WINTER PARK BAND Weekly Newsletter
January 30, 2022
THIS WEEK
Winter Guard Rehearsal
Tuesday, Feb 1, 2022, 03:00 PM
Winter Park 9th Grade Center, Huntington Avenue, Winter Park, FL, USA
Wind Symphony Rehearsal
Wednesday, Feb 2, 2022, 01:30 PM
Winter Park High School, Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Percussion Ensemble Rehearsal
Thursday, Feb 3, 2022, 03:00 PM
Winter Park High School, Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Winter Guard Rehearsal
Friday, Feb 4, 2022, 03:00 PM
Winter Park 9th Grade Center, Huntington Avenue, Winter Park, FL, USA
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From Mr. Clemente
Dear Winter Park Band families,
Congratulations to our Winter Park Band students who rehearsed and performed last week with this year's All-County Bands! They were able to spend the weekend with two outstanding clinicians in Dr. Erin Bodnar (9/10, University of North Florida) and Dr. Gregory Wolynec (11/12, Austin Peay State University) and both ensembles gave wonderful performances on Saturday evening. The students who performed are listed below:
All-County 9/10 Concert Band
Emily Strickland (flute, 1st chair), Emily Yeh (flute, 9th chair), Jacob Blaney (oboe, 1st chair), Jason Stephenson (clarinet, 1st chair), Zachary Rediske (clarinet, 3rd chair), Henry Fu (clarinet, 4th chair), Charlotte Batten (alto saxophone, 4th chair), Benjamin DeLoach (alto saxophone, 5th chair), Charles Davey (trombone, 5th chair), Taylor Ribaric (tuba, 1st chair)
All-County 11/12 Symphonic Band
Shay Stulman (flute, 7th chair), Lily Ioffredo (flute, 10th chair), Curtis Culhane (clarinet, 11th chair), Kaia Leavitt (alto saxophone, 2nd chair), Dylan O'Shea (trumpet, 16th chair), Cole Spencer (F horn, 2nd chair), Kang Muscatello (trombone, 7th chair), Zachary Asarnow (euphonium, 5th chair), Charlie Storch (tuba, 2nd chair and string bass)
All-County Band is such a unique opportunity for our students to join with their peers from across OCPS along with master educators and clinicians from across the country. Auditioning for and participating in All-County is free and open to every student in all the band programs in OCPS. I strongly encourage all of our Winter Park Band students to audition for All-County this coming fall. The experience you gain and the skills you bring back to our ensembles are invaluable - and it's a ton of fun!
An enormous thank you to our Provisions Chair Ellen DeLoach for facilitating and providing breakfast for over 50 band directors on Friday morning during All-County Band. Many directors passed on their thanks and gratitude to Ellen and all of our Band Boosters for their hospitality!
DOOR-2-DOOR
As you all have heard earlier in the week, our annual DOOR-2-DOOR fundraiser has been rescheduled to Saturday, February 26. Though it is unfortunate that the event needed to be rescheduled, it is still very much a go and crucial to the Band program's financial operations for this year and the future. We need to have everyone in the Band on board to make this event as successful as it can be! I've been brainstorming some ideas for how we can make DOOR-2-DOOR even better and more effective, and maybe the silver lining to the date change is more time to make those things happen. Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to help! Please reach out to Heather Ribaric, Robyn Fodor, and Natalie Storch if you have a more open Saturday on 2/26.
Next week, our Freshman Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble II, and Jazz Ensemble I will be performing at the annual District 8 Jazz MPA, this year hosted by University HS. Freshman Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble I perform Thursday, 2/10, and Jazz Ensemble II performs Friday, 2/11. See itinerary attached to this Newsletter email or click on www.winterparkhsband.com/itineraries.html.We will need a small number of chaperones for each group's trip to UHS, so if you are interested and available we truly appreciate your help! Please reach out to our chaperone coordinator Robyn Fodor with questions.
