WELCOME BACK!
I hope you had a wonderful and well-deserved Thanksgiving break. EXCITING NEWS… Almost exactly a year ago, we moved from the old Band Room into the portable we’re in now. While we were out this week, the construction crew made substantial progress on the new Band Room. We will begin moving to our new zone throughout the week! Also this week, we will be transitioning into concert season as we prepare for our Holiday Band Concert on Wednesday, December 20th at the Whitney HS MAC! Jazz Band A and B will be in full swing with our normal zero period rehearsals. We will also be starting up our winter season with auditions/rehearsals for the Indoor Percussion program and Varsity Winter Guard! Please read below for the full schedule.
Indoor Percussion auditions will be TOMORROW, Monday 11/27 from 6th period to 6:00PM and Wednesday evening 11/29 from 6:00-9:00PM. This is also the normal weekly practice schedule. We will have a Indoor Percussion SHOW REVEAL right after auditions tomorrow from 6:00-6:30PM. If you’re a wind player interested in Indoor Percussion, we will have auditions for the cymbal line as well as other positions available in the front ensemble/battery. Anyone is welcome to check it out!! Next Monday, December 4th, we will have a Mandatory Student/Parent Indoor Percussion Meeting at 6:00PM.
Winter Guard auditions (for all guard) will be THIS TUESDAY 11/28 AND THURSDAY 11/30 from 5:00-9:00PM to place students in the JV and Varsity teams. Please note that students do not automatically get onto the Varsity Team due to prior membership or seniority. Sadly, we had A LOT of drama this past season with both students and parents. And while the field show itself was fun, the issues it caused certainly were not. Both the JV and Varsity Guards will be a safe place that is educational and where students are having fun and enjoying the activity. If that is not for you, please reconsider before auditioning for the team. You are always welcome to speak to Sami, Chadd, Mr. Loney, or Mr. Miller (whoever you feel comfortable with). Otherwise, we look forward to seeing YOUR BEST at the auditions this week and to continue the momentum we had with the Varsity Guard last season and the marching band this past season :)
FRESHMEN: We will be taking the FitnessGram this Friday 12/1 during the class period as part of your P.E. credit for marching band. Mr. Loney and Mr. Miller will go through all the requirements so you can prepare. Make sure you hydrate, bring your water jug, and wear comfortable athletic clothing/shoes on Friday.
Congratulations once again on an incredible marching season and for winning the CSBC 4A/5A/6A State Championships with a new record high score of 97.60!! Gahr won High Music, High Visual, High General Effect, and High Percussion. This is a huge milestone for the program and would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our students, instructors, and parents. As a special treat, listen to the Music Performance tape at CSBC Championships from adjudicator George Edge :) Keep up the fantastic work as we head into our winter and concert seasons.
Check out these great action shots that were taken at CSBC 4A/5A/6A Championships! Visit the website to purchase photos directly from the photographer.
A HUGE THANK YOU to Mr. Islas and Mrs. Santana who took all of the amazing photos you saw throughout the marching band season! Check out the videos below of our final performance and behind the scenes at CSBC 4A/5A/6A Championships.
The day before CSBC Championships, we had our annual Senior Dinner celebration at Off Street Cafe. Thank you so much to Dee Dee Varney, Ammie Goncalves, Ida Barcelos, and all the parents who help plan, organize, and execute this special dinner for our senior class! And thank you SENIORS for all your hard work, dedication, and for making this the strongest marching season in the history of Gahr High School!!
FALL DONATIONS PAST DUE
The total balance of $675 for marching donations is past due. While so much of the success this past season is due to the hard work by the students, we also owe a lot of credit to our fantastic instructional staff. We cannot pay our instructors without your contribution. Students must also be caught up with fall donations to audition for the Varsity Guard and the Indoor Percussion program. We accept cash, checks made payable to "Gahr Band Boosters," or you can click here to make a donation online. Please communicate with Mr. Loney if you have any issues with your financial obligation.
NEW BAND ROOM!!
We will begin to transition into the new Band Room this week! We will still be using Room 609/610 for additional overflow space until the black box theater is complete. Just a friendly reminder that there is no chewing gum, food, or drinks (besides water) in these spaces. All students will be assigned an instrument/equipment locker. No personal belongings will be put on the ground anymore, and students are responsible to keep their locker clean and organized. This is a HUGE UPGRADE and we want to treat this space with respect!
