions, Gaby Dominguez – Cup O’ Corn and outside vendors, Charlynn Rachell – jewelry, Razel Torres, Lawanda Thomas, Aymee Abreu – bake sale, Larry Barcelos and Joe Goncalves – bus/trailer parking, William Gonzales and Sarah Szabatura – first aid, Cassandra Ellis – dinner, Charyl Mendiola – band check-in, Joon Mock – student host coordinator, Dante Tapanes – judge runner, and Jeffrey Varney – program and director liaison. We would like to give a big shout out to our alumni students and parents for giving back to the program by helping at the Gahr Invitational Field Tournament. Last, but certainly not least, we would like to thank Julie Castro for heading up the entire field tournament. Her leadership, dedication, organization, and attention to detail helped make this such a special event.
We encourage all the parents who helped to take notes on anything that went well or could be improved for next year. We will be debriefing the Gahr Invitational Field Show at our next parent booster meeting on Wednesday, December 4th at 6:30PM and would love to hear your feedback.
We look forward to seeing you this Friday, November 15th at 7:00PM at the Gahr HS Stadium for our Middle School Band Night! We will be performing the entire show in full uniform and will have all the props and equipment pre-staged, so we especially encourage parents who have been helping push equipment to please come sit in the stands and watch!! You can also watch the band this Saturday, November 16th, at the WBA So Cal Regional Championships at Trabuco Hills HS.
Thank you again to all the current students, parents, and alumni for another wonderful Gahr Invitational Field Tournament!!
FALL JAZZ CONCERT 11/12 – Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, November 12th for our first ever Fall Jazz Concert! at 7:00PM in the Gahr High School Band Room! Check out what the jazz program has been working on with our jazz coaches Chris Stevens and Nic Chaffee and hear some great tunes and solos. Admission is FREE! Please enter through the front lobby of the Band Room because there will be a production in the MPR. See you there!
MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND NIGHT 11/15 – “Middle School Band Night” is this Friday, November 15th! High school students have call time at 4:00PM with pizza provided for dinner and setting up for the event. Middle schoolers will be checking in at 5:30PM at the stadium. We’ll have sectionals and a short rehearsal, followed by a "Show & Tell" performance at 7:00PM in the stadium! If you are a high school parent, this is also a great chance to see the field show in full uniform from the bleachers since we will not be doing a push on/off for this performance. PARENTS: PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER!
PANDA EXPRESS FUNDRAISER THIS WEEK 11/14! — Go to PANDA EXPRESS on South Street this Thursday, November 14th any time from 9:30AM-10:30PM! Make sure you show the flyer to support the Gahr Marching Gladiators and they will donate 20% back to the program. Thank you!
WBA SO CAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS — This Saturday 11/16 is the WBA So Cal Regional Championships at Trabuco Hills High School. Students will be eating lunch at school and concessions at the show, so bring money for two meals. PARENTS: PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER!
STUDENT CALL TIME IS 8:59AM – DO NOT BE LATE. Make sure you pack everything you need for the competition the night before, including your water jug, money for two meals (lunch and concessions), everything for full uniform – black sleeveless compression shirt, black compression shorts, LONG black socks, black marching shoes, and everything for guard hair and make up. We will be in uniform for FULL RETREAT (like we did for Bands of America).
LOCATION: Trabuco Hills High School
ADDRESS: 27501 Mustang Run, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
SHOW INFO: https://www.westernbands.org/events/details.php?ID=1060
VOLUNTEER: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48AFA82EA3F8C61-53189285-111624#/
GET TICKETS: https://usbands.ticketspice.com/wba-regional-championships-trabuco-hills-tournament-in-the-hills
8:59AM Call time / Set up at practice field (bring battery and tuba cases)
9:30AM Warm Up / Rehearsal
10:00PM Full Ensemble (chunk through show)
12:30PM Break
12:35PM Full run-through – Parents needed for run-through
12:50PM Load ASAP (color guard start hair/make up)
1:30PM Lunch – bring $5 for WALKING TACOS!
2:15PM Change into full uniform
3:00PM Meet in Band Room / Load instruments under bus
3:15PM Load busses
3:30PM Depart for Trabuco Hills HS – 27501 Mustang Run, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
4:30PM Arrival / Check-in / Unload ASAP
4:45PM Unload
5:15PM Sack dinner / Use restroom
5:45PM Warm up
6:45PM Ensemble
7:20PM Push to gate
7:30PM Gate time
7:40PM Performance time
7:55PM Debrief
8:00PM Load ASAP – EVERYONE HELP (stay in full uniform)
8:30PM Watch bands and eat concessions (bring money)
(please be careful eating in uniform)
9:10PM Full retreat staging (in full uniform)
9:30PM Class 3A/4A/5A Awards
10:00PM Walk back to busses
10:15PM Change out of uniform / Snack
10:45PM Load busses
11:00PM Depart for Gahr HS
11:45PM Approximate return / Unload ASAP
12:15AM Approximate dismissal
The Gahr Marching Gladiators will be traveling to Fresno to compete at the Western Band Association (WBA) Championships from Friday, November 22nd through Sunday, November 24th. The cost for each student is $250.00 due this Friday, November 1st, 2024.
Students will be traveling on charter buses and staying at Spring Hill Suites by Marriott. Most meals will be covered (breakfast, lunches, and two dinners).
