Alumni Newsletter Spring 2021

Grapevine Mustang Band 2021

Hello Mustang Band Alumni!

We hope you are all well and healthy! We wanted to create a way to connect and keep you up-to-date with what is happening in the Mustang Band program. You are a valued part of our history and we want to keep you connected to our wonderful program.

In this newsletter we will share the most current information in our program. As always, you can visit www.grapevinehsband.com any time to see what's happening.

TMEA All-State

This year all of the students in the Varsity and Non Varsity Bands started the TMEA All-State press at the Region Band level.

56 - Students auditioned for TMEA Region 31 Band

19 - Students made a HS Region Band

20 - Students auditioned for the 9th Grade Region Band

4 - Students made the 9th Grade Region Band

8 - Students auditioned at Area for All-State

1 - Student achieved the title of Texas All-State Musician

Junior, clarinet, Abby Isley earned the prestigious title of Texas All-State Musician. She is a drum major of the marching band and went to Colleyville Middle School where she performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL. Each year over 70,000 students across Texas begin the All-State process and only 1,800 earn the title of Texas All-State Musician. Congratulations, Abby!

This year is unlike any other we have ever experienced. We can assure you, all of the Mustang Band Members are working hard to maintain the legacy of the band program at Grapevine High School.

Each day, the bands meet before or after school for in-person rehearsals. It is great to be making music and to have an outlet to express ourselves during this time. We value our time together and thankful we get to create memorable experiences as a band program.

Students currently receive weekly virtual masterclasses with top professionals musicians in their fields. Each band also receives regular clinicians with master teachers.

This spring, the bands will perform virtually at UIL Concert and Sight Reading. We have dates schedule with a recording engineer to produce professional quality video and audio recordings of our band to submit for UIL.

The Varsity Band also will be recording for the Mark of Excellence, which is a national recognition for outstanding varsity bands.

The Non Varsity Band will be recording for the Citation of Excellence, which is recording contest for Texas Non Varsity Bands.

We are very excited to prepare music and have it professionally recorded. This will give our students a real-world experiences on how professional ensembles record.

Fundraising and Corporate Sponsorships make up over 30% of our annual operating budget! Community Partners and Alumni support are imperative for our program's success.

We are currently running a campaign with Up Tempo Fundraising and our goal is to raise $40,000. We know with your help, we can achieve our goals and provide excellent experiences for our Mustang Band Members. All donations are tax deductible and all donation amounts help! For example: if everyone receiving this newsletter donated only $20, we would raise over $30,000!

We thank you for your support and consideration! To donate visit, HERE.

Corporate Sponsorships

If you are a business owner and would like to partner with the band, please contact us for more information.

The Mustang Band is eager to take the field in 2021. We are planning a HUGE production for our students, community, alumni, and nation. Yes, nation! In 2021 the Mustang Band will be returning to the Bands of America contest circuit. This will be the band's first performance in BOA since 1997!!

The band will begin our competitive season with a trip to South Texas. We plan to have clinics in Austin and San Antonio with some of the best band directors in the country. The band will then travel to McAllen, TX for the Bands of America South Texas Regional Championship. This is a huge undertaking and phenomenal experience for our students.

2021 is also a 5A UIL State Marching Band Contest year. The band will perform at the Region 31 Marching Contest, and UIL Area F Marching Contest.

We have an amazing production planned utilizing the best marching arts designers in the country.

Mustang Guard:

This fall our Mustang Guard received new Spirit Costumes to wear at football games. The costumes were designed by Molly Favret at Fred J. Miller. FJM is the leader in innovation for the Marching Arts in costuming, flags, and design.

The Mustang Winter Guard is in full swing and will be performing in several Winter Guard International (WGI) Virtual events this season. The Winter Guard's 2021 show is entitled, "Star Crossed."

We have started recruiting at our middle school campuses to start Middle Spirit Guards! This is a great way for young students to be involved in an activity at the middle schools and a great training program for Future Mustang Guard Members!

Percussion:

Winter Percussion is working on their 2021 production entitled, "Dojo." The Indoor Percussion will also be competing in WGI virtually.