Here are the weekly updates and announcements for the week. Please be sure to read through everything carefully and make a note of deadline dates as well as rehearsal and performance dates.
Friday, November 13 – Playoff game at District 3 Stadium. The call time will be 6:30. Uniforms will be show shirts, jeans, sneakers, socks, BAND JACKETS, and either the band caps/visors or the toboggans. We will make the decision Thursday based on the forecast. Parents can purchase tickets at https://northwesterntrojans.org/event-tickets. Be sure to click on the visitor’s side if you would like to sit next to the band. All tickets are $8.00
Please remember that we will have home games every Friday night until we are defeated. Be sure to pencil in possible games on November 20 and 27 as we will perform if the team is playing at D3 and yes, that also includes the day after Thanksgiving. In the event we do play on the 27th, parents should contact me to let me know your child will not attend so they can be excused. If you are in town, it is expected that students will attend the game.
If you did not order an Olde English t-shirt and would still like one, please contact Pam Bilton to place an order. The booster club is also creating an Olde English program this year and parents are encouraged to purchase ads to celebrate their child in the program. Look for a message from the booster club with additional information.
We are starting the concert ensembles on Monday, 11/19. Please ensure you have concert instruments that day. As we move inside, we will be dividing the A-Day and B-Day groups into woodwind, brass, percussion, and dance ensembles. Each group will have its own rehearsal space that will provide more than sufficient space to maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing. All ensembles will prepare a couple of selections and we will also plan to spend 15 to 20 minutes together on most days to rehearse one selection as a combined group. The concert will be recorded during the 4th block at some point in December and will then be streamed on a date to be announced in a few weeks. We will not have a live performance at the school on the evening of December 10th.
Other general announcements:
- Please encourage your child to practice every day and remind them to be sure they have submitted their attendance checks and assignments they have for their virtual learning days.
- There has been a change in plans for senior pictures and there will no longer be a senior group picture taken in uniform. If you would like to take individual pictures of your senior in uniform, please contact me and we will work out the details individually.
- Brass players – If you would like some additional help preparing for the All-State & Region Auditions, the Winthrop Brass department is replacing our normal workshop with a virtual workshop this year on December 5th. More information is at https://wubrassclinic.weebly.com/.
- Fruit orders will be finalized later today and the final order placed tomorrow. Be sure to keep Saturday, December 5th open to assist with the unloading of the fruit and to pick up your orders. We will announce the delivery time as soon as the schedule is finalized. All orders must be picked up from the band room on Saturday, December 5th. In the event we are participating in the state football championship on the 5th, we will reschedule the delivery date.
- Region audition registrations are now finalized. If your child registered to audition, please encourage them to practice the audition etudes and scales for the auditions. We will record the auditions at school the week of December 14th so students won’t need to worry about them over the Holidays. Please be sure to get the $12.00 registration fee paid as soon as possible as well.
- Students are reminded to please pay for the folios and lyres they received back in August. See Mr. Yost or Ms. Carlson if you don’t remember the amount you owe\
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Mark Yost
NHS Director of Bands