Additionally, next week is the performance week for our Solo & Ensemble project! The students who chose to participate in the Recital Option will sign up for a time at the beginning of this week for their performance on Wednesday, 2/9. For students performing at District 8 Solo & Ensemble MPA, hosted by University HS Friday 2/11 and Saturday, 2/12, the schedule of events has been released. Please find that schedule either attached to this Newsletter email or at www.winterparkhsband.com/itineraries.html. Parents: You should continue to be hearing lots of Solo & Ensemble practice at home over the coming weeks. See some extra reminders for S&E below. Don't be afraid to give some gentle reminders that the house needs to be filled with more music from time to time!
Mr. Smith and I are both available for S&E help! Students should reach out to schedule a time either before or after school this week for extra help preparing for next week's performances.
Finally for this week, we're looking ahead to our Guest Conductor Workshop coming up Thursday, 2/17 - Saturday, 2/19. We will welcome Dr. Christopher Kaatz from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas as our guest for the weekend. Dr. Kaatz has extensive experience, and I'm ecstatic for the experience our students will have working with him over the weekend. Please refresh your memory on the schedule of events for the workshop in the Upcoming Events section of the Newsletter. We also look forward to having all of our parents in the audience for the concert culminating the workshop on Saturday, 2/19 at 4 PM.
Let's make it a great week!
Mr. Clemente
Some of our All-County participants after Saturday's performances.
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From the Band Booster President, Natalie Storch
Hello everyone. Congratulations to all of the all-county students. Your performances were beautiful! A special thank you to Ellen DeLoach, who provided a wonderful breakfast, set up, and cleaned up before the throng of lunch students on Friday morning! I know all of the band directors in Orange County so appreciated the WPHS band’s hospitality! Thank you!!!
Although door 2 door was postponed, it’s still a go! If you could not drive before but can now, please reach out to Heather Ribaric (email later in the newsletter). Please keep an eye out for updates. We appreciate the support of everyone, and the band program depends on this very important fundraiser, so we are still looking forward to it, just on a different date. Please do not hesitate to send the link around to friends and family out of town or who are anxious to contribute. Also, if there are families who could not attend the virtual informational session for incoming/new band students, please have them reach out to Mr. Clemente, Mr. Smith, or any of the other band parents for additional information on our wonderful program.
Thank you for all of your help/support of the band. Have a great week!
Natalie Storch
From the Door-2-Door Coordinator, Heather Ribaric
Thank you to Stephanie Pereira and Jeanne Neff for helping assemble the collection buckets for Door to Door. Your help is much appreciated!
If you were previously signed up to drive for door to door and haven't done so, please email Robyn Fodor(Robynfodor@gmail.com) and I (Ribaric.family@gmail.com) if you are/are not able to drive on the new date of February 26th.
If you were not signed up to drive and you are now able to do so, let Robyn and I know and we will see how many spots we have to fill.
Thank you for being flexible as we adjust and regroup!
Heather Ribaric
Door-to-Door coordinator
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DOOR-2-DOOR FUNDRAISER - Saturday, 2/26
DOOR-2-DOOR - our biggest and most important fundraiser of the year. In short, our Winter Park Band students will go door-to-door asking our Winter Park HS community for donations on Saturday, February 26 (rescheduled date). As a mandatory fundraiser, each student receives a "share" of the funds raised that day. Shares typically fall somewhere between $70.00 - $90.00.
PARENTS - We need you! Our parents literally make this fundraiser work by transporting groups of students around our WPHS attendance zone. Parents who volunteer to drive for DOOR-@-DOOR will earn their student another "share" to use toward band fees. If you haven’t signed up to drive, please do so this week, if possible. For every driver that signs up I need 3 things:
- Copy of drivers license
- Copy of insurance card that will be valid at time of D2D. If it’s renewing between now and February, wait to send me the updated info.
- A screenshot of your active and approved Additions status.
If you’re not Additions approved yet, but would like to drive, go ahead and get that approval right away at: https://www.ocps.net/departments/community_resources_/a_d_ditions_school_volunteers
It may seem like there’s plenty of time, but I need to have this information collected over Winter Break and we will all be so busy with the holidays, it’s helpful if you can sign up and send me the info as soon as possible.
Thank you for all you do!
