Weekly Update
Hello OEHS Band Families,
We hope you’re staying warm this weekend! We are very excited for our Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble to travel down to Peoria this week for their performance at the Illinois Music Educators Conference. Thank you to everyone came to Wind Symphony’s send off concert this past Wednesday at Wentz hall!
Why Should You Stay In Band?
As students are finalizing their schedules for next school year, we wanted to share some resources with regard to the importance of music and the fine arts. Below are links to two videos that do a fantastic job of explaining the value of a music education, even if not pursuing music after high school. I would like to particularly point out the first video, as it is an Admission director from Northwestern University explaining what they are looking for in students that are college bound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zUJWNLUYWM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw4vqll9cAM
If your student has not signed up for band for next year, there is still time to change their schedule! Just schedule an appointment with their counselor. Every student in the band program has a place here!
Parent Volunteers Needed During the Week
We are always looking for parent volunteers to help supervise our practice rooms during the school day. This is tremendously helpful, as it allows students the opportunity to practice their instruments during the school day. Please contact Mr. Rexroat at srexroat@sd308.org if you are able to help!
Batavia Festival Volunteers NEEDED
If you are able to help chaperone Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble’s trip to Batavia High School, it would be extremely helpful. It is very easy work. We are not able to have a successful day without additional help. Thank you for considering helping out! Please email me if you are available.
Pick-Up From Pep Band Games
Please make sure you are picking up your student on time at the conclusion of pep band games. Mr. Welch and I cannot leave until every student is picked up. While we love our job, we also would like to get home ourselves. Each game ends at approximately 8:30pm. This is also communicated out via the Pep Band Remind. If you have not joined it, please join the Remind by texting the message @cd2gb2 to 81010.
Going forward, if 30 minutes have passed without picking up your student, we will call the non-emergency police number and have your student escorted home. If you have difficulty picking up your student on time, perhaps they can get a ride from another student, or maybe your student does not participate in that pep band game.
Thank you for being considerate of our time.
This Week
Monday 1/24 - Jazz Ensemble 2:40pm-5pm
Tuesday 1/25 - Jazz Band 2:40pm-4pm; Big Band 4pm-5pm
Wednesday 1/26 - Wind Symphony & Jazz Ensemble Luggage Drop Off 3:30pm-6pm.
Thursday 1/27 - Wind Symphony & Jazz Ensemble depart for IMEC 1:30pm; No after school rehearsals.
Friday 1/28 - Wind Symphony Performance at IMEC - 8:15am-9:30am; No Pep Band.
Saturday 1/29 - Jazz Ensemble Performance at IMEC - 8:15am-9:30am
Next Week
Monday 1/31 - Jazz Ensemble 2:40pm-5pm
Tuesday 2/1 - Jazz Band 2:40pm-4pm; Big Band 4pm-5pm; Pep Band Game - Call Time 5:30pm
Wednesday 2/2 -
Thursday 2/3 - Big Band 2:40pm-4pm; Jazz Band 4pm-5pm; Jazz Ensemble 5:30pm-8pm
Friday 2/4 - Pep Band Game - Call time 5:30pm
Upcoming 3rd Quarter Dates
1/27-1/29 - ILMEA All-State & IMEC Performances for WS & JE
2/9 - Winter Jazz Concert
2/12 - Batavia Band Festival (Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble)
2/15 - SPC Band Festival at Minooka HS (select students)
2/16 - Lou Malnati’s Fundraiser @ Oswego/95th Location
2/26 - Jazz in the Meadows Jazz Festival (Jazz Ensemble)
3/1 - Band Concert (Symphonic band & Wind Ensemble)
3/2 - Band Concert (Concert Band 2, Concert Band 3, Wind Symphony)
3/12 - Plainfield Invitational Concert Band Festival (Concert Band 2 & Concert Band 3)
CURRICULAR BAND CLASSES
Wind Symphony & Jazz Ensemble IMEC Performances - $40 PAST DUE
All Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble families received an email from me with information and a detailed itinerary for our upcoming trip to IMEC. If you did not receive this email, please reach out to Mr. Rexroat at srexroat@sd308.org
We are asking each WS & JE family to pay $40 (payable to OEHS Band Boosters) to help cover the cost of dinner for two nights. Please submit the payment to the band room mailbox (with the student’s name on it). This is currently PAST DUE. Please get the funds in ASAP. If there is a financial concern, please let me know!
