Week of September 29, 2025
Marching Band
Monday, 9/29: Guard, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
ESMBI Competition Planning Meeting, 6:00 PM
Tuesday, 9/30: All Members, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Thursday, 10/2: All Members, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Friday, 10/3: VFB
VFB Concessions
Saturday, 10/4: North Iredell Competition
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Concert Band
Friday, 10/3: VFB Concessions
For the full calendar, please visit https://sites.google.com/surry.k12.nc.us/eastsurrybands/calendar
Thank you to everyone who supported our Krispy Kreme fundraiser!
Thank you to everyone who volunteered in the concession stand this week!
We are approaching the time of year where we travel the most. We have competitions and both of our away football games in the month of October. When we travel we need a bus and one or more trucks to pull trailers. Please see this Logistics Chart to see where you are able to help!
North Iredell Competition Info
Please see the Competition Info Sheet/Itinerary linked here: 2025 North Iredell Competition Info Sheet
Reminders:
Leave jewelry at home – use clear, plastic place holders.
Hair must be up off the collar when in uniform (bobby pins, hairspray, hair bows)
Wear tall, black socks, marching shoes, marching gloves, and your Marching Band shirt.
Bring money for lunch/dinner at the concession stand.
Bring clothes to wear after changing-out of uniforms.
Check the weather prior to leaving. Remember to dress for being outside for an extended period of time.
Sunscreen.
We encourage you to come help with props and percussion crew! We can use all the help we can get. Please review the General Competition Information below for an overview of how competitions work.
General Competition Information
Competition season is just around the corner! This section will give everyone, especially our new members, the basics about how competitions work.
Our itinerary is based on the schedule of each competition. Each host determines their schedule.
Bands are grouped into classes based on size. Schedules usually start with small classes and work up to larger classes.
We have a short rehearsal before we leave in order to get the show fresh on our students' minds. I have found this makes our performances more successful.
Meals are planned based on the schedule and our travel itinerary. We will do some combination of fast-food and concessions depending on our performance schedule. Students need to bring money with them for these meals.
Once we arrive on our host campus, we have a scheduled rotation to go through dressing/bathroom, setup, and warm-up before our performance.
Some hosts have one awards ceremony at the end, while some divide the day and have two ceremonies.
Bands are evaluated in what we call captions. The captions are: Music, Marching, General Effect (how the design and execution of the show works together), Color Guard, Drum Major, and Percussion. Placement awards are given for each caption. Captions scores are then combined to determine "overall" scores, which are used to determine class placements. Grand Champion/Band of the Day awards go to bands earning the highest score in groups of combined classes (ex. 1A, 2A, & 3A).
Students may be signed-out after our performance is complete and they have packed-up.
East Surry Marching Band Invitational
Mark your calendars! On October 18, we will host the 2025 East Surry Marching Band Invitational (ESMBI). This is a very large undertaking and one of our most important fundraisers.
We need your help! It takes over 120 volunteers to run this event. There are a variety of job opportunities to choose from. Please see the list here and use the Sign-up Genius to reserve your spot: ESMBI Sign-up Genius Link
Mark your calendar: Monday 10/13 - ESMBI Walk-through Meeting, 6:00 PM
We ask that everyone volunteering for the ESMBI (except concessions) be present at this meeting. We walk through campus and explain the jobs in each area. We also look for any problems that will need to be addressed.
In order to make sure students have an opportunity to review what they need to do before the game and to make the evening run smoother, we are going to try a new procedure beginning on Friday, 10/3.
It will look something like this:
3:00-3:30 Load equipment
3:30-4:50 Rehearse things needed for the game
4:50-5:15 Stage equipment for game, return to Band Room
5:15-5:45 Dinner
5:45-6:15 Change into uniforms
6:25-6:30 March to stadium
6:30 In stadium waiting for pregame que
Students will need to bring everything they need for the day with them to school in the morning.
