Band Newsletter #29

WSHS Band Booster/Parent Meeting—SUNDAY, March 16th!!!!!
(Contributor: Kami Hettwer, Edited by Jesse Seeley)
Sorry for the very short notice, but it’s tough getting people together around all of these events, rehearsals, et cetera. This meeting is NOT ONLY FOR the existing Boosters/Board, but is also intended and FOR any and ALL parents with musicians in any of the band and music programs at WSHS. ALL PARENTS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND!!!! Parents’ input is VITAL!!!!! We need your input to make the programs better, improve on the processes and activities that your children become involve in, and also entertain parents’ and students’ ideas of executing the operation “behind the scenes” and the making of these champions. So please plan on attending this meeting. If you’d like to step forward for a position ON the Band Booster Board, THIS is the meeting you must attend. We try to keep the meetings to an hour, but they will many times go to 1.5 or 2 hours, depending on the number of topics discussed (see below). You are welcome to leave earlier if you have to and it is not a requirement that you stay for the entire meeting, but we do encourage attendance from as many parents as possible. Thank you in advance for your consideration to attend this very important meeting. If there are any questions, please contact Kami Hettwer or Vickie Tuttle (see “Band Booster Contacts” list at end of this newsletter).

So we can wait no further and here is the agenda for this Sunday’s meeting:

What: Band Booster Meeting
When: Sunday, March 16 at 6:00PM
Where: House of Mike and Kami Hettwer, 2698 Roosevelt Loop NW, Salem OR 97304
Who: Any and all band parents, existing Boosters/Board members AND any other parents interested in becoming involved with band boosters
Why: We will try to quickly cover several topics, including:
Budget review
Looking ahead
Wind Ensemble trip for December 2008
Marching Band Season/Band Camp 2008
Uniforms to cleaners
Music Days 2008
Review of upcoming performances/contests including
Solo night - pick a date
Jazz Night in May - volunteers
Volunteers for 2008
Fund raisers
Graduation details for this June (2008)
Walker Band recruiting & visits
Boutonnière flower update
Idaho trip recap
Sound equipment update
Winter Ensemble update (budget, recruiting, Walker, contests)

Please RSVP to Kami Hettwer mkhett@aol.com so we know how many to plan for! Thank you in advance for your RSVP and for your attempts to make it on such a short notice!!!!

“Winter Ensemble Places 3rd in Washington Competition!
(Contributors: Alan Keown, Jen Freeman, edited by Jesse Seeley)
For those folks that were able to make last Friday evening’s premier of the Winter Ensemble’s performance, the troupe to the act on the road on Saturday, March 8th to Skyview High School in Vancouver, WA. By a slim margin they placed 3rd in the competition but 1st in the hearts of most of the spectators, ALL of the parents in attendance, as well as the instructors and directors of the program. The show entitled Optical Delusion was a crowd favorite, but WSHS got edged out by a very short margin of points. If you have not seen the show, this has now been perfected to become one of the circuit’s favorite performances. Some of the comments from the directors and instructors:

Color Guard Coach, Jen Freemanà “This was our first weekend out as the NEW West Salem Winter Percussion/Guard Ensemble, and what a weekend it was! There could have been many things that could have been rough, but EVERYONE did a great job on Saturday. From the equipment help, to the food, to the STUDENTS being the best performers that they can be.... it was a GREAT day!! And, as for the Guard’s performance.... WOW!!! These performers really had no idea what they were walking into when we started this back in January, and what was going to be expected of them. But they delivered and did a great job! Of course being their coach we can still work hard to get even better, but I am very happy with their performance on Saturday. Keep up the great work!”

Percussion Director, Alan Keown: “Great job last weekend! I am very proud of how we performed and I have many new ideas for the show that we will implement this week.”

Remaining rehearsals/shows:
NOTE REHEARSAL CHANGE: FRIDAY 3/14: 7-10 p.m.
PERFORMANCE: SATURDAY 3/15: WGI REGIONAL (Portland / Hillsboro SHOW)
Rehearsal, FRIDAY 3/21: 6-9PM
PERFORMANCE: SATURDAY 3/22: NWMBC CHAMPIONSHIPS (PORTLAND SHOW)

This Saturday’s event is slated to be held at Liberty High School in Hillsboro. Please see attachment entitled Directions to Liberty High School… for more information. At “press time” of this newsletter the actual call and show times were not available for bus departure, length of trip, et cetera, but should be very close to last week’s times. All of this will be firmed up at Friday evening’s rehearsal starting at 7:00 p.m.

“Looking Forward”
(Contributor: Band Directors, Newsletter Editor)
After a long absence, due in part to many changes or inaccuracies in the final draft document of the “Calendar of Events”, below are the near future events to place on your calendars as well as updates to those events that were cancelled. We will be releasing a revised and updated “Calendar of Events” for the remainder of the school year in a following newsletter.

March 17th, 2008
Symphonic & Concert Bands
HS Intermediate Band Festival
Sprague H.S.
TBA
1430-2100
April 3rd, 2008

Symphony
WOU Festival
WOU
TBA
1100-1300
April 4th, 2008

Wind Ensemble
WOU Invitational
WOU
TBA
1230-1800
April 11th, 2008

Wind Ensemble
Valley League Band Contest
North H.S.
TBA
1500-2100
April 12th, 2008

Symphony
Salem Invitational Orchestra Festival
North H.S.
TBA
TBA
April 14th, 2008

ALL
High School Band Festival
WSHS
TBA
TBA