IMEC Reminders
Please reference my past email with detailed information about our trip to IMEC this week. A reminder that luggage drop off is this Wednesday, 1/24 from 3:30pm-6pm (or Thursday morning). Door #3 will be unlocked.
If you have any questions about our trip, PLEASE reach out to me as soon as possible.
Wind Symphony & Central Michigan University Performance
The OEHS Wind Symphony has been asked to share a concert with the Central Michigan University band on Wednesday, April 6th. Central Michigan band is performing at the CBDNA Conference (College Band Director National Association) in Madison Wisconsin. On their way to the conference, they are stopping by OEHS to do a shared concert with Wind Symphony.
The concert will start at approximately 3pm and conclude around 4:30pm. Families are welcome to attend, but the performance is meant to be an opportunity for the two ensembles to play each other in a musical exchange. Students do not need to wear concert attire. It will be very informal. We are very excited about this opportunity to play with a top level college ensemble!
Batavia Band Festival - Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble
Students in Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble will be performing at the Batavia Band Festival, on Saturday, February 12th. Call time for students is 9:00am at OEHS. Here is a basic schedule for the day:
9:00am - Call time at OEHS. Students arrive in concert attire (all black).
9:20am - Depart for Batavia High School
9:50am - Arrive at Batavia High School and head to home room.
10:15am - Symphonic Band begins warm-up.
11:00am - Symphonic Band Performance.
11:30am - Symphonic Band Clinic with Mr. Marinello. Wind Ensemble Lunch.
12:15pm - Symphonic Band Lunch.
1:15pm - Wind Ensemble begins warm-up.
2:00pm - Wind Ensemble Performance
2:30pm - Wind Ensemble clinic with Mr. Stombres.
3:20pm - Depart Batavia for OEHS
3:50pm - Arrive at OEHS
A reminder that this is a required performance that is graded. This date was included on the schedule of performance that was communicated at the beginning of the school year.
Volunteers Needed
We are in need of 4-5 parent volunteers to help with the festival that day! It will mainly be supervising students. If you are able to help, please email Mr. Rexroat
Lou Malnati’s Fundraiser
We are hosting a fundraiser at the Oswego and 95th location Lou Malnati’s on Wednesday, February 16th. Mention the OEHS Band Boosters when ordering and we will receive a portion of the proceeds! Please consider dining with us that evening.
Wind Ensemble Festival Date Change
Wind Ensemble will no longer be performing at the Chicagoland Concert Band Festival on Saturday, April 9th. Instead, they will be performing at the ISU Concert Band Festival on Saturday, April 23rd. I will send a separate email to Wind Ensemble families soon with more information. Please put the date on your calendar, as this is a graded performance! Thank you.
Signing Up for Band Classes 2022-2023 & Band Placement Audition Music
All our current Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior students make course selections, all students should choose Symphonic Band when signing up for a band. The students will then be placed into the appropriate ability group based upon their audition. All audition videos are due Friday, January 21st.
All of the audition music for the band placements is now available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1y-IY6X4-iSWd-VpRpnucZx-JxzA5E4pL
Practice Room Usage: Help Needed - Throughout the Year
Thank you to those who have been able to come in and help with our practice room monitoring.
We are looking to be able to offer our students the opportunity to use the school practice rooms throughout the day during student lunches, guided studies, freshman seminars, and study halls. In order to offer this opportunity, we are in need of adult members to monitor the rooms. Mr. Rexroat and Mr. Welch are able to monitor the rooms during their plan periods and lunch period (1, 5, 8), as well as before and after school.
If you are an adult family member and willing to volunteer either on one date or several dates this year, please let Mr.Rexroat know. Any adult member filling in for this volunteer role will need to provide proof of full Covid vaccination (two doses), as well as go through the district's background check (involves a form and completion of finger printing). Any volunteer not vaccinated would need to provide a negative test prior to volunteering (weekly if regularly scheduled).
Our students truly benefit from using the practice rooms, and we are thankful for any adult family member who can help to provide this opportunity for our students' musical growth.
Band Bucks
Band Bucks is a fundraiser that band families can do throughout the school year. Through this program online and/or physical gift cards can be purchased for 100s of retailers. Whatever amount you purchase, you receive (ex. A $50 gift card purchase results in a $50 gift card). On the Band Bucks site, you can then see what percentage of your sale then goes into your student’s Band Boosters account. The funds in this account can then be accessed to help pay for trips.
