General information that applies to all students and parents can be found towards the top of every newsletter, while information specific to your child's ensemble can be found in that particular section by scrolling down. Feel free to contact a director if you have any questions, and our contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter.

All of the directors will be traveling to San Antonio later this week for the annual Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention. Because of this, the Band Hall will be closed both before and after school on both Thursday & Friday. Students will need to visit their normal Advisory class before school, and their normal STRIPES class during 2nd period since they will not be allowed to practice during those times. Also, there will not be practicing after school on Thursday or Friday.

Our Solo Contest is on Saturday, February 18 at BMS, and parents should sign up their student for a time using the available links below. The deadline to sign up your student is this Friday, February 10 at 4pm. Otherwise, we will assign your student a time in the timeframes described below:

• Woodwinds (flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, & saxophone) will perform in the morning from 9:00-11:30am - Woodwinds Click Here to Sign-Up
• Percussion will perform from 9:00am-1:00pm - Percussion Click Here to Sign-Up
• Brass (trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, & tuba) will perform in the afternoon from 12:00-3:00pm - Brass Click Here to Sign-Up

On Friday, members of our Jazz Band competed in the TMEA All-Region Jazz Auditions at Bonham MS in Temple. This was a very competitive audition with a total of 162 students trying out for only 21 spots - this is only a 13% acceptance rate overall. A total of 18 middle schools participated in the blind auditions from all across central Texas.

Our students earned 3 spots, as well as 2 students placing as alternates. Please join me in congratulating the following BMS students:

• Jesus Espinosa-Terrazas: Placed 3rd Chair out of 43 trumpets, and is a Concert All-Region Member
• Claire Brown: Placed 4th Chair out of 27 trombones, is a 2-Year All-Region Jazz Member, as well as a Concert All-Region Member
• Gia Rastelli: Placed 2nd Chair out of 14 drummers, and is a Concert All-Region Member
• Jakoby Perez: Placed 3rd out of 15 tenor saxophones, and serves as the 1st Alternate, and is a Concert All-Region Member
• Lizzie Stewart: Placed 4th out of 14 drummers, and serves as the 2nd Alternate

BMS would also like to recognize the congratulate the other middle schools in Belton for their placement of students:

• South Belton MS: 1 student
• North Belton MS: 4 students
• Lake Belton MS: 4 students

This means that out of the available 21 spots, Belton middle schools took 12 of those, which is well over 50% of the ensemble! Congratulations SBMS, NBMS, and LBMS Jazz Bands!

Due to the inclement weather, our annual Band Picture Day has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 15. Students will wear their band uniform to school that day and take their ensemble picture during their regular class period. Beginners will report to the Band Hall at the start of 2nd Period STRIPES to take their group picture. These pictures will be featured on the Band pages of the Yearbook.

You will have the opportunity to order individual pictures of your band student with their instrument in their uniform on this day as well. Photo Texas Photography provides a variety of products. Order forms were provided directly to students. Alternatively, you may choose to order online. Click on the picture above to visit the website.

Please click below to see all of the Band Events for the remainder of the school year in order to plan your family's activities. Remember, performances are a required part of our curriculum, so please contact a director ASAP for any conflicts.

Click here to see the Calendar page of our website to find all of the current events, including special rehearsals, contests, and performances for the whole school year. Be sure to Subscribe to our calendar using the instructions provided on the website. Alternatively, you may prefer the List of Band Events format that can be found clicking on the link.

Parent Chaperone Sign-Up - Make sure to sign up to become a chaperone at BOTH the link and the district volunteer background check. Instructions for this process can be found here. Then, be sure to join our Remind texts for Band Chaperones here.

If you haven't already, make sure you sign up for our Remind texts for the Beginner's Ensemble here. Students may do this as well with parent permission. This is important piece of communication to receive reminders throughout the year.

We are preparing for our UIL Concert & Sightreading Evaluation, which happens on Wednesday, March 8 at Lake Belton HS. This is our biggest group contest of the year. The times for all sectionals (including Percussion) will be 4:00-5:00pm, and a grade will be taken for each sectional:

• Symphonic Band Brass members (trumpets, horns, trombones, euphoniums, & tubas) will have their sectional every Monday.
• Symphonic Band Percussion members will have their sectional every Wednesday.
• Symphonic Band Woodwind members (flutes, oboe, bassoon, clarinets, & saxophones) will have their sectional every Thursday.

Thank you in advance for making preparations to pick up your student promptly at 5:00pm at the bus loop/staff parking lot.

If you haven't already, make sure you sign up for our Remind texts for Symphonic Band here. Students may do this as well with parent permission. This is important piece of communication to receive reminders throughout the year.

We are preparing for our UIL Concert & Sightreading Evaluation, which happens on Wednesday, March 8 at Lake Belton HS. This is our biggest group contest of the year. The times for all sectionals (including Percussion) will be 4:00-5:00pm, and a grade will be taken for each sectional:

• Wind Ensemble Brass members (trumpets, horns, trombones, euphoniums, & tubas) will have their sectional every Monday.
• Wind Ensemble Woodwind members (flutes, oboe, bassoon, clarinets, & saxophones) will have their sectional every Tuesday.
• Wind Ensemble Percussion members will have their sectional every Wednesday.

Thank you in advance for making preparations to pick up your student promptly at 5:00pm at the bus loop/staff parking lot.

If you haven't already, make sure you sign up for our Remind texts for Wind Ensemble here. Students may do this as well with parent permission. This is important piece of communication to receive reminders throughout the year.

If you haven't already, make sure you sign up for our Remind texts for Jazz Band here. Students may do this as well with parent permission. This is important piece of communication to receive reminders throughout the year.

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Email: beltonmsband@gmail.com
Website: beltonmsband.org
Location: 1704 Sparta Road, Belton, TX, USA
Phone: 254-215-2828
Facebook: facebook.com/beltonmsband