band Announcements

Updated April 21, 2025

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Band Placements information 2025-2026

Band Placement auditions are this week Apr.23-25 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for current 9th, 10th and 11th graders during band classes. Students should be practicing this extended weekend on their audition etude, scale and chromatic.
Wed Apr.23: Sym I & Sym II during classes + 9th graders during advisory
Thurs Apr.24: Sym III & Sym I remainder during classes + 9th graders during advisory
Fri Apr.25: Sym II & Sym III remainders during classes + 9th graders during advisory
Sat Apr.26: all current 8th graders
CLICK HERE FOR THE BAND PLACEMENTS INFO WEBPAGE
We anticipate that due to increased enrollment numbers for 2025-2026, Berkner Band students who wish to be placed into Concert Band (Band 4) do not need to play a live audition. However, many students desire to be considered for a higher band placement (Symphonic Band I, Symphonic Band II, or Symphonic Band III). Placement in a band higher than Concert Band (Band 4) is earned by playing a live audition for a Berkner Band Director.
The live audition date for current Berkner Band students will be during band classes on Wednesday through Friday April 23, 24 & 25.
The live audition date for current 8th graders is April 26th during Super Saturday.
Click HERE for more information about 2025 Marching Season & all upcoming Berkner events like Kickoff Camp, May Camp, Summer Band & 2025 Marching Contests!

Last Day for students to sign up for Band Banquet tables:

Tuesday, April 22
4:20 PM to 4:45 PM
Last day for students to sign up for Band Banquet tables is this Tuesday, April 22 4:20pm to 4:45pm. After that date, the remaining open seating will be offered first to senior parents, then BABC board members, then to the entire band parent group at large. Parents can purchase their tickets through a payment link that will be available at berknerband.com after April 22nd.
Any money submitted towards banquet tickets goes first towards any outstanding band fees. Band accounts must be current in order to purchase a banquet ticket.

Ticket prices:

$35 flat ticket price for each student / parent / family members

Senior students are free (but must have ZERO balance on band account to sign up for a table)

NO TICKETS SOLD AT THE DOOR. YOU MUST PAY FOR YOUR TICKET WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR A TABLE.
YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKET WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR A TABLE. Your band account balance will need to be "zero" before you can purchase a ticket.

Free Concert and

Free Tongue & Cheek Ice Cream!

Monday, April 28: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Berkner High School Band Hall
Lone Star Wind Orchestra performs for Berkner, Apollo & Liberty band students & families!
Join us Monday Apr.28 from 7pm to 8pm in the Berkner Band Hall for a special chamber concert specifically performed for the Berkner, Apollo & Liberty Band by the Lone Star Wind Orchestra. The first 200 students, parents & family members that arrive to the band hall for the concert will receive a free ticket for Tongue & Cheek ice cream, which will be served immediately following this short (less than one hour) concert in the Berkner Band Hall! This free concert is provided through a local grant program that partners professional musicians from LSWO with our Berkner, Apollo & Liberty students & their families.

LEADERSHIP AUDITIONS

Leadership Auditions this coming weekend:
Super Saturday for leadership hopefuls is Saturday April 26 8am to 2pm
Phase One audition for leadership hopefuls is Friday April 25 7am to 8:20am
Phase Two audition for leadership hopefuls is immediately following Super Saturday April 26 2pm to 6pm
Percussion Phase Two audition has MOVED to Monday, Apr.28 7:00 AM to 7:40 AM due to Senior Signing Day on the 29th.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION SCHEDULE

BERKNER BANDS SPRING CONCERT

Tuesday, May 6: 6:30 PM

Berkner High School Auditorium

Parents, please click the concert itinerary below, and arrive EARLY... these performance start times are APPROXIMATE, and may run early.
All students wear concert attire, yet bring a change of clothes to change into after they perform. All students will return concert attire immediately following their stage performance on Tuesday, May 6th. Students will return into the auditorium as soon as they have changed out of concert attire, and successfully returned all concert uniform parts to the BABC parent uniform volunteers in C-Hall. Students go around outside, and re-enter the concert performance through the BHS auditorium lobby doors.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SPRING CONCERT ITINERARY