More information about Band Bucks can be found on this site:
http://www.oswegoeasthighschoolbands.com/band-bucks.html
Music Patron
Through our Music Patron program, families and businesses are able to donate to our band program. Funds raised go towards music, instrument purchases, instrument repairs, equipment, clinicians, travel, and much more. Those who make a donation will be listed on our band site, as well as appear in the program. This year, those who are patrons will also have the chance to reserve specific seats at our November, February, and May concerts. We are still working on how the December concerts are working, but know we will do our best to offer special seating selections and/or tickets to patrons. Please visit the following site to view the form and information about becoming a Music Patron: http://www.oswegoeasthighschoolbands.com/music-patrons.html
Patches
Band patches are available through our Band Boosters. Students often choose to put these patches on letterman jackets and/or in frames. A link to the patches order can be found in the following site: http://www.oswegoeasthighschoolbands.com/patches.html
All orders can be turned into Mr. Rexroat
JAZZ BANDS
Northshore Jazz Festival
The festival has not been rescheduled yet. I will communicate the information as soon as I hear from them.
Jazz Ensemble Performance Opening for the Shout Section Big Band - March 6th
Jazz Ensemble will be performing an opening set for the Shout Section Big Band on Sunday, March 6th at the Roxy Theater in Lockport at 7pm. This is an excellent opportunity for students to perform in a new venue and to hear a live professional big band! More details to follow.
PEP BAND
Pick-Up From Pep Band Games
Please make sure you are picking up your student on time at the conclusion of pep band games. Mr. Welch and I cannot leave until every student is picked up. While we love our job, we also would like to get home ourselves. Going forward, if 30 minutes have passed without picking up your student, we will call the non-emergency police number and have them escorted home. If you have difficulty picking up your student on time, perhaps they can get a ride from another student, or maybe your student does not participate in that pep band game.
Thank you for being considerate of our time.
Remaining Pep Band Schedule
Date
Game
Tuesday, February 1st
Girls Senior Night Game
Friday, February 4th
Boys vs. Yorkville
Friday, February 11th
Boys vs. Oswego
Thank you, and stay healthy!
We hope you’re staying warm this weekend! We are very excited for our Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble to travel down to Peoria this week for their performance at the Illinois Music Educators Conference. Thank you to everyone came to Wind Symphony’s send off concert this past Wednesday at Wentz hall!
Why Should You Stay In Band?
As students are finalizing their schedules for next school year, we wanted to share some resources with regard to the importance of music and the fine arts. Below are links to two videos that do a fantastic job of explaining the value of a music education, even if not pursuing music after high school. I would like to particularly point out the first video, as it is an Admission director from Northwestern University explaining what they are looking for in students that are college bound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zUJWNLUYWM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw4vqll9cAM
If your student has not signed up for band for next year, there is still time to change their schedule! Just schedule an appointment with their counselor. Every student in the band program has a place here!
Parent Volunteers Needed During the Week
We are always looking for parent volunteers to help supervise our practice rooms during the school day. This is tremendously helpful, as it allows students the opportunity to practice their instruments during the school day. Please contact Mr. Rexroat at srexroat@sd308.org if you are able to help!
Batavia Festival Volunteers NEEDED
If you are able to help chaperone Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble’s trip to Batavia High School, it would be extremely helpful. It is very easy work. We are not able to have a successful day without additional help. Thank you for considering helping out! Please email me if you are available.
Pick-Up From Pep Band Games
Please make sure you are picking up your student on time at the conclusion of pep band games. Mr. Welch and I cannot leave until every student is picked up. While we love our job, we also would like to get home ourselves. Each game ends at approximately 8:30pm. This is also communicated out via the Pep Band Remind. If you have not joined it, please join the Remind by texting the message @cd2gb2 to 81010.
Going forward, if 30 minutes have passed without picking up your student, we will call the non-emergency police number and have your student escorted home. If you have difficulty picking up your student on time, perhaps they can get a ride from another student, or maybe your student does not participate in that pep band game.
Thank you for being considerate of our time.
This Week
Monday 1/24 - Jazz Ensemble 2:40pm-5pm
Tuesday 1/25 - Jazz Band 2:40pm-4pm; Big Band 4pm-5pm
Wednesday 1/26 - Wind Symphony & Jazz Ensemble Luggage Drop Off 3:30pm-6pm.
