Dear Winter Park Band families,

We had an AMAZING night at Middle School Night 2024! It was so joyful welcoming students from Arbor Ridge, Audubon Park, Glenridge, and Maitland for a full evening of fun, music, and community. Thank you to directors Susan Watford, Matthew Murphy, James Brannock, Cole Dekle, and David Olsen for bringing your students to the game.

I would be remiss if I didn't recognize how big of a task Middle School Night is each year, and especially how much work our Band Booster Board and all our parent volunteers who got our students in and out of uniform, chaperoned, and worked on the parent operations crew put in to support our students for their performance. We quite literally would not be able to go anywhere and provide these incredible experiences for our students without you and your continued support!

This is a newsletter jam-packed with information, so I will be brief in this section so you can get to all the detailed information. A couple highlights from me:

• All-State Auditions will take place Saturday, 9/21 at Ocoee HS. Best of luck on a great performance to our students who are taking the audition!
• We're in the final weekend of the Widdy Up fundraiser and are headed toward our $30,000 goal! Keep sharing the fundraiser on social media, and check-in with Robyn Fodor's update below in the this Newsletter. https://widdyup.com/v2/fundraising/pitch/UNRxEzV94AWrF3TeThU2YrV2
  
• Concert Uniform Accessories are available for purchase now - Wednesday, 9/26.
• Tri-State & Festival of Winds student nomination information available. Nomination requests due Monday, 9/23.
• BAND SPIRIT WEAR AVAILABLE WITH OUR NEW BAND LOGO! Sale lasts until 9/29. Link to both view available items with color options and to place orders below.
• The WPHS Band Alumni Association is selling limited edition 85th Anniversary t-shirts to Band family and friends. Students will each receive a shirt at no charge, like a show shirt.
• Student Portraits taken for our Band Composite are available for purchase until 9/29. Link and code for viewing and purchase below.
• Keep up the great work selling Sponsorships and submitting Student Dedications! All forms and payments are due by Friday, September 27.
• Last, but certainly not least, thank-yous and important updates from our Band Booster Board.

Together, let's make it a great week!

Mr. Clemente

With our Fall Concert approaching in October, the Band will be placing a bulk order of Concert Uniform Accessories. As explained on the Uniform Accessory Information sheet from registration night, students are responsible for providing all parts of the concert uniform that are not either the tuxedo jacket and pants or concert dress. Tux jackets and pants along with the dresses are owned by the school and lent to students each year. To make obtaining those accessories easy for our families, the Band program will make a bulk order next week through our supplier. You are not required to use our supplier; however, they will most likely give you the best deal and there are no shipping costs.

To complete the Concert Tuxedo:

• Black wing tipped tuxedo shirt - $45.00
• Black bow tie - $7.00
• Black cummerbund - $12.00
• Package of all three (shirt, tie, cummerbund) - $62.00

You will also need black dress shoes (completely black dress shoes, not your marching band shoes) and tall black dress socks. Shoes and socks are provided by the student.

To complete the Concert Dress:

• Faux pearl earrings – pierced ears - $8.00
• Faux pearl earrings – non-pierced ears - $9.00
• Faux pearl necklace - $14.00
• Package of both (earrings and necklace) - $22.00

You will also need closed-toe black dress shoes. Most choose to wear a simple black flat with the dress, but you may also choose to wear a short heel.

Items are available on SchoolPay and be close on Wednesday, 9/26. The order must be placed by 9/27 in order to be here in time for our performance. Keep in mind, students who are wearing a tuxedo have already been sized for their black tuxedo shirt when they were fitted earlier in the school year.

If you have any questions, please email our Uniform Chairs, Jenniffer Randolph and Andrea Rediske.

TRI-STATE BAND FESTIVAL (FSU) - Open to 11th and 12th grade

The 43nd annual Tri-State Band Festival on the campus of Florida State University, Thursday, December 5th through Sunday, December 8th. Hosting approximately 250 top high school students for an intensive musical experience facilitated by world-class clinicians and esteemed members of the Florida State University faculty, this unique honor band experience offers rich interaction with outstanding literature, masterclasses on every instrument, and numerous concerts including the highly-anticipated PRISM concert.

Student participants will comprise four concert wind ensembles (nominated by home directors) and one select honors jazz ensemble (pre-audition required, video due 9/30).

