TWIB Notes: 4/7-4/13

On Wednesday, April 9th, AHS and LFC bands will perform at the UIL Region 25 Concert and Sightreading Contest at the Allen PAC. The performance and sightreading elements of the contest is free and open to the public.

Students will be excused from their classes during of their band's performance at UIL. Students should be dressed in their concert uniform with everything ready to go for their performance at the call times listed below.

LFC Concert Band 3

• 7:45am Call (AHS PAC)
• 8:00am Warm-Up
• 8:30am Performance
• 9:00am Sightreading
• Will take a shuttle back to LFC after sightreading

AHS Symphonic Band 3

• 8:15am Call (AHS MPR)
• 8:30am Warm-Up
• 9:00am Performance
• 9:30am Sightreading

AHS Symphonic Band 2

• 8:45am Call (AHS Orchestra Hall)
• 9:00am Warm-Up
• 9:30am Performance
• 10:00am Sightreading

LFC Symphonic Band

• Will take a shuttle at LFC to/from AHS
• 10:00am Warm-Up
• 10:30am Performance
• 11:00am Sightreading

AHS Symphonic Band 1

• Call time in class (Band Hall)
• 10:30am Warm-Up
• 11:00am Performance
• 11:30am Sightreading

LFC Wind Ensemble

• Will take a shuttle at LFC to/from AHS
• 12:15pm Warm-Up
• 12:45pm Performance
• 1:15pm Sightreading

AHS Wind Symphony

• 1:40pm Call time (Perc. Storage)
• 1:55pm Warm-Up
• 2:30pm Performance
• 3:05pm Sightreading

AHS Wind Ensemble

• 3:45pm Call time (Perc. Storage)
• 4:00pm Warm-Up
• 4:35pm Performance
• 5:20pm Sightreding
• 5:50pm Approximate finish time

AHS students may sign up to earn volunteer hours or Minga points by assisting with stage crew during the block when their ensemble is not in their UIL performance rotation. WE NEED COLORGUARD STUDENT HELP. Sign-Up with the link below; you must be signed into your AISD account.

As a reminder, there is a required rehearsal and trip meeting on Thursday, April 10. Students need to attend the rehearsal starting at 4:30pm. Band students assigned to the "Blue" group will meet in the AHS Ensemble Room. Band students assigned to the "Eagle" group will meet in the AHS Band Hall. Colorguard students will meet with Mr. Camp (location TBD).The meeting for students & parents/guardians will begin in the Band Hall at 5:30pm (parents/guardians should enter the Band Hall through Door 29). In this meeting, we will discuss rules and expectations for student travel, talk through the trip itinerary, and answer any remaining questions.

Please contact Dr. Obado or Dr. Knight if you have a question that is not answered in one of the documents above or the trip section of the TWIB Notes.

There has been a change to the medication policy this school year. ALL over-the-counter medications must have a medication form signed by the doctor to be administered on the trip. Each medication needs to be on a separate form. Prescription meds do not have to have the signed form as the medication prescription label acts as the authorization. If students are cleared by their school to self-carry an inhaler, Epi-Pen or Insulin, they are allowed to carry it on the trip as well. Please let me know if your student falls into this category.

Medications can be dropped off at the LFC and AHS clinics March 31st- April 7th. Both the forms and the medication must be dropped off together to be accepted by the nurses. Medications needs after the 7th will need to be communicated directly to me to see if they can be accommodated. Please send only the amount required for the trip. Medications will not accepted at the parent meeting on the 10th or the morning of departure.

Reminder- each medications must be on its own medication authorization form. All over-the-counter medication forms must be signed by a doctor. Only medications approved by Allen ISD can be carried by students. This list includes rescue inhalers, Epi-Pens, Insulin, and Glucagon only.

Contact Nurse Kellie Koch at kellie.koch@allenisd.org with questions.

As part of their recognition as 2024 Medal of Distinction winners, the Allen Saxophone Ensemble will perform at the Dallas Winds concert on Tuesday, April 8th, at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas. Visit dallaswinds.org to purchase tickets.

This year registration will be begin at the Allen High School Performing Arts Center on Monday, April 28th from 5pm-8pm. We will send sign-up times for registration in the next week for efficiency and convenience. Incoming freshmen (and older silings) will sign-up for registration times between 5:00-6:15pm. Current 9th-11th grade students will sign-up for times between 6:15-8:00pm

Registration is a required event for all students that are enrolled in the 2025-2026 band and guard program at LFC and AHS. We will have short informational meetings for incoming freshmen, an overview of the 2025-2026 season, and a payment center for all of our fees for 2025-2026. REGISTRATION WILL TAKE 45-60 MINUTES TO COMPLETE.