Our supply of bottled water to use at rehearsals is getting low. If you are able to donate some to help get us through the remainder of the season it would be greatly appreciated.
ES Bands Sponsorship Opportunities
Each year we offer the opportunity to sponsor the East Surry Bands program. Sponsorships help offset expenses associated with the East Surry Marching Band Invitational. Any sponsorships beyond these expenses would be able to directly support the band programs. There are several sponsorship levels and benefits to choose from. For more information, see the 2025 ES Band Sponsorship Opportunities letter and form linked here. Any help obtaining sponsors is greatly appreciated!
Thank you Brittany Estrada and Jessica Yarboro for working to obtain sponsorships!
The ES Music Boosters operate the concession stand for home JV and Varsity football games. This is a huge undertaking for our organization, but is also one of our biggest fundraisers.
We need your help! Contact Melissa Sutphin (sutphinme@surry.k12.nc.us) to sign-up to volunteer for a game.
Thank you to Melissa Sutphin for coordinating the concession stand!
There is an $100.00 fee for participation in marching band. This fee helps cover things like show design, uniform cleaning and t-shirt costs, and may be paid at the parent meeting. Checks should be made to the East Surry Community Music Boosters or ESCMB for short. If there are financial concerns, please contact me.
Fittings for concert band formal wear are ongoing. These will occur during class from 1:30 - 3:00 PM.
Thank you to Lora Jean Thompson and Jessica Yarboro for fitting uniforms!
If you haven't done so, please sign-up for the East Surry BANDS Remind class:
Text @esb25-26 to 81010
Communication - Facebook Group
If you haven't done so, request to join the ESHS Band/Music Boosters private Facebook group to aid communication.
The next East Surry Community Music Boosters meeting will be Monday, September 29 at 6:00 PM in the ESHS Music Room. This meeting will focus on plans for the ESMBI.
Week of September 22, 2025
Marching Band
Monday, 9/22: Percussion & Guard, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Tuesday, 9/23: Winds & Guard, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Thursday, 9/25: All Members, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Friday, 9/26: Krispy Kreme Fundraiser Delivery
--
Monday, 9/29: Guard, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
ESMBI Competition Planning Meeting, 6:00 PM
Tuesday, 9/30: All Members, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Thursday, 10/2: All Members, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Friday, 10/3: VFB
VFB Concessions
Saturday, 10/4: North Iredell Competition
Concert Band
Monday, 9/22: Concert Attire Fittings Continue
Friday, 9/18: Krispy Kreme Fundraiser Delivery
--
Friday, 10/3: VFB Concessions
For the full calendar, please visit https://sites.google.com/surry.k12.nc.us/eastsurrybands/calendar
Our marching band students completed learning the ballad of our show this week! This is fantastic progress!
There is a lot of new information this week. Please see the new sections about Logistics and the East Surry Marching Band Invitational.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered in the concession stand this week!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Krispy Kreme fundraiser! Orders will be delivered fresh on Friday, September 26 and will be available for pick-up 3:30-5:30 PM at the ESHS Music Room.
Thank you to Jessica Yarboro for organizing this fundraiser!
We are approaching the time of year where we travel the most. We have competitions and both of our away football games in the month of October. When we travel we need a bus and one or more trucks to pull trailers. Please see this Logistics Chart to see where you are able to help!
East Surry Marching Band Invitational
Mark your calendars! On October 18, we will host the 2025 East Surry Marching Band Invitational (ESMBI). This is a very large undertaking and one of our most important fundraisers.
We need your help! It takes over 120 volunteers to run this event. There are a variety of job opportunities to choose from. Please see the list here and use the Sign-up Genius to reserve your spot: ESMBI Sign-up Genius Link
Mark your calendar: Monday 10/13 - ESMBI Walk-through Meeting, 6:00 PM
We ask that everyone volunteering for the ESMBI (except concessions) be present at this meeting. We walk through campus and explain the jobs in each area. We also look for any problems that will need to be addressed.
