1ST COMPETITION THIS SATURDAY!
Awesome improvement this past week and great job at the home football game! Thank you to all the parents who came to Tuesday’s Booster Parent Meeting and who helped the game on Friday. In addition to the parents who helped at the game with uniforms, concessions, merchandise, props, and equipment, we would also like to give a special shoutout to Jerry Islas and Oneida Santana who have been taking incredible photos at all of our rehearsals and performances! You can follow us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/gahrband and on Instagram – www.instagram.com/gahrband.
We have an important week of rehearsal as we prepare for our first field show competition this Saturday, October 12th at Costa Mesa HS! PARENTS: Please click here help at the competition. Support the program by eating at Taco Nazo and show the flyer this Tuesday 10/8 from 10AM-9PM.
This Sunday is the first rehearsal for the 605 All-Star Band at Bellflower HS! Please note that there is school on Monday, October 14th and we will have normal rehearsal after school. Please read all the information below carefully.
STUDENTS: Great improvement this past week and congratulations on finishing the first movement of our field show production! We still have a lot of work as we continue preparing for Saturday’s competition, but we’re on the right track! Keep reviewing and do a run-through every day. Special kudos to all the students who have been practicing before school, at break and lunch, and after school. Make sure you’re staying hydrated, eat throughout the day, and continue to review and practice.
Even though we didn’t have rehearsal this past Saturday, we had a team of parents and alumni who unloaded all of the FUNDrive donations and who continued to work on the props for the field show. We had 8,417 lbs. of donations bringing in $1,638.52 towards the music program! Just in case you didn’t know, all of the parents you see helping are volunteers. As professional and amazing as they are, most of our parents work a full-time job and help out whenever they can. We are proud to have THE BEST parents and alumni and are looking forward to seeing everyone at the competition this Saturday!
605 ALL-STAR BAND REHEARSAL 10/13 – This Sunday, October 13th, we have the first official rehearsal for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade! Call time is 8:30AM at the Bellflower HS Gym – 15301 S. McNab Ave., Bellflower, CA 90706. Check in with your band director in front of the gym and receive your band shirt for the group photo. Bring your water jug, your own lunch, instrument/equipment, music binder, and DO NOT BE LATE. Make sure you have music for all five pieces and you MEMORIZE “Washington Post.” Students will only have 45 minutes for lunch and may not leave off campus. We will be loading the Gahr trailer on Saturday night with sousaphones, drums, mallet instruments, music stands and other large items that we will need for Sunday morning. All other instruments/equipment must be taken home with you after the competition and brought with you on Sunday morning to Bellflower HS. Please note that the final balance for the 605 All-Star Band is due Monday, October 7th.
SOUTH COAST INVITATIONAL THIS SATURDAY — This Saturday 10/12 is our first competition at the South Coast Invitational at Costa Mesa HS/MS. CALL TIME IS 8:00AM AT GAHR HIGH SCHOOL FOR REHEARSAL – DO NOT BE LATE. Band students will be in full uniform - bring your black sleeveless compression top, black compression shorts, long black socks, and black marching shoes. Color Guard will be in full guard costume – bring your guard warm ups and everything you need for hair & make up. You can bring money for concessions, but because we perform last, the concessions may be closed already.
General admission is $10.00 per person, students w/ ID are $5.00, and children 5 and under are free. All spectators must buy a wristband for admission at every competition, even if you are helping with props or equipment. Student performers are always free. Orange Coast College (OCC) has graciously offered parking for spectators for our event this year. There will also be limited parking at Davis Elementary School (75 spots) on Arlington directly adjacent to the stadium.
South Coast Invitational Field Tournament
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Location: Costa Mesa MS/HS
Address: 2650 Fairview Rd, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Info: https://csbc.compsuite.io/events/60788
Go to bed early and hydrate. Eat a good breakfast before you arrive. Bring water jug and everything you need for rehearsal and full uniform/costume.
8:00AM Call time to set up in Stadium (TBA) — DO NOT BE LATE
8:30AM Block 1 — Show warm up / rehearsal
11:30AM Lunch (provided)
12:30PM Block 2 — Review/Chunk (met/no met)
2:15PM Set up for full push on/off
2:30PM Full timed run-through – PARENTS NEEDED PUSH-ON/OFF!
2:45PM Winds/Percussion load — EVERYONE HELPS
3:45PM Change into uniform
4:15PM Quick snack / Restroom
4:30PM Students meet in Band Room
4:45PM Load busses – Bring uniform bag and change of clothes/shoes
5:00PM Depart for Costa Mesa HS/MS – 2650 Fairview Rd, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
5:30PM Arrive / Check-in / Unload
5:45PM Restrooms / Sack Dinner (provided)
6:30PM Warm up / Parents build and pre-stage props
7:30PM Ensemble
7:55PM Walk/Push to gate – ALL PARENTS MUST PURCHASE A WRISTBAND, EVEN IF YOU ARE HELPING TO PUSH EQUIPMENT & PROPS. PLEASE DO THIS IN ADVANCE SO YOU CAN ENTER THE STADIUM.
8:05PM Pit/props entry time
8:11PM Band entry time
8:15PM Performance time
8:25PM Push equipment back ASAP
8:40PM Return to stadium for awards/restrooms
8:50PM Awards – Stay in full uniform as a group. The Gahr Marching Gladiators students AND parents are a class act in the stands. We don’t say anything bad about any other group. We clap and cheer for everyone, especially our own student leaders who are representing us — no matter the placement or score.