Thursday 1/27 - Wind Symphony & Jazz Ensemble depart for IMEC 1:30pm; No after school rehearsals.
Friday 1/28 - Wind Symphony Performance at IMEC - 8:15am-9:30am; No Pep Band.
Saturday 1/29 - Jazz Ensemble Performance at IMEC - 8:15am-9:30am
Next Week
Monday 1/31 - Jazz Ensemble 2:40pm-5pm
Tuesday 2/1 - Jazz Band 2:40pm-4pm; Big Band 4pm-5pm; Pep Band Game - Call Time 5:30pm
Wednesday 2/2 -
Thursday 2/3 - Big Band 2:40pm-4pm; Jazz Band 4pm-5pm; Jazz Ensemble 5:30pm-8pm
Friday 2/4 - Pep Band Game - Call time 5:30pm
Upcoming 3rd Quarter Dates
1/27-1/29 - ILMEA All-State & IMEC Performances for WS & JE
2/9 - Winter Jazz Concert
2/12 - Batavia Band Festival (Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble)
2/15 - SPC Band Festival at Minooka HS (select students)
2/16 - Lou Malnati’s Fundraiser @ Oswego/95th Location
2/26 - Jazz in the Meadows Jazz Festival (Jazz Ensemble)
3/1 - Band Concert (Symphonic band & Wind Ensemble)
3/2 - Band Concert (Concert Band 2, Concert Band 3, Wind Symphony)
3/12 - Plainfield Invitational Concert Band Festival (Concert Band 2 & Concert Band 3)
CURRICULAR BAND CLASSES
Wind Symphony & Jazz Ensemble IMEC Performances - $40 PAST DUE
All Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble families received an email from me with information and a detailed itinerary for our upcoming trip to IMEC. If you did not receive this email, please reach out to Mr. Rexroat at srexroat@sd308.org
We are asking each WS & JE family to pay $40 (payable to OEHS Band Boosters) to help cover the cost of dinner for two nights. Please submit the payment to the band room mailbox (with the student’s name on it). This is currently PAST DUE. Please get the funds in ASAP. If there is a financial concern, please let me know!
IMEC Reminders
Please reference my past email with detailed information about our trip to IMEC this week. A reminder that luggage drop off is this Wednesday, 1/24 from 3:30pm-6pm (or Thursday morning). Door #3 will be unlocked.
If you have any questions about our trip, PLEASE reach out to me as soon as possible.
Wind Symphony & Central Michigan University Performance
The OEHS Wind Symphony has been asked to share a concert with the Central Michigan University band on Wednesday, April 6th. Central Michigan band is performing at the CBDNA Conference (College Band Director National Association) in Madison Wisconsin. On their way to the conference, they are stopping by OEHS to do a shared concert with Wind Symphony.
The concert will start at approximately 3pm and conclude around 4:30pm. Families are welcome to attend, but the performance is meant to be an opportunity for the two ensembles to play each other in a musical exchange. Students do not need to wear concert attire. It will be very informal. We are very excited about this opportunity to play with a top level college ensemble!
Batavia Band Festival - Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble
Students in Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble will be performing at the Batavia Band Festival, on Saturday, February 12th. Call time for students is 9:00am at OEHS. Here is a basic schedule for the day:
9:00am - Call time at OEHS. Students arrive in concert attire (all black).
9:20am - Depart for Batavia High School
9:50am - Arrive at Batavia High School and head to home room.
10:15am - Symphonic Band begins warm-up.
11:00am - Symphonic Band Performance.
11:30am - Symphonic Band Clinic with Mr. Marinello. Wind Ensemble Lunch.
12:15pm - Symphonic Band Lunch.
1:15pm - Wind Ensemble begins warm-up.
2:00pm - Wind Ensemble Performance
2:30pm - Wind Ensemble clinic with Mr. Stombres.
3:20pm - Depart Batavia for OEHS
3:50pm - Arrive at OEHS
A reminder that this is a required performance that is graded. This date was included on the schedule of performance that was communicated at the beginning of the school year.
Volunteers Needed
We are in need of 4-5 parent volunteers to help with the festival that day! It will mainly be supervising students. If you are able to help, please email Mr. Rexroat
Lou Malnati’s Fundraiser
We are hosting a fundraiser at the Oswego and 95th location Lou Malnati’s on Wednesday, February 16th. Mention the OEHS Band Boosters when ordering and we will receive a portion of the proceeds! Please consider dining with us that evening.