The fees collected at registration cover various items the band and guard uses for the year. We take cash, check, and credit cards (through SchoolPay) at registration. We do not allow registration payments remotely because each student pay different amounts based on year, equipment used, and what items returning members need replacing. Our staff and volunteers will guide families as to the proper fees that need to be covered at registration.

Click the link below for a list of required fees. Please note that these are approximate costs as of April 5th due to price increases due to imposed tariffs on the items we purchase from our vendors.

BAND LETTER JACKETS

A letter jacket will be presented to senior students who have served the high school band program well. Students must have participated in the band program from the time of their enrollment in high school before their senior year AND must participate through graduation of their senior year. Students will attend all performances and UIL activities. Exceptions will be granted at the discretion of the band director (illness, death, etc.) Students not adhering to written disciplinary policies of the school and band will forfeit their eligibility for the senior award jacket. Any violation of these rules during their senior year may result in the forfeiture of the jacket. The student must uphold the goals and standards of the band. It is understood that withdrawal or dismissal from band prior to graduation of his/her senior year results in forfeiture of the jacket. Forfeiture includes reimbursement to Allen High School for the payment of the jacket. One additional way to earn a letter jacket would be to COMPLETE the TMEA Area round of auditions. These students will be eligible to receive a letter jacket the following year regardless of classification.

• Students must be enrolled and participate in the AHS band program through the entire 2024-2025 school year. Students who drop band, but are still a student at Allen High School, will be billed for full payment of the Senior Jacket - $50.00

• Students who have already received a jacket from another AHS organization may order a band bar to have sewn onto the letter A. They do not receive another jacket.

• Other patches and other additions to the Award Jacket are the financial responsibility of the student. Allen High School only purchases the jacket.

COLORGUARD LETTER JACKETS

Colorguard students will be eligible to receive a letter jacket after completing two full years of guard while attending all performances and UIL activities. A full year shall be defined as fall guard (marching band) and winterguard. Students not adhering to written disciplinary policies of the school and band may forfeit their eligibility for the award jacket. It is understood that withdrawal or dismissal from the band/colorguard prior to graduation of his/her senior year results in assessing the cost of the jacket ($50) to the student

The second of our five leadership workshops will take place on Monday, April 7st at 4:30pm in the AHS Band Hall. These workshops are open to all students who want to improve their leadership skills, and students interested in applying for Drum Major or SLT positions are strongly encouraged to attend.

4:30-5:15 - General Leadership/SLT Training

5:15-6:00 - Drum Major Workshop

Upcoming Leadership Workshops

• Mon, April 7 4:30-6pm
• Mon, April 14: 4:30-6pm

We will have our Spring Update meeting on Tuesday, April 15th in the AHS Ensemble Room at 7:00pm. This meeting will be combined with our Allen Band Booster General Meeting with just a few minutes of business prior to beginning the Tournament of Roses Spring Update. We are planning on discussing he following:

• Fundraising Update
• Friends & Family Update
• Itinerary highlights

You can access the latest calendar, announcements, and rehearsal schedules here.

You can access all of the latest colorguard information, events, and communication here! Please see links below.

Payments can be submitted through the following ways:

• Drop a check or cash in the AHS Band safe. (Checks made payable to Allen ISD, driver's license # in the memo)
• Mail a payment to: Allen High School Band; 300 Rivercrest Blvd, Allen, TX 75002 (attn: Susan Fulk)
• Credit Card or Debit Card payment through SchoolPay - link below (a fee will be included in the final payment)

Please join us Tuesday, April 15, at 7:00 pm for the next ABBA Membership Meeting followed by our Spring Tournament of Roses Update Meeting. The meeting will be held in the AHS Ensemble Room, enter through door 33C. We will conduct our elections for the 2025-26 Board. The proposed slate is below:

• President: Kellie Koch
• 1st Vice President: Membership: Tim Hogan
• 2nd Vice President: Ways and Means: Debbie Newcomer
• 3rd Vice President: Logistics: Joshua Wood
• 4th Vice President: Volunteer Coordinator: Denise Lane
• 5th Vice President: Public Relations: Joe Vanek
• 6th Vice President: Student Specialties: Open
• Treasure: Timothy Bray
• Secretary: Dorci Cotton

Tickets for the 2025 Band and Colorguard are now on sale! Please visit www.allenband.com/banquet to purchase tickets and other information. The 2025 Banquet will be held Saturday, March 17. For questions please email Joe at publicrelations@allenband.com.

