Marching Band Updates 10/7/26

Hello all,

Please see below for updates and information regarding the next couple of weeks. We are in the final push and every rehearsal matters. Please do your best to be ahead of school work and other activities that you do so we can do our very best going into state!

State Updates/Schedule

As you will notice in the schedule below, there will be two options for return time. If we win first place, we will stay for the exhibition performance at 7pm and return around 9pm. If we do not win first, we will return closer to 5:30pm. We will try to communicate this via the BAND App on the day, or you can have your student reach out to you around 4pm. 

7:45am - Call time for contras, equipment managers, guard, etc. 

8:20am - Call time for all

8:50am - Inspection 

9:30am - Depart Middleton High School 

10:30am - Arrive UW-Whitewater 

12:19pm - Warm Up Field 

12:49pm - Leave Warm Up

12:59pm - At Gate

1:12pm - Performance Time

~1:30pm - Photos 

~1:45pm - Salvation Circle

4:01pm - Awards Ceremony for AAAA and AA Bands

7:10pm - AAAA Champion Exhibition Performance

5:30pm/9pm - Return options to the Middleton High School

State Information

• Spectator Information,

    including the bag policy. 

  • Bags must be clear or smaller than 6.5" x 4.5."  

  • Exceptions are made for medical equipment, videography equipment and other essential items. Those bags are subject to search. UW-W Police Services will send spectators back to their vehicle if their bag is too large, please help share this information.

• Additionally, attached are arrival instructions including where the most spectator parking will be.  Otherwise the information is predominantly for buses and trucks with equipment. 

Rehearsal Change for 10/12

We have been fortunate enough to secure a little extra field time on  10/12 and we will plan to take full advantage. That means we will go  8am-4pm on the 12th. There will be a break for lunch in the middle of the day, and we'll likely end a few minutes before 4pm for students that may have sports and other activities following rehearsal. 

Final Field Trip Rehearsal Reminders

As a reminder, we plan to use 10/14 as our last field trip rehearsal. IF that day has inclement weather that would prevent a rehearsal, we will instead use 10/15. This will be communicated on the 14th IF necessary. We will NOT use both days. Unless you hear anything, please plan to attend on the 14th and attend first lunch. 

A quick note: the system the school uses did not get the last field trip to the attendance office in the process last time, and the attendance was corrected and put in manually which can take time. We apologize for the delay, and it is hopefully correct from what we have been told. If the same thing happens next week, please be patient with our attendance office staff. 

Upcoming Dates/Events

October 9th - Under the Lights Rehearsal

October 11th - Sauk Prairie Competition

October 12th - PD Day Rehearsal

October 14th - Field Trip Rehearsal (A Day)

October 15th - RAIN DATE for Field Trip rehearsal

October 16th - Home Football Game

October 17th - WSMA State Competition (UW-Whitewater)

October 19th - 4:30-5:30pm Student Award Dinner (North Commons)

October 23rd - Potential Playoff Game

MHS Band Spring Break Trip Update

We are writing to share an important update regarding our upcoming Spring Break band trip.

After careful planning and continuous monitoring of our itinerary costs, we have made the difficult decision to pivot our destination from Japan to Costa Rica. Over the past several months, overseas travel costs-s pecifically international airfare, currency exchange fluctuations, and local ground transportation fees-have escalated dramatically, effectively doubling the original price per student for the Japan itinerary we were quoted.

We know how much excitement there was surrounding Japan, and we sincerely apologize for this unexpected change and any inconvenience or disappointment it may cause. Our primary goal has always been to deliver an unforgettable, safe, and musically enriching international experience, but it is essential that we keep the trip financially feasible for our band families.

Costa Rica offers an incredible alternative, and we're super excited about the musical and tourist opportunities available there.

The new itinerary collaborates with the MHS Orchestra and Choir, who are also traveling to Costa Rica this year, and it combines some great performance opportunities, rich cultural exchanges, and exciting eco-adventures -- at a price point that aligns much more closely with our original budget. We are disappointed to have to make such a late pivot, but we know that this larger collaborative trip will be a great international option, and we hope you'll be able to join us this spring.

Please check out the registration information  HERE for Costa Rica!

Thank you for your understanding, flexibility, and ongoing support of our student musicians as we navigate these changes together, and we hope to see you on the trip.

Marching Band Updates 9/14/26

Hello all,

Please see below for important information and updates! Please note that some of the competitions have sent out initial drafts of schedules and it is possible (but unlikely) to have changes. We will notify you as far ahead as possible about any of those changes should they occur. 

Under the Lights Rehearsal/Middle School Night (9/18)

8th Graders from Glacier Creek and Kromrey will be joining us this night!

Students, we'll teach them some marching, they'll play through some music with us, and more! Please be kind, excited, and welcoming. 

Families, if you would like to see a run through we'll be playing through our show at approximately 8:30pm. 

Marching Band/Band Photos

We have an amazing group of volunteers that help to document all of the things we do in the program and the success of your students! Please feel free to give our  photos page a visit. The password for band families is:  chamberwindsPAC

Buses/Transportation

As a reminder, if you plan to show up to a competition or leave early ever, please make sure you fill out the linked waiver. The school wants a legal adult/guardian to be the one driving i.e. students cannot drive themselves. Please see the linked  transportation waiver. 

Waukesha North Competition 2026

Percussion, Equipment Managers, and Contras arrive - 9:00am

All Students arrive at MHS - 9:45am

Depart Middleton High School for Waukesha North - 10:30am

Arrival at Waukesha North High School - 12pm 

Warm Up - (B) 1:15pm

Depart Warm Up - 1:45pm

At Gate - 2:00pm

Perform - 2:15pm

Awards - 3pm

Depart Waukesha North High School ~3:30pm

Return to Middleton High School ~ 5pm

Stoughton Competition 2026

Call Time for Contras, Percussion, and Colorguard - 11:00am

Call Time for all - 11:30am

Inspection - 12:00pm

Depart Middleton to Stoughton - 12:30pm

Competition Begins - 2:00pm

Middleton Warm Up (Field 2) - 2:20pm

Middleton Performance - 3:00pm

Awards - 3:30pm

Depart Stoughton - 4:00pm

Return to Middleton and unload ~ 4:30pm

Sauk Prairie Competition 2026 

Call time for Colorguard, Percussion, Contras - 11:30am

Call time for all students - 12:00pm

Inspection - 12:30pm

Depart Middleton for Sauk Prairie - 1:00pm

Arrive at Sauk Prairie - 1:30pm

Warm Up Time (Field 1) - 3:05pm

Middleton Performance - 3:45pm

Awards Ceremony - 4:15pm

Depart Sauk Prairie ~ 4:45pm

Return to Middleton High School and unload ~ 5:20pm

Upcoming Events

9/18 - Under the Lights Rehearsal 6-9pm (Middle School Night) 

9/20 - Waukesha North Competition @ Waukesha North 

9/22 - ASR Rehearsal 2:10-3:40pm 

9/23 - Homecoming Parade (Step off is usually at 6pm, more information to come) 

9/25 - Homecoming Football Game 

9/30 - Field Trip Rehearsal (B Day) 

10/2 - Under the Lights Rehearsal

10/4 - Stoughton Competition