Post date: Feb 14, 2018 4:34:33 AM

CONGRATULATIONS JAZZ BANDS!

What a great weekend to be a General! Jazz Lab placed 3rd at the West Salem Jazz Fest and Jazz Ensemble placed 1st! Jazz Ensemble was also recognized for having the outstanding rhythm section, trombones and trumpets at the festival. Plus, Michail Thompson was recognized as the outstanding musician at the event. Outstanding soloists at the West Salem Jazz Fest were... Jazz Lab: Sam Allen, Turner Williams, Aaron Freedman, and Reed Lando. Jazz Ensemble: Isabelle Hernandez, Sadie Thorburn, Sebastian Sack, Finn Jones, Michail Thompson, Olivia Gadberry, and Domo Branch. Great job everyone!

SWEET SOUNDS OF SUCCESS

Wow – what an event! The 2018 Speakeasy: Sweet Sounds of Jazz was a tremendous success. The energy in the room was palpable as guests were blown away by the incredible talent on stage. Mr. McFadden and Grant Band: Thank you for treating us to those sweet sounds!  Your hard work and dedication to creating high quality music were evident.

In addition to the wonderful performances, we also raised more money for the band program than any year before. Funds raised from this event will allow Mr. McFadden to provide additional music opportunities for all band students.

There were many community partners who helped make the night a success. We appreciate all that you did! Thanks to:

• everyone who contributed by donating items or food to the auction and to those of you who stepped up to volunteer in a variety of ways.

• Jenny Churchill for educating us on the new auction software which helped streamline the entire process.

• National Honor Society students for serving food at the event so parents could enjoy watching their children perform.

• Grant Drama Students for acting as ‘bouncers’ at our Speakeasy.

• an all-star team of parents who committed a lot of time and energy not only at the event, but in the months leading up to it: Priscilla Klockner, Jenn Farmer, Eve Celsi, Kim and John Hutchinson, Ron Myers, Wayne and Dana Redding, Elise Lind, Laura Sisulak, Amy Geoffroy, Jennifer Snyder, Jolene McGee, Mark Jones, Susan Hanson, and Ann Kollrack.

• our generous sponsors: Braces by Dr. Joe, McGillacuddy’s Bar and Grill, Guild Winemakers, Teutonic Wine Company, Boedecker Cellars, On Point Community Credit Union, Mollet Printing, Broadway Medical Clinic, Interstate Special Events, and Maloy’s Jewelry,

Thanks to anyone else we missed who helped make the night such a success!

MaryBeth and Kelly

PEP BAND PERFORMANCES

The Pep Band Schedule has changed for this week: Instead of a game on Tuesday (2/6), the game will be at 4 pm after school on Friday (2/9). The school would like a band at this game because it should be quite well attended since it's against Lincoln and it's the first ever Teacher Appreciation game. Mr. McFadden will be taking a poll in class to see who can be there because the athletic director is buying the band pizza as a thank you. (Call time is immediately after school in the band room.)

The next two games:

- Friday February 9 at 4:00 against Lincoln (call time, right after school)

- Tuesday February 13 at 7:15 against Franklin (call time, 6:30)

BAND FESTIVALS

Festival season is in full swing! Two festivals coming up:

1.) West Salem Jazz Fest - Saturday, February 10th @ West Salem High School (JL, JE)

This festival was a great one last year and should prove fantastic again with the guest soloist & clinician, Jeff Coffin, a fantastic saxophonist. Below is the schedule for the day. When not performing, students have the ability to listen to and learn from other fantastic bands from around the region. We will need 2-3 chaperones. Please email Mr McFadden if you can help.

Noon - Load bus @ Grant HS (Marshall)

2:00 pm - Jazz Lab Warm-up

2:30-3:00 - Jazz Lab Perform & Clinic

5:30-6:30 - Jeff Coffin Clinic

7:00 - Jazz Ensemble Warm-up

7:30 - Jazz Ensemble Perform & Clinic

8:30 - Jeff Coffin Clinic & Awards

9:30 - Load Bus

10:30 - Arrive @ Grant HS (Marshall)

Info from West Salem about the Festival: 

*Please let your parents and guests know that they will need to purchase a day pass to enter the festival.  Cost is $7.00 for adults; $5.00 for students, seniors, military; and free for children 5 and under.  *There is no cost (free) for festival participants, directors, and 4 chaperones per group (if your school is bringing 2 bands, you will receive 8 passes for chaperones; 3 bands, 12, etc).  We will issue wristbands to directors at check in.

*The West Salem Band Boosters will host a concession stand serving Figaro's pizza, Subway sandwiches, fruit, snacks, cold beverages and coffee. Our coordinator, Julie Brewen, will be contacting you next week with the full menu to offer pre-order services for your group.

*Please let your students and parents know that we will be selling West Salem Jazz Festival Event t-shirts for $15.00 and hoodies for $30.00.  Students will be able to do add-ons (including school name) for an additional cost of $5:00.   

2.) OSU festival, Monday February 26 - Tuesday February 27 (WE) 

More details to come...

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS NEEDED

PRESIDENT ELECT

This is MaryBeth's 2nd year as Band Boosters President (thanks MaryBeth!) and she would like to pass this role on to someone new. Are you interested? This is is a great way to help Grant Band (and Mr. McFadden). And...Band Boosters parents are a lot of fun to work with. Please email MaryBeth Hernandez to learn more about the position to see if it's a good fit for you.

PTA LIAISON

Grant Band is looking for a parent to attend monthly Grant PTA meetings as a Grant Band representative and report back to us what you learn. Consider finding a team of 2-3 parents that you can rotate this role with. It's a pretty easy way to volunteer, but super helpful! Please contact MaryBeth Hernandez if you are interested.