WELCOME BACK!
Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break with plenty of relaxation. We’ve got an exciting month ahead as we start new music for our annual holiday concert, kick off Indoor Percussion and Winter Guard, and continue preparing the 605 All-Star Band for the 2025 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade! Let’s tackle the weeks ahead with focus and enthusiasm!
This week we have rehearsals for Indoor Percussion, Winter Guard, Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, and Combined Band. Eat at The Kebab Shop tomorrow, Monday 12/2 anytime from 10:30AM-9:00PM and make sure you show the flyer to support the program! Please join us for our monthly Booster Meeting this Wednesday 12/4 at 6:30PM in the Band Room. The 605 All-Star Band will have their second parade this Sunday 12/8 at the South Gate Children’s Christmas Lane Parade! If you are in the 605 All-Star Band, make sure you’re caught up with your final payment so you can receive your uniform/costume this week. We are getting your black bibbers dry cleaned and will be doing sizing for shakos this week. Have a fantastic week!
Congratulations to the Gahr Marching Gladiators on a super successful marching season! Despite the rain, the entire weekend ran smoothly and we were fortunate to perform both days. Gahr took 2nd place in WBA 4A Class Championships – winning High Effect, High Color Guard, and High Percussion. Gahr advanced to WBA 4A/5A Grand Championships and finished 6th place overall with the strongest performance yet and a final score of 91.725!
Your hard work, dedication, and passion made these final performances unforgettable and brought our 2024 production, “KUBRICK,” to life. From early morning rehearsals to late-night competitions, you showed resilience, teamwork, and a true love for the marching arts. This season has been a remarkable journey, and I am so proud of everything we’ve accomplished. Each of you contributed something special, and together we created something extraordinary.
We would like to thank all of the parents and alumni who helped with everything from transportation, to equipment, to props, uniforms, food, chaperoning, and so much more. We would also like to give a huge thank you to Dee Dee Varney who worked tirelessly over the past several months to plan, organize, and coordinate such a wonderful trip – but more importantly create lifelong memories for our students. Thank you to our incredible team of instructors who worked daily to bring out the best from our students and inspire them. Thank you to our amazing students, dedicated families, and supportive alumni, administration, and community that continue to push us to reach for new heights. We look forward to seeing you this Wednesday at 6:30PM in the Band Room for our monthly Booster Meeting as we recap the Gahr Invitational Field Tournament, the fall marching season, and begin gearing up for our winter, concert, and jazz groups!
MARCHING BAND DONATIONS PAST DUE – Please make sure you have paid all of your marching band donations. This is critical so that we are able to pay our instructional staff, outstanding bills for production costs, and register for festivals and competitions. We accept checks made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” cash, or you can pay online with a credit card. Thank you.
WINTER GUARD KICKS OFF THIS WEEK – Winter Guard starts this week with Tuesday and Thursday evening practices from 5:00-9:00PM. We are super excited to begin digging into our 2025 production :)
605 ALL-STAR BAND PERFORMING IN THE BELLFLOWER/LAKEWOOD PARADE – Over 500 students from Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, John Glenn, Gahr, La Mirada, Mayfair and Norwalk high school bands will come together as the 605 All-Star Band, representing three school districts along the 605 Freeway (ABC, Bellflower and Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School Districts). To get ready for the Rose Parade, the 605 All-Star Band will perform and march in a practice parade from Bellflower to Lakewood TODAY, Sunday, December 1 from 11:30AM-3:30PM. This is a unique opportunity for residents of Lakewood and the surrounding region to see and hear the band up close. Bring a chair and cheer them on as they march and perform. The nearly four-mile practice parade route will begin at Ron Yary Stadium in Bellflower and finish at Mayfair Park (see map below).
605 ALL-STAR BAND AT DISNEYLAND – We are excited to announce that the 605 All Star Band will be performing at Disneyland on the morning of December 27th! While our exact performance time is still being finalized, we’ll be sure to share that information as soon as it’s available. If your family would like to join us to watch the performance along Main Street, U.S.A., and enjoy a magical day in the park, here’s everything you need to know about purchasing tickets.
Ticket Information:
As of today, here are the ticket prices:
1 Day 1 Park Ticket - $206
1 Day Park Hopper Ticket - $281
Important Note: Due to the holiday season, tickets tend to sell out quickly. If you plan to attend the performance, we recommend purchasing your tickets as soon as possible. Please keep in mind that ticket prices may vary, and park reservations are limited. Park reservation availability is subject to change until your reservation is confirmed by Disney.
Our Location:
The 605 All Star Band performance will take place in Disneyland Park (not Disney California Adventure Park). Please make sure your ticket is for Disneyland Park to ensure you can watch the performance.
How to Purchase Tickets:
You can buy your tickets online through the following link:
Disneyland Ticket Purchase
On the Disneyland ticket site, you’ll be able to select your ticket type and add additional options like Disney Gift Cards, Disney Dining Cards, and Lightning Lane Multi-Pass. Lightning Lane provides access to priority entrances at various attractions across Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, plus you can enjoy unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads and access to Disney PhotoPass Lenses with this service. For further assistance, please contact Disney’s customer support at Disneyland Help.
Thank you for your continued support! We’re looking forward to sharing this special day with you and celebrating our talented musicians.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
❇️ 12/1 All-Star Band Bellflower/Lakewood Parade Performance 11AM-3PM
❇️ 12/7 All-Star Band Rehearsal at Bellflower HS from 9AM-4PM
❇️ 12/8 All-Star Band Southgate Christmas Parade Performance 10:30AM-2:30PM
❇️ 12/11 All-Star Band INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS @ La Mirada HS from 4-7PM
❇️ 12/13 Winter Pep Rally!
❇️ 12/14 All-Star Band Rehearsal at Gahr HS from 9AM-4PM
❇️ 12/15 All-Star Band Performance at Gahr/Cerritos/Artesia from 12PM-3:30PM
❇️ 12/19 Holiday Band Concert at Whitney HS at 6:30PM
❇️ 12/22 John Glenn Parade Performance 12:00-3:30PM
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 12/2
NO JAZZ BAND
BRING INSTRUMENT AND MUSIC TO SCHOOL!
Unload Gahr trailer during the school day.
10:30AM-9:00PM Kebab Shop Fundraiser
4th/5th – Start new holiday music!
6th-6:00PM 1st Indoor Percussion rehearsal!
TUESDAY 12/3
7:17AM Jazz Ensemble (EVERYONE)
3:30-6:00PM Wind Ensemble rehearsal!
5:00-9:00PM 1st Winter Guard rehearsal!
6:30PM Executive Booster Meeting
WEDNESDAY 12/4
NO ZERO PERIOD
6:00-9:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
6:30PM Booster Meeting in the Band Room!
THURSDAY 12/5
7:17AM Jazz Ensemble (EVERYONE)
3:30-6:00PM Combined Band rehearsal (Sleigh Ride)
5:00-9:00PM Winter Guard rehearsal
FRIDAY 12/6
7:17AM Jazz Ensemble with Chris Stevens (EVERYONE)
6th-6:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
TAKE INSTRUMENT HOME FOR 605 ALL-STAR BAND REHEARSAL/PARADE
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR BLACK MARCHING SHOES
SATURDAY 12/7
FINAL DEADLINE FOR 605 ALL-STAR BAND BALANCE FOR UNIFORMS
8:45AM-4:00PM 605 All-Star Band Rehearsal @ Bellflower HS
SUNDAY 12/8
10:30AM-2:30PM 605 All-Star Band @ South Gate Children's Christmas Lane Parade (full uniform)