9:20PM Walk back to busses
9:30PM Load ASAP — EVERYONE HELPS (band stays in full uniform). PUT EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR THE 605 ALL-STAR BAND REHEARSAL INTO THE GAHR TRAILER (battery, tubas, mallet instruments, etc.).
10:00PM Change out of uniform ASAP
10:30PM Load busses
10:45PM Depart for Gahr HS
11:15PM Return to Gahr — Unload ASAP — EVERYONE HELPS
TAKE HOME INSTRUMENTS AND EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR THE 605 ALL-STAR BAND REHEARSAL. LOAD MUSIC STAND RACKS INTO GAHR TRAILER.
11:45PM Dismissal
TACO NAZO THIS TUESDAY 10/8 – Eat at Taco Nazo on Alondra Blvd. anytime this Tuesday, October 8th from 10AM-9PM! Show the DIGITAL flyer when ordering and 50% will be donated back to the program. NO PAPER FLYER WILL BE ACCEPTED AND NO ONLINE ORDERS OR DELIVERIES. Spread the word and thank you for your support!
SNAP RAISE UPDATE – We’ve raised nearly $15,000 so far! Continue to plug in email addresses and phone numbers with a PERSONALIZED MESSAGE to raise money towards WBA Championships, your remaining marching band donations, or get a head start on Indoor Percussion and Winter Guard. There’s only 16 days remaining!
The final donation of $150 is due next Friday, October 18th. At this point, there should only be a balance of $150 or less remaining. You can pay with cash, a check made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or you can make a payment online with a credit card. All students must be caught up with outstanding donations to participate in the WBA Championships trip. Please speak to Mr. Loney if you have any financial issues or need additional fundraisers.
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!
FIELD SHOW PROGRAM ADS — Advertise in our program for the Gahr Invitational Field Tournament! THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST INDIVIDUAL STUDENT FUNDRAISER OF THE ENTIRE YEAR!! Students earn 90% of the profit from all ads sold. Please click here to download the form. The deadline for all advertisements is Friday, October 18, 2024. We cannot accept late ads once the program is sent to the printer.
This is a great way for local businesses to advertise to the community! The Gahr Invitational Field Tournament typically has over 5,000 people in attendance, and we usually sell around 500 programs. This is also a great opportunity to put in a "shout-out" for your son/daughter in the program! Best of all, students still earn 90% of profit from getting a shout out!
You can also purchase a program ad directly through our website. Please just make sure you email the ad to Mr. Loney at darren.loney@abcusd.us.
Our next Gahr Invitational Committee Meeting is Wednesday, October 16th at 7PM in the Band Room! We’re gearing up for an amazing field show tournament, but we need ALL HANDS ON DECK to make this a success. If you haven’t signed up for a shift to help at the Gahr Invitational Field Show Tournament, please click here to sign up to volunteer. Thank you!
SENIOR PARENTS — We have a tradition of creating a picture spread on the middle pages of the Gahr Invitational Field Show Program that will show their baby pictures. Please email your son/daughter’s baby photo to dvarney15@gmail.com or text it to (562) 413-3068. Thank you, and way to go Class of 2025!
STUDENT SPONSORSHIP LETTER — The “Student Sponsorship Letter” is a great way to raise money for marching band, Indoor Percussion, and Winter Guard! 100% of the money sponsorships goes directly to your student account. These may take a few hours to complete and mail out, but you can raise upwards of $500 if done correctly! Click here to download the instructions and letter.
ASB CARD & TRANSPORTATION — All students need to purchase an ASB card and pay for transportation. When you buy these items together it only cost $120 total ($60 for the ASB card and $60 for transportation). Parents or students can pay for this at the finance office during school hours.
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 10/7
FINAL BALANCE DUE FOR 605 ALL-STAR BAND
7:17AM Jazz Ensemble – rhythm section only
3:35-6:00PM Winds, Front Ensemble, Color Guard rehearsal (Mvt. 2 focus)
6:00-9:00PM Battery rehearsal (Mvt. 3 focus)
6:30PM 605 All-Star Band Director Meeting at Gahr
TUESDAY 10/8
10:00AM-9:00PM Taco Nazo Fundraiser!
7:17AM Jazz Ensemble – winds only
3:30PM Optional sectionals (finish Mvt. 1 memorization tests, Mvt. 2 memorization test)
WEDNESDAY 10/9
STUDY HALL / PRACTICE DURING CLASS
5:00PM Set up for rehearsal at practice field
There will be a flag football game in the stadium. We will need to gack and set up ASAP after the game.
5:30-6:00PM Sections (warm up, winds basics, battery & front ensemble Mvt. 3)
6:00-6:45PM Ballad rehearsal at practice field with winds & color guard
6:45-7:00PM Transition to stadium field / set up props
7:00-8:30PM Full Ensemble rehearsal on Mvt. 1
Everyone help clean up and put equipment and props away.
THURSDAY 10/10
7:17AM Full Jazz Ensemble
3:35-6:00PM Full Ensemble Rehearsal (Mvt. 1 and 2)
FRIDAY 10/11
7:17AM Full Jazz Ensemble — solo day with Mr. Stevens
3:30PM Cymbal Clinic with Jimmie Jenkins
HYDRATE AND GO TO BED EARLY.
SATURDAY 10/12
South Coast Invitational Field Tournament @ Costa Mesa HS/MS
8:00AM STUDENT CALL TIME – DO NOT BE LATE
Location: Costa Mesa MS/HS
Address: 2650 Fairview Rd, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Info: https://csbc.compsuite.io/events/60788
SUNDAY 10/13
605 All-Star Band Rehearsal @ Bellflower HS
8:30AM CALL TIME – DO NOT BE LATE