CIF HOME GAME FRIDAY AND GAHR INVITATIONAL THIS SATURDAY
UPDATE – THIS FRIDAY 11/8 WE HAVE A CIF HOME FOOTBALL GAME AT GAHR AND SATURDAY 11/9 IS THE GAHR INVITATIONAL FIELD TOURNAMENT! ON SUNDAY 11/10 WE HAVE A 605 ALL-STAR BAND REHEARSAL AT BELLFLOWER HS. FINALLY, ON MONDAY 11/11 WE WILL HAVE REHEARSAL FROM 10AM-2PM TO PREPARE FOR THE WBA SO CAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. PLEASE READ ALL THE INFORMATION CAREFULLY SO YOU’RE PREPARED FOR THIS WEEK!
CIF HOME FOOTBALL GAME THIS FRIDAY – We have a CIF Home Football Game this Friday, November 8th! We will be playing in the stands and will be performing the entire field show at halftime. This replaces the rehearsal we had originally scheduled and will serve as our competition mock-run. We will be using all of our props and will need parents to help with pushing on and off. PARENTS: Please click here to help out at the game on Friday.
To save time changing before and after the game, we will have the band wear the BLACK Gahr Marching Gladiators hoodies, jeans, and athletic shoes. Color Guard will wear SHOW BLACKS and warm ups. After the halftime show, the band will stay to play in the stands and support the team. We will have percussion and color guard help parents move and set up for the Gahr Invitational. We are pushing back the student call time for the Gahr Invitational to 7:30AM.
GAHR INVITATIONAL FIELD TOURNAMENT – This Saturday, November 9th is the GAHR INVITATIONAL FIELD TOURNAMENT! This is a HUGE, all-day event with 33 performing bands, and we need ALL HANDS ON DECK to make it a success!! WE HAVE A MANDATORY MEETING FOR ALL PARENTS AND ALUMNI THIS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH FROM 6:30-7:30PM IN THE GAHR HS STADIUM. We will be doing a walk-through of how we will be hosting the field show tournament and then will split into different volunteer areas you signed up for. If you are a parent or alumni and have not signed up for a shift yet, WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS FOR 2ND SHIFT OF CONCESSIONS, STADIUM TRAFFIC, AND PARKING. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP AND VOLUNTEER!
If you are an upperclassmen or an alumnus interested in hosting a band, please let Mr. Loney know ASAP. We will have a quick SHOW HOST MEETING with alumnus Joon Mock right after rehearsal on Thursday from 6:00-6:30PM.
We are asking for all students to donate soda, water, or baked goods for the Gahr Invitational. Please check the list below, broken up by section. Donations can be dropped off to Mr. Loney’s office. Please write your name on your donation items.
BANDS OF AMERICA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS – The Gahr Marching Gladiators had an amazing day at the Bands of America Southern California Regional Championships! In prelims, Gahr took 1st place in Class AA and won Outstanding Music Performance, Outstanding Visual Performance, and Outstanding General Effect. Gahr advanced to Regional Finals and ended up taking 3RD PLACE OVERALL!! Thank you to our amazing parent crew for their support with props, equipment, transportation, uniforms/costumes, and food. We would not have been able to do it without you!
ALL DONATIONS PAST DUE – AT THIS POINT, ALL DONATIONS ARE PAST DUE – INCLUDING PAYING FOR THE WBA CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIP. 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.
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!
605 ALL-STAR BAND REHEARSAL THIS SUNDAY 11/10 – We have a rehearsal this Sunday, November 10th at Bellflower High School! Bring your instrument, music, hat, water, and sack lunch or money for food.
Please make sure you’re caught up with your final payment for the 605 All-Star Band. This will be covering everything for the Rose Parade, including your ticket to perform at Disneyland.
Our first community parade performance is Sunday, December 1st at 1:30PM from Ron Yary Stadium in Bellflower to Mayfair Park in Lakewood!
