FMS Band Week-at-a-Glance: October 28 - November 1

Monday – Band Day (Students who do band AND choir go to band)

No after-school BAND activities

Tuesday – Chorus Day (Students who do band AND choir go to choir)

No after-school BAND activities

Wednesday –  Band Day (Students who do band AND choir go to band)

Tri-M Meeting 7:30AM

No after-school BAND activities

Parent Teacher Conferences (Virtual)

Thursday –  Band Day (Students who do band AND choir go to band)

After School Day until 3:30pm

Friday - Chorus Day (Students who do band AND choir go to choir)

JAZZ COMBO - Cancelled until further notice, stay tuned

JAZZ BAND - Cancelled until further notice, stay tuned

FMS Band Week-at-a-Glance Archive

FMS Band Announcements: 

This will be my last FMS Band: Week-at-a-Glance. The school has hired a new band director for FMS, his name is David Umstead. He has a great reputation. I know he will do well. He was the high school band director at Brookline Hollis for many years, professor at Plymouth State, outstanding jazz trumpet player and a great guy. He will officially start Friday November 1. However, he will be at school on Thursday to shadow me and meet everyone. 

One last note. It has been a wonderful experience to have been the FMS Band Director for the last 18 years and 10 years as department head. It has been a blessing to have working with your kids and the many others who have come before. We've been through a lot and have seen many changes during that time but through it all the FMS Band marched and played on. I leave you with great pride for what we've done and look forward to the great things you'll continue to do.

Upcoming FMS Band Performances and Important dates:

Monday November 11 - Veterans Day Parade - All Bands. More Details to come

Upcoming Area concerts:

Fall Concert: "Riffs" at 3:00 PM 

(Admission Adult: $20, Senior (62+) $15, Student (5+) $5), Child (under 5): Free

Scottish Rite Masonic Museum (directions)

33 Marrett Road Lexington MA 02421 - free parking

Pre-Concert Talk 30 minutes prior to performance

Latin Grammy award-winning percussionist Joe McCarthy is guest soloist, premiering the Wind Ensemble version of his Pan-American Nutcracker Suite; a global musical adventure that celebrates and unites Tchaikovsky's timeless masterpiece The Nutcracker Suite with the beautifully diverse musical traditions of the Americas and beyond! Joe is also the featured soloist for Jeff Tyzik's Riffs, which turns the MetWinds into a huge jazz ensemble with the jazz drum soloist leading the way. Other concert highlights include Norman Dello Joio's classic work for band Variants on a Medieval Tune, and movements from Handel's classic Music for the Royal Fireworks. You won't want to miss this concert!

Joe McCarthy has led a diverse career as a drummer/percussionist, bandleader, producer, and educator in a myriad of settings from symphony orchestra to bebop, big band, Afro-Cuban, theater and beyond. As a Latin Grammy award-winning and Grammy nominated drummer, and bandleader of The New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band, Joe proudly endorses Zildjian, Yamaha, Remo, Latin Percussion and Vic Firth, featuring his signature drumstick in the Modern Jazz Collection Series MJC2.

Forged in Fire - Mark Watters

Variants on a Medieval Tune - Norman Dello Joio

Riffs - Jeff Tyzik (Joe McCarthy, drumset)

Music for the Royal Fireworks - G.F. Handel/ed. Hindsley

Pan-American Nutcracker Suite - Tchaikovshy, arr. McCarthy/Norman (Joe McCarthy, percussion)