Wind Ensemble Festival Date Change
Wind Ensemble will no longer be performing at the Chicagoland Concert Band Festival on Saturday, April 9th. Instead, they will be performing at the ISU Concert Band Festival on Saturday, April 23rd. I will send a separate email to Wind Ensemble families soon with more information. Please put the date on your calendar, as this is a graded performance! Thank you.
Signing Up for Band Classes 2022-2023 & Band Placement Audition Music
All our current Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior students make course selections, all students should choose Symphonic Band when signing up for a band. The students will then be placed into the appropriate ability group based upon their audition. All audition videos are due Friday, January 21st.
All of the audition music for the band placements is now available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1y-IY6X4-iSWd-VpRpnucZx-JxzA5E4pL
Practice Room Usage: Help Needed - Throughout the Year
Thank you to those who have been able to come in and help with our practice room monitoring.
We are looking to be able to offer our students the opportunity to use the school practice rooms throughout the day during student lunches, guided studies, freshman seminars, and study halls. In order to offer this opportunity, we are in need of adult members to monitor the rooms. Mr. Rexroat and Mr. Welch are able to monitor the rooms during their plan periods and lunch period (1, 5, 8), as well as before and after school.
If you are an adult family member and willing to volunteer either on one date or several dates this year, please let Mr.Rexroat know. Any adult member filling in for this volunteer role will need to provide proof of full Covid vaccination (two doses), as well as go through the district's background check (involves a form and completion of finger printing). Any volunteer not vaccinated would need to provide a negative test prior to volunteering (weekly if regularly scheduled).
Our students truly benefit from using the practice rooms, and we are thankful for any adult family member who can help to provide this opportunity for our students' musical growth.
Band Bucks
Band Bucks is a fundraiser that band families can do throughout the school year. Through this program online and/or physical gift cards can be purchased for 100s of retailers. Whatever amount you purchase, you receive (ex. A $50 gift card purchase results in a $50 gift card). On the Band Bucks site, you can then see what percentage of your sale then goes into your student’s Band Boosters account. The funds in this account can then be accessed to help pay for trips.
More information about Band Bucks can be found on this site:
http://www.oswegoeasthighschoolbands.com/band-bucks.html
Music Patron
Through our Music Patron program, families and businesses are able to donate to our band program. Funds raised go towards music, instrument purchases, instrument repairs, equipment, clinicians, travel, and much more. Those who make a donation will be listed on our band site, as well as appear in the program. This year, those who are patrons will also have the chance to reserve specific seats at our November, February, and May concerts. We are still working on how the December concerts are working, but know we will do our best to offer special seating selections and/or tickets to patrons. Please visit the following site to view the form and information about becoming a Music Patron: http://www.oswegoeasthighschoolbands.com/music-patrons.html
Patches
Band patches are available through our Band Boosters. Students often choose to put these patches on letterman jackets and/or in frames. A link to the patches order can be found in the following site: http://www.oswegoeasthighschoolbands.com/patches.html
All orders can be turned into Mr. Rexroat
JAZZ BANDS
Northshore Jazz Festival
The festival has not been rescheduled yet. I will communicate the information as soon as I hear from them.
Jazz Ensemble Performance Opening for the Shout Section Big Band - March 6th
Jazz Ensemble will be performing an opening set for the Shout Section Big Band on Sunday, March 6th at the Roxy Theater in Lockport at 7pm. This is an excellent opportunity for students to perform in a new venue and to hear a live professional big band! More details to follow.
PEP BAND
Pick-Up From Pep Band Games
Please make sure you are picking up your student on time at the conclusion of pep band games. Mr. Welch and I cannot leave until every student is picked up. While we love our job, we also would like to get home ourselves. Going forward, if 30 minutes have passed without picking up your student, we will call the non-emergency police number and have them escorted home. If you have difficulty picking up your student on time, perhaps they can get a ride from another student, or maybe your student does not participate in that pep band game.
Thank you for being considerate of our time.
Remaining Pep Band Schedule
Date
Game
Tuesday, February 1st
Girls Senior Night Game
Friday, February 4th
Boys vs. Yorkville
Friday, February 11th
Boys vs. Oswego
Thank you, and stay healthy!