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 11/4
NO JAZZ BAND
3:30-6:00PM Winds/Guard/Front Ensemble rehearsal
6:00-9:00PM Battery rehearsal in stadium (bring warm clothes)
TUESDAY 11/5
7:17AM Full Jazz Band
3:30-4:30PM Sectionals
WEDNESDAY 11/6
DEADLINE FOR SODA/WATER DONATIONS
Practice/Study hall in class
5:30-8:30PM Full Ensemble rehearsal in stadium
6:30PM MANDATORY GAHR INVITATIONAL FIELD SHOW PARENT/ALUMNI MEETING AT STADIUM
THURSDAY 11/7
7:30AM Jazz Ensemble rehearsal (everyone)
3:30-6:00PM Full Ensemble rehearsal/run-through
FRIDAY 11/8
7:17AM Full Jazz Ensemble
3:30PM Break after school / Eat dinner
5:15PM Call time in Band Room / Warm up / Run pep tunes
6:15PM Restroom
6:30PM Walk to stadium
6:45PM Star-Spangled Banner
7:00PM CIF Home Football Game vs. La Puente High School
8:15PM Half-time performance
8:30PM Debrief
8:45PM Front Ensemble, Battery, and Color Guard push equipment back. Help set up for Gahr Invitational.
9:15PM Approximate game end time*
9:30PM Walk back to Band Room
9:45PM Approximate dismissal*
*The end time of a football game varies. The Gahr Marching Gladiators always stay until the end of the game to support our school and team. Please have your student call you for pick-up time or check Remind for updates.
HYDRATE AND GO TO BED!!
SATURDAY 11/9
GAHR INVITATIONAL FIELD TOURNAMENT
VOLUNTEER: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48AFA82EA3F8C61-50414975-9thannual?useFullSite=true#/
SHOW INFO: https://csbc.compsuite.io/events/60784
SCHEDULE: https://schedules.competitionsuite.com/c90a02d9-68ee-4f5c-b64e-2b989d878728_logistical.htm
PARENTS/STUDENTS/ALUMNI: WEAR A FIELD SHOW SHIRT!
5:45AM Campus open
6:00AM Start early set up / Hospitality Tent Drop Off / SHIFT #1
7:30AM CALL TIME FOR STUDENTS TO SET UP
8:00AM Check-in, spectator parking, and bus parking, show hosts ready
8:45AM Concessions, vendors, tickets ready
9:00AM Stadium open, traffic control ready
10:00AM First 1A band performs
2:55PM Awards 1A/2A/3A
3:00PM SHIFT #2
3:45PM MOVE ALL PROPS TO THE PRE-STAGE AREA!!!
4:45PM STUDENT CALL TIME IN BAND ROOM
5:00PM First 4A band performs
5:00PM Eat dinner (provided)
5:45PM Change into full uniform
6:15PM Early Warm Up / Basics
7:15PM Warm Up Zone (Practice field)
7:45PM Full Ensemble / Production Runs
8:20PM Push to stadium
8:35PM Gate time
8:45PM Gahr performance time
9:00PM Debrief
9:10PM Push to Band Room ASAP / Put away equipment / Change
LOAD EVERYTHING IN THE GAHR TRAILER FOR THE 605 ALL-STAR REHEARSAL!!
9:35PM Awards 4A/5A/6A
9:55PM ALL STUDENTS REPORT TO THE FIELD FOR CLEAN UP
10:55PM Check-out with Mr. Loney before dismissal
11:00PM Done
HYDRATE AND GO TO BED!!
SUNDAY 11/10
605 All-Star Band Rehearsal at Bellflower HS
8:30AM Check-in / Unload
9:00AM-12:00PM Block 1
12:00-1:00PM Lunch (bring your own lunch)
1:00-4:00PM Block 2
MONDAY 11/11
Veterans Day – NO SCHOOL
9:15AM Band Room open
10:00AM-2:00PM Rehearsal
TUESDAY 11/12
7:17AM Full Jazz Ensemble – concert run-through!
3:35PM Optional sectionals – prep for WBA So Cal Regional Championships
Set up Band Room for Jazz Concert
6:30PM FALL JAZZ CONCERT IN THE BAND ROOM! FREE AND OPEN TO FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND STUDENTS!!
7:45PM Approximate end time / Clean up