HOLIDAY BAND CONCERT!
Our annual Holiday Band Concert is this Wednesday, December 20th at 7:00 p.m. in the Whitney MAC! Get in the spirit of the season with all your holiday favorites performed by the bands of Gahr High School. Admission is just $10 for adults, $8 for students, and children 3 and under are free if they are sitting on your lap. If you would like them to have their own seat, you must purchase a ticket for them. Due to limited capacity, ALL SEATS MUST BE PRE-PURCHASED ONLINE AHEAD OF TIME. NO WALK-UPS PLEASE. Please use this link to reserve your seats through Ticket Leap:
STUDENTS: Please keep practicing DAILY with a metronome so you can be individually prepared for the concert. Our last Wind Ensemble rehearsal is TOMORROW, MONDAY 12/18 from 2:00-4:30PM and the final Combined Band rehearsal is TUESDAY 12/19 from 2:00-4:30PM. ATTENDANCE AT THESE REHEARSALS IS MANDATORY TO PERFORM IN THE CONCERT. Please make arrangements on Wednesday after school to take your instrument, music, and everything you need for the concert. Student CALL TIME on Wednesday is 5:00PM at Whitney HS to set up on stage, warm up, and sound check for the concert bands and jazz bands. Everyone will need to help with stands, chairs, and percussion equipment both for the set up as well as the tear-down after the concert.
STUDENT 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). NO JEANS.
Option #2) Long, black concert GOWN (below the knees - not a skirt).
PARENTS: We need your help selling concessions and Gahr Band winter merchandise before the concert, at intermission, and after the concert. Please click here to sign up to help at the Holiday Concert. We will close these areas during the performances so you are still able to watch your student perform.
Because concessions and refreshments must be served and consumed outside, we may not be able to offer this if it is raining. However, we will have merchandise either way, including our newly designed black “Gahr Marching Gladiators” hoodie, 2024 wall calendar, commemorative ornament, and beanies (while supplies last). You can guarantee reserving these items by purchasing them ahead of time on our web store.
BOOSTER PARENT UPDATE – Thank everyone who supported the band and color guard by eating at Raising Cane’s on Thursday! We would also like to thank everyone who came to Tuesday’s Booster Meeting in the newly renovated Band Room. This is a copy of the proposed updated bylaws that were discussed in the booster meeting – added statement of inclusivity, adjusted dates based on the school year ending earlier, and updated language for the executive board positions. We still need your help as we go into the new semester with the concert groups, jazz bands, JV Guard, Varsity Guard, and Indoor Percussion. Remember that you do not need your student to be in that ensemble to help! A few areas we will need support are prop building, the drumline/guard pancake breakfast & preview, our FUNDrive event, and hosting a WGASC winter guard competition! We’re looking forward to an amazing 2024.
WINTER GUARD UPDATE – Thank you to everyone who came to last week’s JV and Varsity Winter Guard Parent Meeting! We went through a lot of information for your student to be successful with this upcoming season. Click here for the packet that was handed out that includes the Parental Consent Form for the JV and Varsity Guards. Please note that the 1st donation is due Thursday, January 4th, but you are always encouraged to pay early or in full for the season to help us with up-front costs. Some of these include costume deposits, purchasing new floor tarps, flags, and paying for instructors. STUDENTS: Great work last week with learning the productions and staging! This week we only have rehearsal on Wednesday 12/20 starting “block” 6th period from 11AM-3PM. Please make sure you have marked down the dates and times for the rehearsals during the end of Winter Break.
INDOOR PERCUSSION UPDATE – Great work this past week at our first drumline camp! Click here for the packet that was handed out at the Parent Meeting that includes the Parent Consent Form. Please note that the 1st donation is due Wednesday, January 3rd, but you are always encouraged to pay early or in full for the season to help us out with up-front costs. Some of these include costume rental fees, purchasing a new floor tarp, props, and paying for instructors. STUDENTS: We do not have rehearsal Monday-Wednesday due to finals and the Holiday Band Concert, but we have an important camp on Thursday 12/21 from 9AM-4PM. PARENTS: We can use your help if you’re available for lunch especially since this is a workday. Please click here to sign up.
FALL DONATIONS PAST DUE — The total balance of $675 for marching donations is past due. We cannot pay our instructors without your contribution. Students must be caught up with fall donations to participate in the Winter Guard and the Indoor Percussion programs. 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.
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 12/18
NO JAZZ BAND A OR B
Block Finals Periods 1 & 2
Band Room open after school to practice.
2:00-4:30PM Full Wind Ensemble (Minor Alterations, Sleigh Ride)
TUESDAY 12/19
7:15AM Jazz Band A & B
Block Finals Periods 3 & 4
HAND OUT HONOR BAND AUDITION MUSIC
Band Room open after school to practice.
2:00-4:30PM Full Combined Band (Many Sounds of Christmas, Sing Along with Santa, Sleigh Ride, Minor Alterations)
WEDNESDAY 12/20
NO JAZZ BAND A OR B
Block Periods 5 & 6
6th-3PM Winter Guard Practice
AFTER SCHOOL – Take instrument, music, and everything for the Holiday Concert
1:15-2:00PM Jazz Band A and B Run-through / Load
5:00PM STUDENT CALL TIME AT WHITNEY HS – 16800 Shoemaker Ave, Cerritos, CA 90703
Wear ALL BLACK concert attire and Santa hat! Bring your instrument and music.
6:35PM Doors open
7:00PM Concert starts!
8:30PM Approximate end time. Students please help load and clean up.
THURSDAY 12/21
Indoor Percussion Camp 9AM-4PM (bring $5 for lunch)
8:30AM Band Room open
9:00AM-12:00PM Block 1
12:00-1:00PM Lunch (bring $5)
1:00-4:00PM Block 2