Band Notes for March 2008 Newsletter

Band Incentive Trip to Lorenzo’s of Timonium

By High School student vote, the 2008 MMHS Band Incentive Trip will Timonium, MD, to Lorenzo’s Dinner Theater for a buffet meal and a performance of the Broadway show Grease (Samuel French version). We will travel on Thursday, May 15. Band students, parents, and siblings will be transported to Lorenzo’s Dinner Theatre via coach bus, leaving MMHS at 8:00a. The buffet is offered at 11:30a; the show begins approx. 1:00p. According to Lorenzo’s, customers typically leave around 3:30p, bringing our coaches back to MMHS around 6:00p Thursday night.

Full Payment ($30.00 if providing your own transportation or $65 of riding the coach) and permission forms are due Monday, March 3; make checks out to “Mardela Band”-- these will not be deposited until after the event]. Available bus seating will be adjusted by Wednesday, March 5 (four 55-person busses secured to this time). Refund checks for points earned by students’ and parents’ participation in performances, practices, sales, and bingos will be given to travelers the week following the May 15 trip.

Band Parent Meeting

All Band parents of students grades 6-12 are encouraged to come to the next Band-Aides Band Parent Meeting, Tuesday, March 11. The meeting will take place in the Bandroom at 8:00p; every effort will be made to adjourn before 9:00p.

Solo & Ensemble Festival

Mardela had 10 students working to perform in the District Solo & Ensemble Festival to be held at Wicomico Middle School on Wednesday, February 27, 2008. Structured on the lines of the Band Festival counterpart in which our school bands participate annually, student soloists and small groups prepare music published on a graded state list affront a judge who evaluates them on their accuracy, blend and balance, portrayal and interpretation of the written music, and the beauty of their performance. In the end, individuals and groups receive a score of 1 (Superior) to 5; those receiving a 1 are eligible to take their shows on the road and perform in the MD State Solo & Ensemble Festival before a very rigorous panel of judges designed to ferret out the highest quality performances.

In 2005, 2006 and 2007, we had students go all the way to the State S&E Festival and receive Superior ratings. It is our hope that more will earn that honor in 2008. Good luck!

Saturday Night Bingo

Regular Saturday Night Band Bingo will not be held on March 8 (MMHS Musical: Wizard of Oz) and March 22 (Easter Weekend).

Upcoming MS and HS Band Festivals

Both the High School Band (March 12, 2008) and Middle School Festival Band (March 13, 2008) are beginning the preparations for upcoming band competitions.

MS Festival Band (students grades 7 and 8, with select grade 6) have been holding after school practices on Wedensdays since February 6. That will allows 6 practices before traveling to St. Decature HS to be evaluated by judges. Please help me by making sure your students are practicing regularly to hone their skills and develop their musical maturity.

2008 Apple Blossom Festival

The Warrior Marching Band and Bandfront will be traveling to Winchester, Virginia, May 2-3 (Friday to Saturday), 2008 to participate in the Apple Blossom Festival. The HS Symphonic Band will compete in a Concert Band Competition (May 2); the Warrior Marching Band and Bandfront will compete in the Firemen’s Parade (May 2) and the Grand Feature Parade (May 3).

The permission form has been due by Wednesday, Feb. 13 (please insure yours has been returned), the poms and newly-expanded bandfront have begun practices, and the band is actively memorizing their music.

Upcoming Band Events:

March 3-6, 2008 Oz Pit practices with cast, 6:30p - ?

March 7-9, 2008 Wizard of Oz! presented by MMHS Music Department

March12, 2008 HS Symphonic Band travels to Wicomico HS for District Band

Festival

March 13, 2008 MS Festival Band (select) travels to St. Decatur HS for District

Band Festival

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