Previous Director's Comments

PARENTS: ~~We need more help at the football games.~~ UPDATE: We think we have enough parent help now. Thanks to those parents who have volunteered.

The band will not be sitting in the end zone for the foreseeable future, so we must have at least 6-10 chaperones sitting behind and around the band during the game and when the band is on the field.

We had some items (nothing big) stolen Friday night, and we must keep non-band students out of the band section (and band students in their section) for a variety of reasons.

We have seven passes left for helpers, so parents wishing to help can get passes from Mr. Palmer.

The Williamstown Festival of Bands has been cancelled by WHS. It was scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 4th.

UPDATE: There is not a suitable replacement competition for the Williamstown Festival of Bands. Instead, we will travel to the John Marshall away football game on Friday, October 17th. We will depart the school at 4:00 pm, stop for food en route to the game in Washington, PA, and return to UHS between 11:00pm and midnight.

The 2008-2009 Performance and Rehearsal Calendar was updated August 25th. There are several changes to dates (mostly later in the year) and there will almost certainly be other changes as we discover conflicts, so please check back often.

Congratulations to the marching band for their fine performance at the Preston TOB Competition. The band finished first place overall in group IV (large band class).

Band students must carpool to the game this Friday at the new Mylan Pharmaceuticals Stadium (Hawk Pharm?). Parking will be at a premium while the school is still a construction zone. If parking becomes too much of a problem, the band may have to assemble at the old UHS and bus to the field (the football team is already doing this) for future games this season.

Congratulations to the marching band on an outstanding first competition at the WV Oil and Gas Festival on Sept. 13th. The band finished as first runner-up, placing second overall among the 17 bands competing.

Students, make sure you have a pair of shoes OTHER THAN YOUR BAND SHOES to rehearse in...Tank Field may be a little muddy.

Attention SNARE DRUMMERS:

Please email Mr. Welker with a list of times after school which you would be available for a snare sectional during the week- we are hoping for Wednesdays. Sectionals will last an hour depending on availability.

Bwelker10@yahoo.com

Shuttle buses will once again run to and from UHS each day rehearsal is held at Camp Muffly. The buses will depart UHS at 8:30 and depart Camp Muffly fifteen minutes after the end of rehearsals.

2008 Guard Information

Incoming Freshmen Frequently Asked Questions

2008 Marching Band Information

The Kennywood trip will take place on Friday, August 22nd. Students should report to the UHS band room at 8:45 am, and we will depart UHS by bus at 9:00 am.

We will depart Kennywood at 8:00 pm and should arrive back at UHS at approximately 9:30 pm.

The Band Boosters will pay the cost of the buses and each student's Ride-All-Day Pass. Students should bring money for food and souvenirs for the day.

-MSP 8/20/08 2:20 pm

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Thursday's rehearsal (August 21st) will run from 5:30-8:00 pm (not 8:30 pm, as marked on the calendar) at Camp Muffly. We are ending earlier so we don't run out of daylight. A shuttle bus will depart UHS at 5:00 pm and pick students up from Camp Muffly at 8:15 pm.

-MSP 8/20/08 2:20 pm

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The link to the 2008 summer schedule is posted to the left of the photo above. (Make sure to read the 3rd page of general information, as well.)

We understand that summer is family vacation time, so we ask that families please schedule vacations BEFORE August 4th (and inform the directors of vacations, summer camps, summer school conflicts, etc. in advance). In a nutshell, the earlier in the summer the absences occur, the better.

Any student absences after the start of day camp at Camp Muffly are extremely disruptive to both the band and the individual student.

As always, we will use the Kennywood trip at the end of summer band as a reward for students with three or fewer absences (excused or unexcused) during summer reharsals.

-MSP 8/6/08 2:05 pm

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CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD the 2008-2009 Band Handbook. In order to participate in the UHS Band, students and parents must read it in its entirety, then sign and return the Agreement Form at the end of the handbook by the week of July 28th.

Because most students can now access this site, we will only be printing a few copies of the handbook for those without internet access. It is not necessary for students to print the entire handbook, just the Agreement Forms.

-MSP 7/10/08 11:10 am

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Parent Survival Packets were mailed on Monday, June 9, 2008. If you did not receive a copy you can read it by clicking HERE. It also included a SUMMER BAND CALENDAR and a letter from boosters president Mary Ann Spanovich.

-MSP 6/9/08 2:30 pm

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PLEASE NOTE CORRECTIONS TO THE SUMMER BAND CALENDAR: A typo was corrected in the time on Monday, August 18th, rehearsal is moved to the evening on Thursday, August 21st because of the first teacher workday on that date, there is no longer a rehearsal on Friday, August 22nd because of the Kennywood trip, and percussion and guard camp times have been updated.

-MSP 7/28/08 8:25 am

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The second $50 deposit for 2008 Band Camp was due Friday, May 30th. Incoming freshmen can give their deposits to their middle school director and Mr. Palmer will pick the money up, or they can be mailed to the high school at the following address:

UHS Band
c/o Mark Palmer
991 Price Street
Morgantown, WV 26505

If given to middle school directors, money should be placed in envelopes with the student's names on them and labeled "band camp deposit #2". Checks should be made payable to UHS Band. To avoid confusion, we also ask that parents put the student's name in the memo of checks.

