HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME BACK!
WELCOME BACK! I hope you had a great Winter Break and are excited for what we have in store for second semester. Remember, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it!
This week, ALL WOODWINDS in the music program have rehearsal on Tuesday 1/7 from 3:30-6:00PM and ALL BRASS have rehearsal on Thursday 1/9 from 3:30-6:00PM. Even though we will spend some time going through the honor band excerpts, we will also be working on overall fundamentals and some sight-reading. No percussion is needed after school for these two rehearsals, but you are strongly encouraged to practice individually for Honor Band auditions. Honor Band auditions are next week here at Gahr – Wednesday, January 15th for Woodwinds and Thursday, January 16th for Brass and Percussion. Both days are from 5-8PM, but you are free to leave once you finish your audition.
A huge congratulations to the members of the 605 All-Star Band who participated in the 136th Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, performing on the world’s biggest stage for millions of people around the world! The 605 All-Star Band also had great performances at Disneyland and Bandfest earlier in the week. This is an incredible accomplishment and a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Well done, and way to shine!
HOLIDAY BAND CONCERT – THANK YOU!
Before we went on Winter Break, we had our annual Holiday Band Concert at Whitney HS! The students put together a wonderful concert with extremely limited rehearsals. Thank you to the parents who managed the front-of-house and kept the concert running smoothly. Special thanks to Gahr High School’s Principal Dr. Moore for supporting the program and for attending!
With the excitement of the Holiday Band Concert and the 605 All-Star Band, we’d like to extend a belated congratulations to senior saxophonist, William Wu, for earning a spot in the prestigious All Southern Wind Ensemble! He was selected after a rigorous audition process and was chosen from thousands of students from schools throughout Southern California. Students who participate in honor bands are exposed to challenging music and get to perform under the direction of nationally recognized conductors. It allows students to play with the best of the best, and provides a great space for those pursuing college music connections and scholarship opportunities. William will be performing at the Southern California Band and Orchestra Association Conference on Sunday, February 9th, at the Hyatt Regency in Garden Grove.
1ST DONATION DUE FOR WINTER GUARD & INDOOR PERCUSSION
The 1st donation for Indoor Percussion and Winter Guard is past due. This is critical so we are able to purchase new floors for both groups, costumes, props, and pay our instructional staff. While we have the total donation broken down into payments, we highly encourage you to pay the entire amount if you are financially able to do so to help with these up-front costs. You can always pay with cash, a check made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or click here to make a payment online with a credit card.
PARENTS: We had two sets of information meetings for our winter groups before we went on break. Please click here to download the Winter Guard packet and here to download the Indoor Percussion packet. Please stay tuned for how you can help support with prop building, food, and transportation. We are looking forward to incredible seasons for both groups!
2025 ABCUSD HIGH SCHOOL HONOR BAND
This year we are thrilled to have Dr. Jermie Arnold as our guest conductor for the 2025 ABCUSD High School Honor Band! Dr. Arnold is the Director of Bands at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach. Wind Ensemble students are required to audition for the honor band. Concert Band students are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to audition. Dr. Arnold has chosen some fantastic literature, and this is going to be an incredible experience.
Make sure you’re using this week to practice SLOWLY with a metronome so you can be successful. Take advantage of times the Band Room is open late for Indoor Percussion or Winter Guard rehearsals. Just ask Mr. Loney and we can open up additional rooms for individual practice or sectionals.
These are the four pieces for the program:
”Infinity” by Katahj Copley
”Shenandoah” by Omar Thomas
”Symphony No. 2, Mvt. III” by Frank Ticheli
”Midway March” by John Williams
This drop box link for the audition excerpts for each instrument:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/m177fampf59n1dltzqg2z/ANeY7FxMbpSMRX3Sj2cl7ps?rlkey=wytzmjhxbh43zmsglpd6u0hwq&st=g9tvrjys&dl=0
This year, the high school auditions will be held at Gahr HS.
Woodwinds: Wednesday 1/15 from 5-8PM
Brass & Percussion: Thursday 1/16 from 5-8PM
In addition to the excerpts, the auditions will also include some basic sight-reading.
