Symphonic Band Newsletter April 2015

FBA SYMPHONIC BAND NEWS                                                                                                      

This year has flown by! It has been an absolute joy working with your kids and sharing the love of music with them each day. Here are a few items that you need to be aware of as the end of the school year approaches. Students were sent home with a letter. Please sign and return the attached page by Friday, April 24, so I know you are aware of the various end-of-year band activities. If you are available to help with events, please indicate on the returned page of the newsletter and email Mrs. Conard ASAP. 

·         Friday, April 24 – Band officer elections for 2015-2016. Be prepared to give speeches.

·         Monday, April 27 – Symphonic Band dress rehearsal in the main sanctuary. (Wear regular school uniform.) PLEASE be in attendance at this rehearsal from 1:59-2:44pm.

·         Tuesday, April 28 – Band Chapel at 9am. Wear CURRENT band t-shirt and nice blue jeans to school all day. We will perform all TAPPS contest pieces, Around the World, and America. Students report to the band hall 1st period.

·         Tuesday, April 28 – Spring Band Concert. MANDATORY attendance. Symphonic Band meets at 6:40pm in the band hall in black, formal concert attire. Concert is from 7pm-8pm with a reception to follow in the faith building (cafeteria). Students’ accounts will be billed $2 to help with the costs of the reception. Help is needed with set-up/clean-up.

·         Thursday, April 30 – Band Buddy Social. During 7^th period. Food, fun, and games with 6^th grade. Please be here, especially if you are a band buddy.

·         Tuesday, May 12 – Solo/Ensemble contest at FBA. 4pm-7pm. Band officers will help with this event. Will discuss at May band officers meeting.

·         Thursday, May 21 – End-of-Year Band Picnic – Selma Stagecoach Park (I-35 and Evans Rd.) 4pm-7pm. Come and go as you please. Will send email with link to sign-up to bring various picnic items. This is a potluck-style dinner and we’ll have fun and games in the park. Come celebrate with us! Family members are also invited.  

FBA Band is #1

“2014-2015 TAPPS 2A State Champions”  

The FBA Eagle Symphonic Band traveled to compete in the TAPPS State Championship meet which was held on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. Over 1800 events took place over three days. Our band students competed in a total of 29 events and brought home

30 Superior medals!

Congratulations  to the following students:

Janie N. – Clarinet Solo - Superior

Rachel C. – Alto Sax Solo - Superior

Dixie R. – Trumpet Solo - Superior

Douglass H. – Trumpet Solo - Superior

John H. – Trumpet Solo - Superior

Mitchell W. – Trumpet Solo – Superior

Joshua R. – Snare Solo – Superior

Rachel, Janie, Ellie – Clarinet Trio – Superior

Shinaiya, Janie, Taylor – Mixed Woodwind Trio – Superior

Callie, Gabryella, Grace – Flute Trio – Superior

Douglass, James, Dustin, Alyssa – Mixed Brass Ensemble – Superior

Bryton, John, Mitchell – Trumpet Trio – Superior

Frank, Douglass, Dixie, Alyssa – Trumpet Quartet – Superior

Frank, Douglass, Dixie – Trumpet Trio - Superior

These students are also to be commended for giving very solid, musical performances:

Callie B. – Flute Solo – Excellent

Gabryella C. – Flute Solo – Excellent

Grace H. – Flute Solo – Excellent

Kyle L. – Alto Sax Solo – Excellent

Natalie B. – Bari Sax Solo – Excellent

Bryton B. – Trumpet Solo – Excellent

Frank H. – Trumpet Solo – Excellent

Caleb A. – Trombone Solo – Excellent

Michael G. – Trombone Solo – Excellent

Alyssa S. – Baritone Solo – Excellent

Callie, Gabryella, Shinaiya, Grace – Flute Quartet – Excellent

Natalie, Rachel, Kyle – Saxophone Trio – Excellent

Caleb, Michael, James – Trombone Trio – Excellent

The FBA Symphonic Band also competed in the Concert and Sight-Reading portion of the contest.

  

All three judges gave the band’s concert performance a  

“Superior” rating. 

  

They said we have a “nice band sound,” were “very well prepared,” and “students demonstrated a strong understanding of style, tempo, dynamics, and musical interpretation.” In the sight-reading portion, the judge said the “band played with confidence” and they are a “very well taught group.”  

The band received a “Superior” rating in sight-reading. 

Earning a superior in both concert and sight-reading contests gave the band the “Sweepstakes Award.”  

We were one of two bands that received "Sweepstakes."

Eleven 2A schools were present on Saturday. Our school earned almost 200 points more than any other school and was named: 

“2014-2015 TAPPS 2A State Champions”  

We could not have done any of this without placing God at the forefront of everything we do. We truly have some amazingly talented students here. Please congratulate the band for their accomplishments. The band says, “Thank you parents, teachers, and administrators for your support and encouragement.”

The band’s spring concert  - "Around the World in 60 minutes" - will be held Tuesday, April 28 at 7pm in the Sanctuary. All are invited to attend and celebrate with us.