WINTER PEP RALLY 12/8
There will be a PEP RALLY during school next Friday, December 8th in the redone Gahr HS Gym! This is the first Pep Rally in FOUR YEARS – and the first one even for our senior class. Normally the marching band would have performed for the Homecoming Pep Rally, but we would like to have the entire marching band and color guard perform a shortened, stand-still of our 2023 production for this rally!! Winds & percussion would also play some of one of our holiday pieces, “Sing Along with Santa,” that you will receive tomorrow. Plan on wearing your field show t-shirt and jeans (and your band jacket if you have one). Color Guard please wear your field show shirt and guard warm ups. The school will be on a pep rally schedule and we will have “field trip” forms so that you will be able to set up and have a rehearsal/run-through before the rally starts.
HOLIDAY BAND CONCERT 12/20
Our annual Holiday Band Concert is Wednesday, December 20th at 7:00PM at the Whitney High School Theater! Come enjoy all your favorite holiday tunes from our jazz and concert bands.
REHEARSALS: Winds and percussionists will have some after school rehearsals on Tuesdays and Thursdays to prepare for this concert. This is a FAST turn around, so make sure you practice your music SLOWLY and CORRECTLY so we can be successful.
ALL BLACK CONCERT ATTIRE:
Option #1) Long-sleeved, solid black button-up dress shirt, tucked-in with black belt, solid black dress pants, LONG black socks, and black dress shoes (or polished marching band shoes).
Option #2) Long, black concert GOWN (below the knees - not a skirt).
Students may also wear Santa/holiday/festive/fun hats!!
HOLIDAY BAND CONCERT REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:
Tue 11/28 – Wind Ensemble WINDS ONLY 3:30-4:30PM
Thu 11/30 – Combined Band WINDS ONLY 3:30-5:30PM
Tue 12/5 – Wind Ensemble rehearsal 3:30-5:30PM
Thu 12/7 – Combined Band rehearsal 3:30-5:30PM
Tue 12/12 – Wind Ensemble rehearsal 3:30-5:30PM
Thu 12/14 – Combined Band FINAL REHEARSAL 3:30-5:30PM
Mon 12/18 – Wind Ensemble FINAL REHEARSAL 3:30-5:30PM
Tue 12/19 – Combined Band rehearsal 3:30-5:30PM
Wed 12/20 – Holiday Band Concert 7:00PM @ Whitney HS (call time 5:30PM)
INDOOR PERCUSSION
Mondays 6th period–6:00PM
Wednesdays 6:00-9:00PM
JV GUARD
Tuesdays 6th period–5:00PM
Thursdays 6th period–5:00PM
VARSITY GUARD
Tuesdays 5:00-9:00PM
Thursdays 5:00-9:00PM
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 11/27
BRING INSTRUMENT/EQUIPMENT TO SCHOOL
7:15AM Jazz Band A & B
6th-6:00PM Indoor Percussion Auditions (interested wind players come after school)
6:00-6:30PM Student Indoor Percussion SHOW REVEAL!
TUESDAY 11/28
7:15AM Jazz Band A & B
3:30-4:30PM Wind Ensemble WINDS ONLY (sight-reading)
6th – Winter Guard study hall
5:00-9:00PM Winter Guard Auditions (everyone)
WEDNESDAY 11/29
NO JAZZ A OR B
6:00-9:00PM Indoor Percussion Auditions/Rehearsal (always bring warm clothes)
THURSDAY 11/30
7:15AM Jazz Band A & B
6th – Winter Guard study hall
3:30-5:30PM Combined Band WINDS ONLY (sight-reading)
5:00-9:00PM Winter Guard Auditions (everyone)
FRIDAY 12/1
FRESHMEN – Bring hat, water, and comfortable athletic clothing/shoes.
7:15AM Jazz Band A & B
Freshman FitnessGram during class periods 3, 4, 6
3:30-5:30PM Jazz Band A & B (there will only be one more of these)
WEEKEND OFF!! Take your instrument and equipment home to practice.