Additional information can be found on the Tri-State Festival website here.

If you wish to be nominated for this year's Tri-State festival, please complete the Google form linked below by Monday, September 23.

Tri-State Band Festival Nomination Form

FESTIVAL OF WINDS (USF) - Open to 10th, 11th, & 12th grade

The University of South Florida’s School of Music is proud to host the 48th Festival of Winds on December 5 - December 8, 2024. FOW was founded by Jim Croft in 1974 and has grown to become one of the finest events of its type in the southeast. In addition to playing in one of three large concert bands conducted by outstanding clinicians, students will participate in master classes, attend multiple concerts, play in a chamber ensemble or jazz band, and experience the thrill of being on a college campus for four days. Participants are nominated by their band directors based on their musical and leadership excellence, and must be high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors in order to be eligible.

In addition to the three large Concert Bands and Instrumental Choirs – (flute choir, percussion, etc.) – we are bringing back the Jazz Band as a primary ensemble. Students who are interested in playing in the jazz band must submit a separate audition, and if selected, will not perform in a Concert Band, but will participate in all other aspects of the festival – masterclasses, chamber ensembles, etc. The jazz band and chamber ensembles will perform on Saturday evening, and the concerts will be livestreamed. Students who are not selected for the Jazz Band will perform in a Concert Band.

Additional information can be found on the Festival of Winds website here.

If you wish to be nominated for this year's Festival of Winds, please complete the Google form linked below by Monday, September 23.

Festival of Winds Nomination Form

Band Spirit Wear is now for sale! This year we are using a new vendor for our spirit wear, and I'm super excited with how everything turned out. Our vendor calls the sale a preorder for the period that items are on sale. Online sale ends SEPTEMBER 29 and will be available for pickup as early as OCTOBER 14. Shipping is not available, items ordered will be sent together to WPHS and sent home with students. You will receive an email once the order is ready for pickup.

Our new Band logo was inspired by a design by former Band student Miles Griffin and was also worked on by Mr. Clemente and Dana Adkinson. We love it!

A sampling of available items are pictured below, but there are lots of options to choose from including car magnets, parent volunteer polos, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and mini pennants. Show your SOTW pride!

Link to order: https://www.bigfootdesign.co/wphsband

Congratulations! As of Saturday, our band raised $19,299! Well-done everyone!

There is still a few hours for us to get to or pass $20k and you can make it happen. Please share your students link to social media or other friends and family that can be found in their Widdy Up account.

Our next, and last fundraiser (until Door2Door in February) is Butter Braid, and it will start later in October and we will receive the Butter Braids in time for the holidays. Stay tuned for more info!

Robyn Fodor

Hello Winter Park Band Families!

We are in the final two weeks of selling Band Sponsorships and Student Dedications. Thank you to the students and families who have contributed so far. As a reminder, students receive up to 60% or $1000 maximum for any sponsorship or student dedication. This is a great way to earn some credit toward your band fees or even the Chicago trip in March. All forms and payments are due by Friday, September 27.

Work is beginning on production of the band program. The team is contacting businesses who have bought a sponsorship to secure logos and artwork for all deliverables. Please watch for postings on social media soon and help support our sponsors by liking the posts!

Our wonderful graphic designer Sherri Tyson has also begun emailing families who have purchased a student dedication to help design their student ad. If you need help with building your ad, the sooner you can begin working with Sherri, the better. It can get a little hectic leading up to our print deadline.

If you have a company inquiring about 501c3 status, please reach out to me at wpbandprogram@gmail.com. We have connected with the OCPS Foundation and have a solution.

Thank you again everyone for your support of this fundraising initiative.

The uniform co-chairs want to give a huge THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers who jumped in to make sure our marching band looked sharp for the big game on Friday, 9/13! 🙌 We couldn’t have done it without your help ironing those uniforms to perfection!

Special kudos to our superstar team who went above and beyond, even taking uniforms home to iron: Marry Lippert, Curry Browne, and Harlika Watzman! Your dedication and extra effort are greatly appreciated! 🌟

We also want to give a big round of applause to Michelle Baillargeon and Steve Roberts (who also helps out with the low brass, but also happens to be an expert in ironing) for your fantastic help. Your ironing skills are nothing short of legendary—those crisp creases and wrinkle-free uniforms are a work of art!

