VHS Band Upcoming Events
by Nathaniel Oshaben
May 03, 2010
Greetings everyone! We wanted to take a moment to remind everyone of our upcoming events:
Monday May 10th - Freshman Orientation - VHS High School - 7:00pm
(Volunteers)
We will need volunteers to help play a few pep tunes for Freshman Orientation. All students that help will receive 2 points extra towards their final grade. Please wear purple and gold and help all of our incoming Freshman feel the spirit! Students should arrive at 6:40pm to get everything set. More info to be announced soon.
Thursday May 13th - High School Instrumental Concert - VHS Auditorium - Performance at 7:30pm
(Required performance for ALL Concert Band Members)
We welcome all students, parents, and family to join us for our annual Icecream Social, from 6:15pm - 7:15pm. This evening’s performances features the VHS Sailor Jazz, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble. Please join us for an evening of music and fun, and help us send off our seniors on their last performance!!! The concert dress is as usual for our concerts. Please wear respectful clothing. Jeans or revealing clothing won’t be acceptable. Students should arrive at 6:45pm at the latest.
Tuesday May 18th - Evening of Excellence - VHS Auditorium - 7:30pm
(ALL VHS Sailor Jazz members)
The VHS Sailor Jazz will be performing for the Evening of Excellence. Students, please be sure to be in black and set up, ready to go by 7:15pm at the latest.
Thursday May 20th - Brief Informational Disney Meeting/Boosters Meeting - VHS Band Room - 6:00pm/7:00pm
(Any and ALL interested students/parents of next year’s Band)
We will be going over dates, estimated costs, itineraries, and performances. I also hope to get many questions from you. Please feel free to ask questions that have yet be addressed and we will answer them as soon as we can in the planning of this trip. After the meeting, the VHS Band Boosters will be holding their monthly meeting. Please stick around and help with the many important aspects of our program.
Monday May 31st - Memorial Day Parade - Downtown Vermilion - 9:45am
(Required performance for ALL Sailor Marching Band Members)
The Sailor Marching Band will participate in the yearly Memorial Day Parade this May 31st. Students should arrive at the Ritter Library parking lot by 9:45am. Please try to carpool or get dropped off. If you drive, please plan on parking away from the library and walking to meet us. You will need to bring your white Band Shirt, Shoes, Spats, Black Socks, and Gloves. We will take all uniforms, hats, and large instruments. If you have a small instrument and can take if with you, please bring it on your own. The parade will wind down at Victory Park, where there will be a few services and a couple of performances by our band. Upon the completion of the services at Victory Park, students will be released. Students will have two options at this point: 1) return to the Library and carefully put away any belongings on the trailer or 2) meet behind Chez Francois to perform at the Vermilion Yacht Club. Though this is a voluntary performance, the Yacht Club will provide food and you will get an additional 2 points towards your grade. After lunch, we will depart and return to the Library to carefully drop off any belongings on the trailer.
Sunday June 6th - Graduation Commencement - VHS - 3:00pm
(Required performance for ALL Concert Band Members, except graduating Seniors)
All current Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors in the Concert Bands will perform at the Graduation Commencement. The concert dress is the same as for our concerts. Please wear respectful clothing. Jeans or revealing clothing would not be acceptable. Students should arrive at 2:15 at the latest.
Tuesday June 8th - Marching Band Kick Off Day - VHS Band Room - Times below:
(ALL Fall 2010 Marchers)
10:00am-12:00pm - Leadership Meeting (Just Leadership).
12:00pm-1:00pm - Veteran’s Meeting (ALL returning marchers; New Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors).
1:00pm-2:00pm - Lunch Break - Lunch will be provided for ALL Fall 2010 Marchers (new Freshman).
2:00pm-5:00pm - Music Reading for ALL Fall 2010 Marchers.
5:00pm-6:00pm - Snacks and open discussion for ALL Fall 2010 Marchers and Parents.
We would also like to address concerns about two of the performances at the end of the school year, the Memorial Day Parade May 31st and Graduation Commencement June 6th. As a reminder, participation in these events, as in the past, is mandatory, as it makes up a portion of each student’s grade. There are two exceptions made to participating in these events.
- First, for all students who performed in Seminar Band 1st quarter and were NOT a part of Marching Band, you do NOT have to learn how to march for the Memorial Day Parade. You will be excused from this performance, however your grade will be earned with your participation by practicing and learning the music with the rest of the band in the classroom.
- Second, for all graduating seniors, you will of course NOT be expected to perform in the Graduation Commencement. However, your grade will be earned with your participation by practicing and learning the music for this event.
In the event that you have something planned on either of these days, you MUST bring in a signed note at least TWO weeks prior to the event. Excused absences will only be given for valid reasons for missing a school activity, as it’s part of each student’s grade and we need/expect everyone there. Just as a reminder, these dates been have known and up on the band calendar since last May. In the case of an emergency, absences will be excused, with notification giving to Mr. Oshaben as soon as possible. A student that does NOT perform at an event will NOT receive credit for it. I was very happy to see that everything went exceedingly well last year and would love us to have a wonderful Memorial Day and send off our graduating seniors the right way with everyone’s support and involvement.
As we are in the final stages of ironing things out for the next school year, additional information will be handed out, sent home, emailed, and posted online VERY soon with final dates and times for Band Camp and all of the VHS Band activities for the 2010/2011 school year.
As always, please feel free to contact us.
Mr. Oshaben and Mr. Komperda
Vermilion High School Bands
440-204-1773
