Winter Park Band Notes
March 11, 2018
FROM MR. BLACKMER
First, I'd like to thank everyone who assisted with our Mattress Sale fundraiser on Saturday! We had 62 student/parent volunteers helping to get the word out around the Winter Park area! A special thank you to the parent chaperones: Jason Bailey, Kathy Bletz, Scott Brietz, Ellen DeLoach, Maureen Dufresne, Lou Fattore, Jim Flood, Sharon Flood, Candace Griffin, Amy Hearn, Jan Henson, Sheek Lorael, Billy Matter, Melanie Maulfair, Jay McPherson, Stacy McPherson, Keishan Moore, Matt Paster, Brandie Reid, Todd Speir, and Brian Sullivan! We should know shortly how well we did and what the student shares will be!
Congratulations to our two senior concerto competition winners: Adam DeLoach, who will be performing Fantasia for Alto Saxophone by Claude T. Smith, and Mitchell Thomas, who will be performing Solo pour Hautbois by Emile Paladilhe. Both concertos will be featured at our Spring Band concert on Thursday, May 3.
Also, congratulations to our Winter Guard on another 10 point increase during yesterday's guard show at University High School!
And, congratulations to the Glenridge Middle School Symphonic Band and Maitland Middle School WInd Ensemble on two terrific Middle School Concert MPA performances this past Thursday and Friday! Bravo to Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Mendez, and their students!
Next, I'd like to take a moment to recognize one of our senior Band students. In addition to being a terrific trumpet player and an outstanding individual, Matthew Kuczajda learned this week that he has been accepted into the United States Air Force Academy! This is an incredible accomplishment, and it couldn't have gone to a better individual! Congratulations, Matthew!
Finally, just some food for thought. Ever since I was a middle school trombone player (a few years ago), the axiom "To be early is to be on time, and to be on time is to be late," have been words to live by. First introduced to me by my middle school band director, but then something that was brought up every week in our high school, and eventually university, band rehearsals. I used to think that it was a "band thing," but the longer I've lived, the more I see its relevance in all areas of society. It is very applicable in the "band world," especially when you consider the collective nature of music making in an ensemble. It is not about the individual, but rather the success of the whole. When a student is late, it doesn't necessarily impact that individual, but it can have an impact on the group. This is something that, I'm happy to say, comes up time and time again when speaking to former students who are now out there "in the real world, " still living by that motto to be early for everything that they do, and being very successful by doing that!
All the Best,
Mr. Blackmer
WIND SYMPHONY & JAZZ ENSEMBLE I AUDITION INFORMATION
The audition information for the 2018/2019 WInd Symphony and Jazz Ensemble I are now up on the Band website:
Students are encouraged to seek out help from directors and current seniors as they prepare these auditions!
SENIOR PHOTOS NEEDED!
As part of our year-end Band Banquet each year, there is a special video presentation featuring all of our seniors! We need 3 photos: a baby photo, a young child photo, and a more recent photo. These can be professional photos or more candid shots - either way. Please send your photos to Maureen Dufresne at mdufresne5@embarqmail.com, or turn in hard copies to the Band Office. Make sure that all photos are clearly marked with the student's full name. Of course, digital pictures are preferred, but hard copies will be returned to you once the presentation is complete. Please choose your photos and be ready to submit no later than the end of spring break - Monday, March 26. Senior students are working on this presentation, and they need to finish it before year-end senior events begin to take place in April.
DRUM MAJOR AUDITIONS
Drum Major auditions for the 2018-2019 "Sound of the Wildcats" Marching Band will be held on Wednesday, March 28 at 2:30 PM in the Band Room (this is an extended Wednesday school day).
Interested students should check-out the Drum Major Audition Requirements posted in the Band Room, and get with our current Drum Majors (David Johnston, Mitchell Thomas, Colin Urbina, and Dylan Wagg) for information regarding "audition clinic sessions" occurring over the next several weeks.
AMAZON FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY!
Even though the holiday season is past us, this is still an excellent tool to raise money for the Band every time you shop at Amazon. The Winter Park High School Alumni Band Association is a registered charity on Smile.Amazon.com, so please remember to use this unique link to shop at Amazon every time, and a small percentage of the sale (at no cost to you) will automatically be sent quarterly to the WPHSABAA account and then donated to the Winter Park Band Program. If we all use this link every time, we can raise funds on an ongoing basis to help the band! https://smile.amazon.com/ch/27-0964817
If you have any questions, contact Jane Claus at janeclaus@live.com.
Wind Symphony Rehearsal
Monday, Mar 12, 2018, 02:30 PM
Winter Park High School, Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Winter Guard Rehearsal
Monday, Mar 12, 2018, 05:00 PM
Winter Park 9th Grade Center, Huntington Avenue, Winter Park, FL, USA
Wind Symphony Rehearsal
Wednesday, Mar 14, 2018, 01:30 PM
Winter Park High School, Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Winter Guard Rehearsal
Wednesday, Mar 14, 2018, 05:00 PM
Winter Park 9th Grade Center, Huntington Avenue, Winter Park, FL, USA
Freedom HS Winter Guard Show
Friday, Mar 16, 2018, 01:45 PM
Freedom High School, West Taft Vineland Road, Orlando, FL, USA
Winter Park High School Bands
Email: Christopher.Blackmer@ocps.net
Website: www.winterparkhsband.com
Location: 2100 Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, United States
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/121733824572614/
Twitter: @wphs_bands