The address for the student hotel is:
Spring Hill Suites by Marriott
6844 North Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93710
If this is your first overnight trip, please know that it is standard to have students stay four to a room, typically with two queen-sized beds. Students can select who they would like to have in their room and we will do our best to accommodate their requests if possible. As with all trips for the Gahr Instrumental Music Program, students must stay in the hotel with other students. A block of rooms has already been reserved and we are able to keep the trip cost low based on the students staying together.
Parents are encouraged to go on this trip as well. We will need parent help as we always do with uniforms, transportation, equipment, and props, and having as many parents in the stands cheering for the kids can greatly motivate the kids (and the judges).
Parents are responsible for paying for their own trip. However, to make this easier for you, we have secured a block of rooms with a special rate for the parents to use at the Homewood Suites in Fresno. When calling, make sure to mention you are booking for the block of rooms set aside for the "Gahr High School Band Boosters." This special rate includes cook-to-order breakfasts and parking. The rate negotiated for this block is $169.00 (plus tax) per night. You will need to book your room no later than Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024 to take advantage of this special price.
The address for the parent hotel is:
Homewood Suites Fresno
6820 North Fresno St.
Fresno, CA 93710
Telephone: (559) 440-0801
We have a mandatory meeting on Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 at 7PM in the Band Room where we will go over all the details for the trip. Please note, this meeting is after the date to reserve your room so don’t wait until this meeting to make your reservation. Feel free to reach out to Deanna Varney at (562) 413-3068 or email her at dvarney15@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns.
We ask that students stay together as a group for the entire weekend.Please do not pull your child away from the rest of the group.This is a school trip, and students will need to stay with the rest of the group for the duration of the weekend.
Thank you for your support and helping to create such an amazing experience for the students!
ALL DONATIONS PAST DUE – AT THIS POINT, ALL DONATIONS ARE PAST DUE – INCLUDING PAYING FOR THE WBA CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIP. We will not be able to hold your hotel room if we do not receive your payment. We accept checks made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” cash, or you can pay online with a credit card. This is super important so that we are able to pay our instructional staff and continue to pay for production costs.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
❇️ 11/12 Fall Jazz Concert at 7PM in the Band Room
❇️ 11/13 Mandatory WBA Championships Parent Meeting at 7PM in the Band Room
❇️ 11/14 Panda Express Fundraiser 9:30AM-10:30PM
❇️ 11/15 Middle School Band & Color Guard Night!
❇️ 11/16 WBA So Cal Regional Championships
❇️ 11/19 Senior Dinner @ John’s Incredible Pizza
❇️ 11/21 Final rehearsal, run-through, and loading 5:30-8:30PM
❇️ 11/22-24 Western Band Association Championships
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 11/11
NO SCHOOL
10:00AM-2:00PM Rehearsal
TUESDAY 11/12
7:00AM Band Room open – Jazz Band set up & warm up
7:17AM Full Jazz Ensemble – concert run-through
3:30PM Sectionals – prep for jazz concert & WBA regional championships
Set up Band Room for Jazz Concert in the Band Room
7:00PM FALL JAZZ CONCERT IN THE BAND ROOM!! Admission is FREE and open to family, friends, students, and alumni.
8:00PM Approximate end time / Clean up
WEDNESDAY 11/13
Study Hall / practice time during class
5:30-8:30PM Full Ensemble rehearsal in stadium
7:00PM MANDATORY WBA CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIP PARENT MEETING IN BAND ROOM
THURSDAY 11/14
PANDA EXPRESS FUNDRAISER 9:30AM-10:30PM!
NO JAZZ BAND
3:30-5:10PM Full Ensemble rehearsal
5:10-5:20PM Full run-through (no push on or off)
5:20PM Add masks to ballad with band jackets / separate project in sections
5:55PM Clean up – EVERYONE HELP
FRIDAY 11/15
MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND & COLOR GUARD NIGHT!
7:17AM Jazz Ensemble
MOVE ALL PROPS TO STADIUM DURING SCHOOL
3:30PM Set up for Middle School Band Night at stadium (tables, chairs, EZ-ups)
4:00PM Pizza Dinner at patio (provided)
4:45PM Call time in Band Room to change
5:15PM Walk to stadium (bring instrument/equipment, flip folder, lyre, music stand racks)
5:30PM Middle Schoolers check-in / mingle
6:00PM Sectionals – winds learning pep tunes, drumline learning cadences, guard learning routine
(front ensemble rehearsal in stadium)
6:45PM Wrap up / Set up for performance
7:00PM FREE Show & Tell Performance (Drumline, Guard, Pep Tunes, Field Show)
7:45PM Clean Up – put away props and equipment
8:30PM Change out of uniform ASAP – hang correctly
8:45PM Dismissal
Hydrate and go to bed early!
SATURDAY 11/16
WBA SO CAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
LOCATION: Trabuco Hills High School
ADDRESS: 27501 Mustang Run, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
SHOW INFO: https://www.westernbands.org/events/details.php?ID=1060
VOLUNTEER: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48AFA82EA3F8C61-53189285-111624#/
GET TICKETS: https://usbands.ticketspice.com/wba-regional-championships-trabuco-hills-tournament-in-the-hills
8:59AM Call time / Set up at practice field (bring battery and tuba cases)
12:35PM Full run-through – Parents needed for run-through
1:30PM Lunch – bring $5 for WALKING TACOS!
3:30PM Depart for Trabuco Hills HS – 27501 Mustang Run, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
7:40PM Performance time
9:10PM Full retreat staging (in full uniform)
9:30PM Class 3A/4A/5A Awards
12:15AM Approximate dismissal