Cumberland Bands Newsletter – 2/9/17

Hello amazing band folks!

Lots of events coming up in the spring, so do read everything here!

The next event is for 6th-9th grade on Friday, March 3rd.  Check out the District Assessment update below!

==IN THIS NEWSLETTER==

NEW! Congratulations to District III All-District Band Participant, Kathy McConkey
UPDATED! Fri, March 3 – District Concert Band Assessment (6th – 9th grade band members)
NEW! After-school band programs report
Thurs, April 13 – Spring Concert @ 7pm (all band members 5th – 9th grade)
NEW! Fri, May 19 – Graduation Performance @ 7pm (7th, 8th, and 9th grade band members)

NEW! Congratulations to District III All-District Band Participant, Kathy McConkey

Seventh grade flutist Kathy McConkey auditioned for, and was invited to participate in, the VBODA District III All-District Junior Honors Band.  The band held a weekend of intense rehearsal on Feb 3 & 4, followed by a wonderful concert that Saturday afternoon.  Kathy had the honor of working under the direction of Dr. Quincy Hilliard, composer in residence at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  Congratulations to Kathy!  Next year, let’s have all our children audition so we can have a crowd of performers representing Cumberland!

7th grade flutist Kathy McConkey post-concert with conductor Dr. Quincy Hilliard.

UPDATED! Fri, March 3 – District Concert Band Assessment (6th – 9th grade band members)

The Cumberland bands will be taking our 6th Grade Beginning Band and our 7th-9th Grade Intermediate Band to District Assessment this year!  This is the SOL test for Band

A final schedule will be up soon, but we will depart CMS in the 11 o’clock hour to go to Goochland HS.  While there, each band will have a turn to perform selections for judges.  These judges will rate our performances with one of five grades.  We want to get a I – Superior rating for each band.  The other ratings are II – Excellent, III – Good, IV – Fair, and V – Poor.

This is a required performance for all 6th-9th grade students.  Because it is a field trip, I will need permission slips for everyone.  Slips and paper itineraries will be coming home soon!

My plan is to return to CMS before 6pm so that anyone who would like to ride the athletic busses home would be able to.

I’ll need chaperones!!!  At least four adults in addition to myself.

DETAILS AND ITINERARY TO FOLLOW SOON!

NEW! After-school band programs report

The Winter Guard is meeting every Monday and Wednesday, and CES has graciously allowed us to work in their gym.  As well, the awesome transportation dept is making sure they are getting to CES after school and are also being brought up to the CHS bus loop at 6:pm.

We are going to need to have one Saturday rehearsal for the Winter Guard, and I’m looking at one of the first Saturdays in March.  This would probably be a 9am-2pm type of schedule with a lunch break and a performance for friends and family at the end.  Additionally, the Winter Guard has one competition on Saturday, March 25th, at EC Glass HS in Lynchburg.  Details will follow.

The Percussion Masterclass continues to have growth with their Wednesday practices.  Learning new techniques that are difficult to teach in full band class and creating the single section from all the various grades continues to be a focus of this group.

Thurs, April 13 – Spring Concert @ 7pm (all band members 5th – 9th grade)

As usual, I’ll keep the kids from the end of school to the concert, and I’ll feed them supper.  Concert dress (black and white) is expected, and the concert should last about an hour.  I will need parental assistance for this event!

NEW! Fri, May 19 – CHS Graduation Performance @ 7pm (7th, 8th, and 9th grade band members)

The 7th – 9th graders will be playing for graduation.  On graduation day, I’ll keep the kids from the end of school to the performance, and I’ll feed them supper.  Concert dress (black and white) is expected, and the graduation ceremony will last a couple of hours.  We will be playing the CHS graduates into and out of the ceremony, as well as the national anthem.

Keep in touch, everyone!

Scott