Robyn Fodor
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SOLO & ENSEMBLE
WHAT'S NEXT:
We are now less than two weeks from performances for Solo & Ensemble! Students should have a copy of their solo and/or ensemble music in their folder for class each day. Students performing a solo for S&E MPA should already have their first rehearsal with their accompanist scheduled, or have already rehearsed once. Students who are performing in a chamber ensemble should have settled on a schedule of rehearsals for that ensemble already. Most importantly in either case, once that schedule is set, everyone must do their best and stick to the schedule. Last minute deviations and schedule changes will not set you up for success at Solo & Ensemble.
Links to all forms/lists below can be found at: http://www.winterparkhsband.com/solo--ensemble.html
Band students have two performance options to complete the Solo and Ensemble project:
- Option 1: Solo and Ensemble MPA. Solo and Ensemble MPA takes place each year at the beginning of February and is hosted by a school in our district, this year University HS on February 11 and 12. This event is put on by the Florida Bandmasters Association(FBA), and allows students to perform for an adjudicator for a rating. Adjudicators for this event are professors, teachers, and performers from across the state of Florida, and students have the opportunity to receive feedback on their performance from someone who is an expert on their instrument. Students perform either a solo or chamber ensemble piece from the FBA Solo and Ensemble Required Music List, and may perform in up to 4 different events. There is a small assessment fee per event, typically $5.00 - 7.00.
- Option 2: Solo and Ensemble Recital Option. For students who choose not to perform at the Solo and Ensemble MPA put on by FBA, those students will perform as part of our Solo and Ensemble Recital at school. This year, that recital will take place in the Band Room on Wednesday, February 5, beginning at 1:30 PM. Students must select a piece from the FBA Solo and Ensemble Required Music List, and the performances will be adjudicated by both Mr. Smith and Mr. Clemente.
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Pride of the Wildcats - Winter Park Band Fleet Vehicle Support and Improvement
We are very proud of our Operations side of the Winter Park Band. We have a dedicated group of parents that take the Winter Park Band & Color Guard to all their events. However, without the use of the large tractor trailer that transports our equipment to and from each marching band event and the small trailer for color guard the task would be next to impossible.
Through the years, the operations group has made many changes to the trailers to improve the functionality for the Winter Park Band. Historically, all of the monies have been raised through private contributions of a select groups of parents and through the Alumni Foundation. Because of this the need of a full fundraiser event to deflect the cost of the band operations was never really until now.
In effort to maintain our large trailer’s top-notch condition, we are planning to do some MAJOR repairs and improvements to the trailer that is now in its 15th year of service for WPHS band. Additionally, we need to either replace (preferable) the small trailer or make it road worthy again.
Some of the items on our list of improvements are costly, including:
- Repairing some minor damage to larger trailer
- Repainting the lower section of the large trailer
- Rewrapping the upper section of the large trailer
- Replace wheel bearings on front axle
- Moving the back stairway to the back of the trailer
- Replacing or repairing the small trailer
- And other improvements to keep our kids and volunteers safe.
Since we are re-wrapping the large trailer, we will be selling sponsor spots on the larger trailer to defray the cost. There are 10 spots that are available for $1,000 each and the entire front of the trailer for $5,000. These opportunities are a great way to support the Winter Park Band and they are also tax deductible.
Please contact Keith Gavin at kgavin@sscands.com for further information on donations or to provide the goods or services to the improvements that are so desperately needed.
We will be also seeking volunteers to help at a Trailer Work- Days throughout the month of January. We will be repairing minor body damage, painting the trailer and removing the old logos. Please contact Keith Gavin @ kgavin@sscands.com if you can assist.