CONCERTO COMPETITION

Students perform a solo (just like CMF), and those students selected to move on to the Finals perform in a beautiful venue with a dessert reception and awards given. The cost covers the entry fee plus your piano accompanist for the winds (percussion only pay entry fee). There are two divisions for entry: Varsity and Non-Varsity. Varsity Division is Berkner Symphonic Band I students. Non-Varsity Division is comprised of all Apollo, Liberty and Berkner HS Band students that are not enrolled in Berkner HS Symphonic Band I. CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY

Berkner Area Concerto Competition:

Prelims: Thursday May 15 - 5:00-8:30pm (Individual times assigned once all entries are received.)
Competition occurs at Berkner HS.
Selected soloists from prelims will qualify to perform at the FINALS competition at no additional charge.
Finals is on Sunday May 18 at 2:30 PM at a local church. Finals trophies will be awarded for outstanding performers in the Varsity, Non-Varsity, and Junior High categories:

Berkner Band Banquet 2025

Band Banquet 2025 is for ALL band members and family!

Thursday, May 1st at First Baptist Church Richardson from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM.
Attire is “Job Interview Attire”

Ticket purchase /select tables:

- Students select where they sit, and who they sit with. Students must purchase a ticket in order to sign up for a table. Bring money or card on the following dates to sign up for your table:
  - Tuesday April 22nd final sales day for all students
  - After April 22, the remaining open seating will be offered first to senior parents, then BABC board members, then to the entire band parent group at large. Parents can purchase their tickets through a payment link that will be available at berknerband.com after April 22nd.
- Any money submitted towards banquet tickets goes first towards any outstanding band fees. Band accounts must be current in order to purchase a banquet ticket.
- Parent ticket sales will begin after all students have selected seats, and we will send out a PayPal link later for parents to purchase tickets.

Ticket prices:

$35 flat ticket price for each student / parent / family members

Senior students are free (but must have ZERO balance on band account to sign up for a table)

NO TICKETS SOLD AT THE DOOR. YOU MUST PAY FOR YOUR TICKET WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR A TABLE.
YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKET WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR A TABLE. Your band account balance will need to be "zero" before you can purchase a ticket.

CLICK HERE FOR PAYING BAND FEES ONLINE INFORMATION
Band Banquet is open to current band members and their families. Additional invited guests can be cleared with Mr. Schayot at jason.schayot@risd.org
Seniors, look for a separate “senior-only” email regarding scholarships and special banquet information for seniors and their families!

Kickoff Camp 2025

Kickoff Camp Day One

Friday May 9, 2025

5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Students pay $20 kickoff camp fee (covers all meals) in Presto before camp begins
Bring filled water jug, instrument, pencil
Bring a snack dinner… no dinner served on Friday
Students bring their instrument, a large jug of ice water, sunglasses, hat and sunscreen. Long hair can be up, or in a ponytail so that your hair doesn’t get in your face as we workout!
Since we are moving around outdoors, students will wear tennis shoes, shorts, and an athletic t-shirt

All Parent Meeting:

Friday May 9, 2025

7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Berkner Band Hall

One parent/guardian from each family of all band & colorguard students is expected to attend
All parents receive calendar of summer & fall events
Pay $150.00 deposit for marching band 2025
Pay $100.00 deposit on Spring Trip 2026

Kickoff Camp Day Two

Saturday May 10, 2025

7:00 AM to 5:30 PM

Students arrive at 6:45 AM (wear sunscreen!)
Bring filled water jug, instrument, pencil
Students bring their instrument, a large jug of ice water, sunglasses, hat and sunscreen. Long hair can be up, or in a ponytail so that your hair doesn’t get in your face as we workout!
Since we are moving around outdoors, students will wear tennis shoes, shorts, and we encourage them to wear the black show shirt or “Class of” Mighty Ram Band shirt!
Students will be fed pizza lunch and afternoon snack.

Kickoff Camp Concert

Saturday May 10, 2025

5:00 PM

Berkner HS Main Gym

Join us in the BHS Gym at 5PM for a short concert including a sneak peek at the 2025 marching band production!

Mighty Ram Band Marching Season 2025-2025 Preview

The Berkner Mighty Ram Band Marching Season 2025-2026 Preview is POSTED HERE. Included is a short slideshow and a "Save-the-Date" schedule for 2025 summer band and 2025 marching contest dates! The webpage is geared toward 8th grade families, but the infomation is very helpful to current 9th, 10th and 11th grade families to assist in planning ahead for marching band 2025 dates.