And a big thank you to everyone who helped get all the students ready with shoes and gloves before the game—it takes a village, and we’re so lucky to have you! 👟🧤

🎺 Thanks again to our uniform heroes for making us look sharp on the field! Let’s march into the next performance looking our best!

Yours in marching couture,

Andrea Rediske and Jenniffer Randolph

The Winter Park HS Band Alumni Association is selling limited edition 85th Anniversary t-shirts. Students who are current Band members will all receive one for free from the Band, just like a show shirt.

Shirts are available to family and friends for $16 each, and can be bought at https://winterparkhighschoolalumniband.com/t-shirts. $5 per shirt sold will go back to the to the Band!

Orders are due October 1!

September 21: All-State Auditions, Ocoee HS, 9 AM - 4 PM

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September 27: Away Football Game, 4:30 - 10 PM, Freedom HS

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October 1: Away Football Game, 5 - 8 PM, Edgewater HS

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October 10: Home Football Game, 5 - 10 PM, Showalter Field

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October 11: Jazz Ensemble 1 @ WPAAF, 8 - 10 AM, Downtown WP

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October 14: No School

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October 16: Homecoming Parade, 4 - 7 PM, Downtown WP

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October 17: FALL BAND CONCERT & 85th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, 7 PM, WPHS Auditorium

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October 18: Homecoming Football Game, 5 - 10 PM, Showalter Field

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October 24: SENIOR NIGHT Home Football Game, 4:30 - 10 PM, Showalter Field

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October 25: No School

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October 26: WEST SIDE SHOWCASE, 10 AM - 9 PM, West Orange HS

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November 1: Away Football Game, 5 - 10 PM, Olympia HS

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November 2: MARCHING BAND MPA, 10 AM - 9 PM, Boone HS

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November 6: Fall Festival of Bands, 7 PM, WPHS Auditorium

Since the Cut Time software has been updated, the synced calendar link has changed. Copy the link below to subscribe to the Band public events calendar in Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, or other calendar app:

• https://app.gocuttime.com/program/calendar/c308b229-e7ac-4762-93ef-6112f6f8daf3/ics
  

PAST DUE BAND PAYMENTS

• WOODWINDS, BRASS, PERCUSSION
• Wednesday, July 31, 2024
• Fair Share Payment - $225 OR Fair Share Payment 1 - $100
• Marching Band Shoe (if needed) - $45

• Wednesday, August 28, 2024
• Fair Share Payment 2 - $50

• COLOR GUARD
• Wednesday, July 31, 2024
• Fall Fair Share Payment - $325 OR Fair Share Payment 1 - $100
• Marching Band Shoe (if needed) - $45

• Wednesday, August 28, 2024
• Fair Share Payment 2 - $125

Whether a student is learning a musical instrument to pursue a career in music, or simply for personal musical fulfillment and recreation, private lessons are one of the best investments that a parent can provide for their musical child. When working with a private teacher, students receive one-on-one instruction from a professional musician who specializes on that instrument.

​Unlike a full band rehearsal experience, studying with a private teacher focuses in on the student’s individual needs. Students who study privately once a week from a professional musician are usually those who excel and find Band more enjoyable. These students frequently earn positions in honor groups like All-State and All-County, and make entry into our more advanced bands like Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble I. Some even go on to earn college scholarships, even if they are not majoring in music!

Below is a link to a list of local private teachers. This list is not exhaustive, and there may be other individuals who are not on the list. If you are a private teacher who would like to be added to our list (or deleted), or know a private teacher who should be added, please contact Mr. Clemente at michael.clemente@ocps.net.

http://www.winterparkhsband.com/private-teachers.html

We've been posting lots of photos our social media platforms, and we will continue to post updates, photos, video, and other media to those pages throughout the year. Follow the Band!

• Facebook: @winterparkhsband
• Instagram: @winterparkhsband @wphs_flutes @wphsclarinets @wpsaxes @wphs_trumpets @wphs.trombones @wphstubas @winterparkhspercussion @winterparkcolorguard @wphs.drumajors
• YouTube: @winterparkhsband
• Twitter: @wphs_bands
• Tik Tok: @winterparkhsband

Email: michael.clemente@ocps.net
Website: www.winterparkhsband.com
Location: 2100 Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Phone: 4076223200
Facebook: www.facebook.com/winterparkhsband