Rehearsal Schedule:
Thursday 1/30 from 6:00-8:00PM at Gahr HS (sectional)
Tuesday 2/4 from 6:00-8:30PM at Gahr HS (in Band Room)
Thursday 2/6 from 6:00-8:30PM at Gahr HS (in Band Room)
Tuesday 2/11 from 6:00-8:30PM at Whitney HS (on stage)
The ABCUSD Honor Band Concert is Wednesday 2/12 at Whitney HS @ 7:00PM
JOIN JAZZ BAND FOR SECOND SEMESTER
Congratulations to our combined Jazz Bands on a phenomenal performance at the Holiday Band Concert! This is your last chance to join Jazz I or Jazz II for second semester. Both bands will be rehearsing zero periods Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. We are pretty close to having full instrumentation in both bands, but could still use a few more trumpets and rhythm section. Please let Mr. Loney know if you are interested!
CONCERT BAND & WIND ENSEMBLE UPDATE
After next week, we will start normal ensemble rehearsals with Wind Ensemble on Tuesdays from 3:30-6PM and Concert Band on Thursdays from 3:30-6PM. Please note that there have been some adjustments made due to the Honor Band. All percussionists will be assigned to either Concert Band or Wind Ensemble (typically based on sight-reading ability and Honor Band preparation/auditions).
Concert Band Festival Repertoire
1. Fanfare for the Third Planet - Richard L. Saucedo
2. Through the Mist - Brian Balmages
3. Foundry - John Mackey
Wind Ensemble Festival Repertoire
1. Lux Aurumque - Eric Whitacre OR Sheltering Sky - John Mackey
2. An American Songkran - Kevin Charoensri (opportunity to work with the composer!)
LAST CHANCE FOR THESE ITEMS
Get a 2024 limited edition, handmade “KUBRICK” ornament! Features a Room 237 door and REDRUM carpet from “The Shining,” a tiny hat from “Clockwork Orange,” HAL from “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and a “Full Metal Jacket” camouflage ribbon.
Get our official 2025 Gahr Marching Gladiators calendar! This 11” x 17” wall calendar is full of beautiful photos from the marching season. This is a great gift for family and friends and is the perfect way to remember our award-winning show.
This is our first-ever “Gahr Invitational Field Tournament” patch to commemorate the 2024 tournament. This 3” sew-on patch is perfect to add to your band jacket or a shadow box. They also make great gifts. Get one before they’re all gone!
FALL DONATIONS PAST DUE — The total balance of $675 for marching donations is past due. We cannot pay our instructors without your contribution. Students must be caught up with fall donations to participate in the Winter Guard and the Indoor Percussion programs. We accept cash, checks made payable to "Gahr Band Boosters," or you can click here to make a payment online. Please communicate with Mr. Loney if you have any issues with your financial obligation.
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 1/6
WINTER GUARD DONATION #1 DUE
INDOOR PERCUSSION DONATION #1 DUE
7:17-8:25AM Jazz I and II – NEW MUSIC and SECTIONALS!
6th-6PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
6:30PM Executive Board Meeting
TUESDAY 1/7
7:17-8:25AM Jazz I in Band Room / Jazz II in MPR
3:30-6:00PM ALL WOODWIND rehearsal (fundamentals and honor band focus)
5:00-9:00PM Winter Guard rehearsal
WEDNESDAY 1/8
6:00-9:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
6:30PM Monthly Booster Parent Meeting!
THURSDAY 1/9
7:17-8:25AM Jazz I in Band Room / Jazz II in MPR
3:30-6:00PM ALL BRASS rehearsal (fundamentals and honor band focus)
5:00-9:00PM Winter Guard rehearsal
FRIDAY 1/10
7:17-8:25AM Jazz I and II – Group meeting with Chris Stevens!
6th-6PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
Take instruments and music home to practice for honor band auditions!
SATURDAY 1/11
8:30AM Band Room open
9:00AM-4:00PM Indoor Percussion Camp – Bring $5 for lunch
Band Room open to practice honor band music and get extra help!