We are still looking for sponsors to support the TOR Fundraising efforts. 100% of funds raised will go to offset the cost of the trip. We have currently raised enough funds to deduct $15 per student. For more information please visit www.allenband.com/tor.

There are spring volunteer opportunities:

• 2025 Registration
• 2025 Banquet
• Spring Concert Uniform Return

Log in at www.allenband.com/volunteers to sign up. Questions, email Denise at volunteers@allenband.com.

Allen Band Marching, Trip & Concert Patches are available now! What's available? Marching patches 2021-2024, Concert and Site Reading Patches 2022-2025, Jazz band, and trip patches (San Antonio, Branson, and Port Aransas, TOR). Please order by April 21st. Go to http://www.AllenBand.com/Patches to order yours. Questions contact Dana at Patches@AllenBand.com

The band staff is already preparing for the 2025 marching season. There will be one required movement camp and a required incoming freshman marching camp.

If you are interested in trying out for drum major or SLT, we will begin our training/workshops the week before Spring Break. They will be held on Mondays from 4:30pm-6pm in the AHS Band Hall or AHS Ensemble Room. The first 45 minutes will be general leadership/SLT training and the second 45 minutes will be specific training for drum majors. AHS & LFC Wind Ensembles (including seniors) will be required to attend the first 45 minutes of the SLT workshops as part of their Musicianship Class.

Required Movement Camp for all LFC/AHS Returning Students and Incoming Freshmen

• Wednesday, April 16 (5:00-6:30pm)

Incoming Freshman Marching Camp (Not Required for current LFC/AHS students)

• Thursday, April 24 (5:00-6:30pm)

SLT/Drum Major Workshops

• Mon, March 10: 4:30-6pm
• Mon, March 24: 4:30-6pm
• Mon, March 31: 4:30-6pm
• Mon, April 7 4:30-6pm
• Mon, April 14: 4:30-6pm

Drum Major Tryouts

• Mon, April 21 (Phase 1 - After School)
• Wed, April 23 (Phase 2 - After School)

SLT Tryouts

• Tues, April 29 (Woodwinds - After School)
• Wed, April 30 (Brass - After School)
• Guard & Percussion Leadership Tryouts will be scheduled by Mr. Camp/Mr. Locke

All incoming and returning band students for the 2025-2026 School Year will be required to attend various events this Spring and Summer. These events are designed to help train our students for the next marching band season. Attendance will be used to help us assign marching band spots for our 2025 Contest Show. Please see the dates below to put in your calendars!

Mon, April 7: Leadership Workshop, 4:30-6:00 PM (AHS Ensemble Room)

Tue, April 8: Saxophone Ensemble @ Dallas Winds, 7:30pm

Wed, April 9: UIL Concert/Sightreading @ Allen PAC (all AHS/LFC bands)

Thurs, Apil 10: Spring Trip Rehearsal (4:30-5:30PM); Spring Trip Meeting (5:30-6:00PM)

Fri-Sun, April 11-13: Spring Trip to Austin/San Antonio

Mon, April 14: Leadership Workshop, 4:30-6:00 PM (AHS Ensemble Room)

Tues, April 15: ABBA Membership Meeting & TOR Update Meeting (AHS Ensemble Room)

Wed, April 16: Required Movement Workshop, 5:00-6:30PM (AHS Competition Gym)

Fri, April 18: No School

Mon, April 21: Drum Major Tryouts (Phase 1)

Wed, April 23: Drum Major Tryouts (Phase 2)

Thurs, April 24: Incoming Freshman Marching Workshop (not required for current LFC/AHS students)

• Dr. Philip Obado, Director of Bands, Allen ISD
• Dr. Steven Knight, Associate Director of Bands & Marching Band Director
• Joshua Blankenship, Director of Bands, Lowery Freshman Center
• Alex Baczewski, Assistant Band Director & Jazz Studies Director
• Andrew Camp, Colorguard Director & Assistant Band Director
• Miles Locke, Percussion Director & Assistant Band Director
• Jeremy Rohr, Assistant Band Director, Lowery Freshman Center
• Jesse Vela, Assistant Percussion Director & Assistant Band Director
• Susan Fulk, Performing Arts Administrative Assistant