In order to make sure students have an opportunity to review what they need to do before the game and to make the evening run smoother, we are going to try a new procedure beginning on Friday, 10/3.
It will look something like this:
3:00-3:30 Load equipment
3:30-4:50 Rehearse things needed for the game
4:50-5:15 Stage equipment for game, return to Band Room
5:15-5:45 Dinner
5:45-6:15 Change into uniforms
6:25-6:30 March to stadium
6:30 In stadium waiting for pregame que
Students will need to bring everything they need for the day with them to school in the morning.
General Competition Information
Competition season is just around the corner! This section will give everyone, especially our new members, the basics about how competitions work.
Our itinerary is based on the schedule of each competition. Each host determines their schedule.
Bands are grouped into classes based on size. Schedules usually start with small classes and work up to larger classes.
We have a short rehearsal before we leave in order to get the show fresh on our students' minds. I have found this makes our performances more successful.
Meals are planned based on the schedule and our travel itinerary. We will do some combination of fast-food and concessions depending on our performance schedule. Students need to bring money with them for these meals.
Once we arrive on our host campus, we have a scheduled rotation to go through dressing/bathroom, setup, and warm-up before our performance.
Some hosts have one awards ceremony at the end, while some divide the day and have two ceremonies.
Bands are evaluated in what we call captions. The captions are: Music, Marching, General Effect (how the design and execution of the show works together), Color Guard, Drum Major, and Percussion. Placement awards are given for each caption. Captions scores are then combined to determine "overall" scores, which are used to determine class placements. Grand Champion/Band of the Day awards go to bands earning the highest score in groups of combined classes (ex. 1A, 2A, & 3A).
Students may be signed-out after our performance is complete and they have packed-up.
Our supply of bottled water to use at rehearsals is getting low. If you are able to donate some to help get us through the remainder of the season it would be greatly appreciated.
ES Bands Sponsorship Opportunities
Each year we offer the opportunity to sponsor the East Surry Bands program. Sponsorships help offset expenses associated with the East Surry Marching Band Invitational. Any sponsorships beyond these expenses would be able to directly support the band programs. There are several sponsorship levels and benefits to choose from. For more information, see the 2025 ES Band Sponsorship Opportunities letter and form linked here. Any help obtaining sponsors is greatly appreciated!
Thank you Brittany Estrada and Jessica Yarboro for working to obtain sponsorships!
The ES Music Boosters operate the concession stand for home JV and Varsity football games. This is a huge undertaking for our organization, but is also one of our biggest fundraisers.
We need your help! Contact Melissa Sutphin (sutphinme@surry.k12.nc.us) to sign-up to volunteer for a game.
Thank you to Melissa Sutphin for coordinating the concession stand!
Senior banners are up in the stadium! So is our new band section banner!
Senior marching band members, if you have not turned in money for your senior banner, please do so as soon as possible.
Thank you to Brittany Estrada for all of your work with these banners!
There is an $100.00 fee for participation in marching band. This fee helps cover things like show design, uniform cleaning and t-shirt costs, and may be paid at the parent meeting. Checks should be made to the East Surry Community Music Boosters or ESCMB for short. If there are financial concerns, please contact me.
Fittings for concert band formal wear are ongoing. These will occur during class from 1:30 - 3:00 PM.
Thank you to Lora Jean Thompson and Jessica Yarboro for fitting uniforms!
If you haven't done so, please sign-up for the East Surry BANDS Remind class:
Text @esb25-26 to 81010
Communication - Facebook Group
If you haven't done so, request to join the ESHS Band/Music Boosters private Facebook group to aid communication.
The next East Surry Community Music Boosters meeting will be Monday, September 29 at 6:00 PM in the ESHS Music Room. This meeting will focus on plans for the ESMBI.
