HONOR BAND AUDITIONS THIS WEEK

We’ve got a big week ahead with wind sectionals, color guard this Thursday until 2:30PM, and all Honor Band audition videos due this Sunday 3/7. Please read the information below so you are well prepared.

Congratulations once again on a fantastic Solo Festival! Every adjudicator across all four days had positive things to say about our students and the band and color guard program. While the growth and experience gained is by far the most important aspect of the festival, the adjudicators awarded many “Superior” ratings, including a number of our freshmen students! We will share the results tomorrow, Monday, March 1st during our 7th period class. Also, stay tuned for a “behind the scenes” highlight video!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Chipotle on Wednesday! We had a great turn out and it was wonderful seeing our band and color guard family. I would also like to thank all the students who recorded audition videos for a commercial gig that would greatly benefit the band program. It looks like five of our students will be booked by the agency for this commercial: Lucas Mociler, Spencer Wiitanen, Jenna Vandeventer, Emma Edwards, and Kamar Little!!

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HONOR BAND AUDITION VIDEOS DUE SUNDAY 3/7 🎶

The 2021 ABCUSD Honor Band is a unique opportunity to work with an incredible guest conductor and meet the composer of our piece, Randall Standridge! The time commitments are minimal and it will be a fun experience playing some great music. If you make the group, you'll also get an enamel pin and honor band sticker. You do NOT want to miss out on this opportunity! However, in order to make the group, you need to turn in an audition video playing the music excerpts.

By today, all winds and percussionists should be able to play through all of their audition excerpts under tempo. We will continue working on the excerpts this week in class and in wind sectionals. Being in the honor band itself is optional, but because we will have spent nearly two weeks of class and sectionals on this material, all wind and percussion students will record the excerpts and submit them as a video assignment. If you do not want to be in the honor band, you can let Mr. Loney know not to include your videos for consideration. HONOR BAND AUDITION VIDEOS ARE DUE ON GOOGLE CLASSROOM THIS SUNDAY 3/7 BY 11:59PM. LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

WINDS: We’ll be going through your honor band music in sectionals this week:
Flutes - Tuesday, 3/2 from 2:15-3:05PM (Christine Han)
Clarinets/Bass Clarinets - Friday, 3/5 from 2:05-2:55PM (Oscar Esteves, Mr. Loney)
All Saxophones - Tuesday, 3/2 from 2:30-3:20PM (Paul Cotton)
Trumpets - Tuesday, 3/2 from 2:05-2:55PM (David Lopez)
French Horns - Tuesday, 3/2 from 2:05-2:55PM (Nathan Pratt)
Trombones/Baritones - Tuesday, 3/2 from 2:05-2:55PM (Mr. Loney)
Tubas - Tuesday, 3/2 from 2:05-2:55PM (Matt Disante)

We are planning to announce the results on Thursday, March 11th, and our first rehearsal with Dr. Arnold will be Tuesday, March 16th. Every student in our program is capable of learning the music and auditioning. Please let Mr. Loney know if you have any questions or need any extra help!

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SENIOR GRADUATION STOLES 🎓

Band and Color Guard seniors who have been in the program for 8-semesters are eligible for a graduation stole. You must be an active member of the music program and have at least a 2.0 GPA. This year, you’ll be able to log on to the Gahr Webstore and purchasing your stole for $40 beginning Tuesday, March 2nd. The deadline for orders is Monday, March 8th! Once you’ve purchased a stole, the boosters will be helping cover the additional embroidery costs. Please let Mr. Loney know if you have any questions. Thank you!

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2ND SEMESTER DONATION PAST DUE

The 2nd semester donation of $150 was due Friday, February 5th. We are unable to continue to afford coaches, music, or end-of-year awards without your donation. If you need to work out additional fundraisers or a payment plan, please email Mr. Darren Loney, Director of Bands, at darren.loney@abcusd.us. Thank you.

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KEEPSAKE PILLOWS ARE HERE! 💙💛

Thank you to everyone who has supported the band program by purchasing a uniform pillow!! Our old marching band uniforms have been transformed into beautiful, keepsake pillows! Each pillow is $65, approximately 15” x 15”, and is professionally handmade. These make the perfect graduation gift. We currently have approximately 3 pillows left IN STOCK - first come, first served. Thank you!

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ON-CAMPUS PRACTICE UPDATE 🥁🏳😷

We are working with the administration and athletic director to begin limited, in-person practice for battery and color guard. We are still coordinating the logistics of this, but are looking at approximately one hour per week after school, 100% optional, and following all state, county, and district guidelines. All the procedures we discussed in our mandatory December meeting would be in place, including masking and social distancing at all times.

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