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Band Calendar
- Band Calendar sync Google/Andriod format: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=winterparkhsband%40gmail.com&ctz=America%2FNew_York
- Band Calendar sync Apple iCal format: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/winterparkhsband%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, February 10: District Jazz MPA
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Friday, February 11 - Saturday, February 12: District Solo & Ensemble MPA
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Wednesday, February 16: Wind Symphony Rehearsal, 1:30 - 3 PM
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Thursday, February 17 - Saturday, February 19: Guest Conductor Workshop
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Thursday, February 17: Symphonic Band Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4:45 PM
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Thursday, February 17: Wind Symphony Rehearsal, 7 - 9 PM
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Friday, February 18: Concert Band Rehearsal, 2:30 - 3:30 PM
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Saturday, February 19: Concert Band Sound Check, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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Saturday, February 19: Symphonic Band Sound Check, 1 - 2 PM
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Saturday, February 19: Wind Symphony Sound Check, 2:30 - 3:30 PM
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Saturday, February 19: GUEST CONDUCTOR WORKSHOP CONCERT, 3:30 pm call time
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Wednesday, February 23: Wind Symphony Rehearsal, 1:30 - 3 PM
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Saturday, February 26: DOOR-2-DOOR FUNDRAISER, 8 AM - 4 PM, mandatory for all Band students
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Wednesday, March 2: Wind Symphony Rehearsal, 1:30 - 3 PM
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Thursday, March 3 - Saturday, March 5: DISTRICT CONCERT MPA, Cypress Creek HS
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Wednesday, March 9: Senior Concerto Competition Auditions, 1:30 - 3 PM
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Friday, March 11 - Friday, March 18: Spring Break
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FINANCES AND CUTTIME
Upcoming Band Payments:
- Fair Share Payment 3 - $75.00 Due March 2
Past Due Band Payments:
- Band Registration Fair Share - $25.00 Due 5/4
- Fair Share Payment 1 - $100.00 Due 7/28
- Marching Band Uniform Shoes (if needed) - $35.00 Due 7/28
- Fair Share Payment 2 - $50.00 Due this Wednesday, 9/1
- Jazz Fair Share - $20.00 Due 10/6 (if applies)
- Semester 1 School Instrument Maintenance - $60.00 Due 10/6 (if applies)
- Jazz Fair Share Payment 2 - $20.00 Due 1/12/2022
- School Instrument Semester 2 Maintenance - $60.00 Due 1/12/2022
Viewing your Student's Financial Account in CutTime:
There is a direct link to CutTime in "Quick Links" on the band website.
To access Cut Time, follow these steps.
- Go to CutTime.net and click “SIGN IN” in the top right-hand corner.
- Enter your Username or Email and Password You are now on your profile, where you can access our calendar and handouts and files. Click “Update Info” tab to input or update contact information. Don’t forget to click “Update” when you are finished.
- Click the “Finances” tab to view financial statements.
2021-2022 FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS SCHEDULE
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PRIVATE LESSONS
Unlike a full band rehearsal experience, studying with a private teacher focuses in on the student’s individual needs. Students who study privately once a week from a professional musician are usually those who excel and find Band more enjoyable. These students frequently earn positions in honor groups like All-State and All-County, and make entry into our more advanced bands like Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble I. Some even go on to earn college scholarships, even if they are not majoring in music!
By following the link below, you will find a list of local private teachers. This list is not exhaustive, and there may be other individuals who are not on the list. If you know a private teacher who should be added (or would like to be deleted), please contact Mr. Clemente at michael.clemente@ocps.net.
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Help the Band with Amazon Smile!
Make a difference for Band students with every day purchases! Shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/27-0964817 to generate donations for Winter Park High School Band Alumni Association Inc. Once this charity is selected, always type in Smile.Amazon.com to place orders.
**NEW THIS YEAR!...To enable AmazonSmile on the Amazon mobile app:
- Open the app (sign in) and touch the three horizontal lines in the top left corner. Select "See All Programs" , then select "AmazonSmile".
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WPHS Band Social Media
We've been posting lots of photos our social media platforms, and we will continue to post updates, photos, video, and other media to those pages throughout the year. Follow the Band!
- Facebook: @winterparkhsband
- Instagram: @winterparkhsband
- Twitter: @wphs_bands
- Tik Tok: @winterparkhsband
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Winter Park High School Band
Email: michael.clemente@ocps.net
Website: www.winterparkhsband.com
Location: 2100 Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Phone: 4076223200
Facebook: www.facebook.com/winterparkhsband