Parents can also opt to pay the entire $150 band camp cost at any time.

-MSP 5/21/08 8:21 am

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Percussion Clinic/Audition/Rehearsal Dates:

May 16th- 4-9
May 17th- 12-5

June 20- 5-9
June 21- 12-9

July 18- 5-9
July 19- 12-9

July 21-25- 9-5

July 28-31- 9-5

UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION WILL TAKE PLACE TUESDAY, JULY 29TH DURING OPEN HOUSE. Times are as follows:

Seniors: 5:00-5:45
Juniors: 5:45-6:30
Sophomores: 6:30-7:15
Freshmen: 7:15-8:00

-MSP 7/28/08 8:45 am

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Open House will be held Tuesday, July 29th from 5:00-8:00 pm in the UHS Band Room and Cafeteria. There will be a speciol meeting for freshman parents from 7:00-8:00.

-MSP 7/28/08 8:55 am

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Visual Ensemble (Guard) Clinic/Audition/Rehearsal Dates:

Auditions for 2008-2009 Field Commander will be held Tuesday, June 3rd at ~4:00 pm (depending on when the judge arrives from out-of-town). Auditions will be held in the band room.

Student account statements were distributed in class on Monday, April 14th. The bottom part of the statements need to be returned to the band office (with any fees or obligation money due, if applicable) by Friday, May 9th. (The form has a typo stating May 10th, which is a Saturday.) Questions about account balances should be directed to Terry Roston at 594-2990 or daroston@msn.com.

Please make sure that the vestee and cape are attached, that the plume is included in the hat box, and that the uniform was recently dry-cleaned. Uniforms must have been dry-cleaned AFTER the last performance (for most students, that would be Florida), and that the dry-cleaning receipt is attached.

Wind Ensemble tuxes (dry cleaned) and gowns (machine washable - on GENTLE) must be returned with uniforms.

ANY UNCOLLECTED UNIFORMS MUST BE RETURNED PRIOR TO THE BAND BOOSTERS MEETING ON TUESDAY, MAY 20TH IN THE BAND ROOM.

The Sixth Annual "Music on the Mon" Spring Concert at Hazel Ruby McQuain Waterfront Park will be held Monday, May 5th at 7:00 pm, and will feature performances by the concert band and wind ensemble, with pre-concert music provided by the jazz combo. Admission is FREE.

Students should report to the park at 6:30 pm. A student crew will also be needed at 5:30 to unload the band bus and set the stage.

Congratulations to the concert band and the wind ensemble. Both bands received straight superior (I) ratings at the Region 10 Band Festival at Bridgeport High School this past Thursday and Friday.

In addition to the picture CD's that were distributed several weeks ago, Dr. Mel Wright has a photobucket account with pictures that he took during our trip to Florida in March. To view the pictures, click HERE, log in with the username "MWrightDO" and the password "buddyrich", and click on the link "UHS Marching Band" at the top left of the page. There are several UHS Band photo albums to view. The Florida pics are under " 2008-03-14 UHS All American".

Thanks to Mary Ann Spanovich and ALL of the parents who made the first UHS Band Elimination Dinner such a big success by donating time, supplies, gift baskets, and general knowledge about how an elimination dinner works. Thanks also to the members of the jazz combos from the last two years for providing music before the drawings.

Last, a big THANK YOU to Outback Steakhouse for providing the meals.Aside from the fruit sale, the Elimination Dinner brought in more money for the band than any fundraiser that we have done over the last eight years. It was well-planned, well-executed, and well-received.

Congratulations to the winners of the baskets, the $25 and $50 prizes, and especially to Grand Prize Winner Dominic Degeorge (a 2003 graduate of UHS) who left with $1,000.

The 2008 Florida Trip was a tremendous success. The bands (percussion ensemble, festival band, and jazz ensemble) all received ratings of Superior or Excellent at the All-American Music Festival. More importantly, the students were well-behaved and had a great time.

The directors wish to thank chaperones Chris Battin, Beth Clark, Mona Feghali, Louise Henry, Kelly Mullens, Charlene Porter, Deb and Ken Rodeheaver, Terry Roston, Mary Ann Spanovich, Gale and Jim Truman, and Dr. Mel Wright, each of whom paid full price for the privilege of waking up early, going to bed late, and riding a bus for close to 40 hours. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

Congratulations to the Jazz Ensemble for receiving a SUPERIOR (I) rating at the Northern Region Jazz Festival on Saturday, March 1st. This year marks the eighth consecutive year the Jazz Ensemble has received the highest possible rating at the festival.

Members of the music theory class and jazz bands participated in Scott Simons' "Pop Shop" from December 17th through December 21st. Under the guidance of Mr. Simons, the students composed (including music and lyrics), arranged, and performed an original piece, "White Lines". Mr. Simons then mixed the song. You can listen to "White Lines" by clicking here.