10/9/23 - Band Updates (includes schedule change)

Hello, Marching Band students and families,

Firstly, a big congratulations to everyone for their hard work and performance this weekend. The band placed first in their division and also won the caption heads of best musical performance, best percussion, and best color guard! We still have more to work on this week, but a great showing from everyone this last weekend! Thank you for your hard work; we are in the final stretch!

Schedule Change for Field Trip Rehearsal

The field trip rehearsal that was planned for Thursday has been moved to tomorrow, 10/10. You will attend the first lunch and head to the field at or before 12 pm! Your attendance has already been input. We apologize for this change, but it is imperative that we have time on the field tomorrow as there is a large chance of rain towards the end of the week. Thursday's rehearsal will not happen. Friday's rehearsal will go on as planned, regardless of weather, and will be adjusted accordingly.

UW-Whitewater Estimated Schedule

3:00 pm - Call Time for Equipment Managers/Percussion 3:45 pm - Call Time for All Students 4:30 pm - Depart for UW-Whitewater 5:30 pm - Arrive at UW-Whitewater and watch other AA bands/grab food for dinner 7:45 pm - Return to Set Up/Warm Ups 9:15 pm - Middleton Performance 10:15 pm - UW-Whitewater Exhibition Performance 10:45 pm - Awards Ceremony ~12:15 am - Return to Middleton

Last Call for additional equipment parent volunteers at UW-Whitewater

If you can help move a prop/front ensemble equipment at State, please sign up HERE.

Student End-of-Season Party

We'll have a brief party to celebrate the end of the season and the hard work through the last few months on October 20th at 5 pm in the North Commons. We'll have pizza provided and hand out some special awards.

Potential Playoff Games

In the likely event that there is a playoff game on October 20th, we will be doing a pep band from the stands after our end of season party and would be in whatever you'd like to wear (no uniforms). We'll have additional information as we learn more about specifics, dates, etc.

-- Eric RothackerMusic Teacher & Band Director

10/2/23 AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS!

Dear families,

Last year in the spring, we submitted recordings of the MHS Chamber Wind Ensemble to a series of selective music festivals and performance opportunities. These tapes are adjudicated by college faculty, professional conductors, and state and national music governing boards.

We recently received results from some of our submissions and are proud to announce that the Chamber Wind Ensemble has been selected for two prestigious performances that will highlight the achievement of the ensemble.

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1. WASB Convention: The Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) selects a single musical ensemble (band, orchestra, or choir) each year to perform at their annual conference. This convention is attended by principals, superintendents, and school board members from throughout the state.

We have the honor this year of being the performing group for the convention. This performance will be on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at the Baird Center (formerly the Wisconsin Center) in Milwaukee. As this is during Wrap-Up Week (finals week), we have received special school permission to perform and represent Middleton High School at this event. Students will not miss any exams as we will depart after the last “wrap-up” (during the make-up period). This event is free for students and is open to families who wish to attend.

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1. The Percy Grainger Music Festival selects four bands nationally to perform at Chicago’s famed Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra(!) From the website:

The annual Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival will feature four outstanding wind ensembles conducting standalone performances of Percy Grainger literature in an afternoon matinée performance in Chicago’s Historic Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center on April 13, 2024. In addition to the performance, each ensemble will have a private clinic with Dr. James Patrick Miller and Douglas Nimmo, Endowed Professor and Conductor of the Gustavus Wind Orchestra at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN.

This festival will take place April 12 – 13, 2024. The opportunity will require students to miss a day of school and overnight in Chicago. We are working to navigate fundraising for this event to help mitigate costs to students. We expect this opportunity will cost approximately $350 to cover the cost of busing, hotel, food, and registration. Scholarships will be available for any families in need.

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We hope that all students in Chamber Winds are available for both of these events, as each student brings a needed and important voice to our ensemble. We also understand that calendars are often planned far in advance, and as we are only a few months away, conflicts are a possibility. We request that each family please fill out this Google Form to inform us of your availability and need. Please keep family events, athletics, ACT/SAT dates, and any other major conflicts in mind. It is imperative that we know of anyone who will miss these events so that we can plan accordingly for the success of the group.

10/5/23 - Marching Band Parent Night/Additional Volunteers for State!

Hello parents,

Please see below for a few additional updates for upcoming events!

Football Game 10/6 Information

ALL marching band parents should receive an email sending out free tickets to the game. If not, please please download the GoFan app from your phone's app store, create an account with the email(s) on file, and once logged in, your tickets should be waiting for you. If you have any issues after trying, please email Assistant Athletic Director Brad Crandell at bcrandell@mcpasd.k12.wi.us and he will assist you. Check-in at the game is at the regular ticketing gate for the home side.

We will be holding a 50/50 raffle at the football game! We'll have a few students/adults coming around to help you purchase a ticket if you are interested. All tickets must be in before halftime, and the winner will be announced after the halftime show and senior recognition!

Senior parents! Shortly after the beginning of the second quarter, there will be an announcement to line up down on the track, and we will have some volunteers to help you line up alphabetically by student last name. At halftime, I'll take you onto the track for the halftime show. After the performance, your student will come to find you on the track where you'll all get recognized.

We'd also like to thank you ahead of time for the support you have provided your students to invest in their music education. We are incredibly grateful to have your students in the program!

Additional Volunteers Needed at State Championships!

We could use some additional hands to help move props, equipment, and front ensemble at State! This will allow students to save their energy for the performance on the field. Students will be there to help and guide you to where things should go, and then they'll take it from there! If you can help out just before the performance, it is greatly appreciated, and the link to sign up is HERE.

-- Eric Rothacker