Week of September 1, 2025
Marching Band
Monday, 9/1: Labor Day Holiday - No Rehearsal
Tuesday, 9/2: All Members, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Krispy Kreme fundraiser begins
Thursday, 9/4: All Members, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
--
Monday, 9/8: All Members, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Tuesday, 9/9: Guard Only, 5:30 - 7:00 PM @ PMMS (Mr. Trice has 6th Grade Parent Meetings)
Thursday, 9/11: All Members, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
JVFB Concessions
Concert Band
Tuesday, 9/2: Krispy Kreme fundraiser begins
--
Thursday, 9/11: JVFB Concessions
For the full calendar, please visit https://sites.google.com/surry.k12.nc.us/eastsurrybands/calendar
I hope everyone enjoys their Labor Day Holiday! The next few weeks have an abnormal schedule due to the holiday and other previously scheduled events. Please double check the calendar to take note of these changes.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered in the concession stand this week!
The music departments of East Surry High School and Pilot Mountain Middle School are sponsoring their fall 2025 fundraiser. We really need your help and support to make this fundraiser a success! This year we will be selling delicious Krispy Kreme Doughnuts! This fundraiser starts on Tuesday, September 2 and offers four items:
1. Original Glazed Dozen = 1 dozen fresh Original Glazed Doughnuts.
2. Chocolate Iced Dozen = 1 dozen fresh Chocolate Iced Doughnuts.
3. Certificate = 1 certificate for 1 dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts
4. BOGO card = 1 Buy One Dozen doughnuts, Get One Dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts for free
Orders and money are due on Wednesday, September 16.
Orders will be delivered fresh on Friday, September 26 and will be available for pick-up 3:30-5:30 PM at the ESHS Music Room.
See the letter and order form linked here for more information.
ES Bands Sponsorship Opportunities
Each year we offer the opportunity to sponsor the East Surry Bands program. Sponsorships help offset expenses associated with the East Surry Marching Band Invitational. Any sponsorships beyond these expenses would be able to directly support the band programs. There are several sponsorship levels and benefits to choose from. For more information, see the 2025 ES Band Sponsorship Opportunities letter and form linked here. Any help obtaining sponsors is greatly appreciated!
Thank you Brittany Estrada for working to obtain sponsorships!
Communication - Facebook Group
If you haven't done so, request to join the ESHS Band/Music Boosters private Facebook group to aid communication.
We are unable to have regularly scheduled rehearsal due to 6th Grade Parent Meetings that were planned with Music & Arts this past spring. Guard will still rehearse with Kirsten from 5:30 - 7:00 PM at PMMS.
We get this week off, but will be back at it on September 11.
The ES Music Boosters operate the concession stand for home JV and Varsity football games. This is a huge undertaking for our organization, but is also one of our biggest fundraisers.
We need your help! Contact Melissa Sutphin to sign-up to volunteer for a game.
Thank you to Melissa Sutphin for coordinating the concession stand!
Senior marching band members, if you have not turned in money for your senior banner, please do so. They should be arriving very shortly and we are excited to get the up in the stadium.
Thank you to Brittany Estrada for organizing these for us!
Reminder: If you would like to purchase marching band pictures, please send the order form and money to school with your child.
There is an $100.00 fee for participation in marching band. This fee helps cover things like show design, uniform cleaning and t-shirt costs, and may be paid at the parent meeting. Checks should be made to the East Surry Community Music Boosters or ESCMB for short. If there are financial concerns, please contact me.
Lora Jean Thompson - ljthompson529@gmail.com - (336) 830-2240
Fittings for concert band formal wear will begin soon. These will occur during class from 1:30 - 3:00 PM. If you are able to help, please contact Lora Jean using the info above.
If you haven't done so, please sign-up for the East Surry BANDS Remind class:
Text @esb25-26 to 81010
The next East Surry Community Music Boosters meeting will be Monday, August 18 at 6:00 PM in the ESHS Music Room.
