FALL AUDITION ETUDES/EXCERPTS POSTED

The études and excerpts for the Fall 2012 Band auditions are now posted on the GLHS Band website (www.glhsbands.com). Please read the information sheet carefully, and email Mr. Blackmer with any questions. Some of the PDFs are large, and should you have trouble downloading the file, please contact another Band student for printing help!

Please note that the GLHS Band website will be changing its "host" location within the next few days, so files and links may be unavailable at times.

BAND CANOE TRIP

The High School Band will take their annual end-of-year canoe trip this coming Friday. A reminder to everyone going that the buses will depart from GLHS at 6:30 a.m. sharp! If you're on time, you'll be late!

• Students will need some fast-food/McDonald's breakfast spending money for the way there, and a cook-out will take place following canoeing. 
• Bring a change of clothes in case you get wet!
• Bring a change of shoes as well. The shoes you wear while canoeing should be "old" and "ok to lose in the river."

The buses should be back in Grand Ledge no later than 6:00 p.m.

BAND PRESIDENT 2012-2013 ELECTIONS

Congratulations to Tess Huelskamp! She was officially voted in as the 2012-2013 President of the Grand Ledge High School Bands today! The offices of Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and class representatives will be voted on at the beginning of next school year.

Grand Ledge High School Wind Symphony Concert - April 25

The Grand Ledge High School Wind Symphony will perform at Our Savior Lutheran Church on Wednesday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m.

Admission is free and open to the public, and the program will last about one hour.

High School Concert Band and Symphony Band students are required to attend as their 3rd Trimester Final Exam grade.

Drumline Clinic/Audition Date Changes

ATTENTION DRUMLINE

There has been a change in the clinic/audition schedule. Please make note of the new schedule below:

Clinic Dates (5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.)

Thursday, April 19

Thursday, April 26

Thursday, May 3 (this is a new date)

Audition Dates (3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)

Sunday, May 6 (this is a new date)

Monday, May 7 (this is a new date)

Please make note of the changes, and spread the word!

If you have questions, please e-mail Natalie Sears at searsnat@msu.edu.

BAND REGISTRATION 2012 - 2013

The 2012 - 2013 Band registration packets can now be found online at www.glhsbands.com. The information can be found under either "Links," or "Marching Band."

An optional parent information night is scheduled for Wednesday, April 11, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Band Room. This orientation meeting is especially aimed toward our incoming freshman parents, but all are welcome to attend!

Band Registration night is Tuesday, April 17 in the High School Band Room. Be sure to review the Registration materials prior to that night!

Any questions can be directed to Mr. Blackmer at blackmerc@glcomets.net.

SPRING CONCERT DATE CHANGE

Due to an athletic schedule conflict on Wednesday, May 9, the Spring Band Concert scheduled for that evening has been moved to Tuesday, May 15. Same time (7:30 p.m.). This concert will include all three High School Bands.

Please be sure to mark your calendars accordingly!

As a reminder, the High School Music Calendar can be found at http://www.calendarwiz.com/glhsmusic. You can also find a direct link to the calendar from the High School Band website - www.glhsbands.com.

DRUMLINE 2012 AUDITION MUSIC ONLINE

Audition information and music can now be found on the Grand Ledge High School Band website - www.glhsbands.com. Go under "Marching Band" to find the two files.

Audition clinics will take place on April 19, April 26, May 10, and May 17, with auditions taking place on May 22 and 23. The audition clinics are optional, but highly recommended. An audition is required for all Grand Ledge High School percussionists (and wind players wishing to be a part of the 2012 Comet Marching Band Drumline).

Questions about Drumline auditions should be directed to Natalie Sears at searsnat@msu.edu.

HIGH SCHOOL BAND AUDITIONS

Auditions for High School Band (2012-2013) will take place April 16 through April 23. Audition excerpts can be found under "Auditions" at www.glhsbands.com.

Monday, April 16: Bass Clarinet, Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba
Tuesday, April 17: Oboe, Bassoon, and Horn
Wednesday, April 18: Flute, Clarinet, and Trumpet
Thursday, April 19: Flute, Clarinet, and Trumpet
Friday, April 20: Percussion
Monday, April 23: Saxophone

Sign-up sheets are in the High School Band Room.

Mr. Blackmer will be available after school to assist in the students' preparation the week after Spring Break.

Eighth Grade students will perform their audition at Hayes Middle School the same week, however those auditions will be recorded.

Any questions regarding auditions should be forwarded to Mr. Blackmer at blackmerc@glcomets.net.

STATE SOLO & ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL RESULTS

On Saturday, March 24, over 3,000 band and orchestra students from Michigan high schools performed at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association’s (MSBOA) State Solo and Ensemble Festival. The festival took place at nine locations around the state, including Okemos High School where 38 events from Grand Ledge High School performed. These students were evaluated by adjudicators from around the state, in the areas of tone, intonation, rhythm, technique, and interpretation. The 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grade soloists were judged in three areas of proficiency. They performed a solo, memorized scales, and sight-reading, and received a score for each. The scores in each category are combined to give a total score of 85 to 100, resulting in a “First Division” (or Superior rating), or 70 to 84, resulting in a “Second Division” (or Good rating). The 9^th grade soloists perform a solo and receive a rating based on that alone. Similarly, small ensembles are also only evaluated on the their ensemble’s performance.

Grand Ledge High School soloists receiving a “First Division Rating” (Superior) included: Jessie Boyd (horn), Matthew Wilcox (euphonium), Callan Miller (flute), Caleb Ford (alto saxophone), Alex Kindel (flute), Alex Kindel (piano), Ben Arking (horn), Kendall Stevens (horn), Diana Thompson (flute), Ashley Hedlund (trumpet), Ashley Hedlund (piccolo trumpet), Joshua Trentadue (timpani), AJ Pratt (alto saxophone), Elizabeth Nesbitt (flute), Daniel Gerhardt (marimba), Andrew Zakerski (snare drum), Andrew Zakerski (marimba), Carson Williams (horn), Amy Rosendall (flute), Stephen Gute (trombone), Lizzie Rodeck (clarinet), Jacob Hoskins (trumpet), Noah Ford (marimba), Laura Schramm (flute), Ryan Gerhardt (bassoon), Carol Nesbitt (horn), and Hannah Legal (clarinet).

Ensembles that received a “First Division Rating” (Superior) included: Cameron Merrill, Caleb Ford, Phoebe Boutwell, and AJ Pratt (saxophone quartet), Elizabeth Nesbitt and Megan Petersen (flute duet), Alex Kindel, Amy Rosendall, and Callan Miller (flute trio), Jared Clark, Daniel Gerhardt, Noah Ford, Nick Mulder, Sarah Parsons, and Tess Huelskamp (percussion sextet), Jessie Boyd, Amy Rosendall, and Joshua Trentaude (flute/horn duet), and Jared Clark, Andrew Zakerski, and Daniel Gerhardt (percussion trio).

Soloists receiving a "Second Division Rating" (Good) were Jonah Weller (trombone), Meggan Amour (clarinet), Kara Krupp (clarinet), and Maddie Allen (bass clarinet).

The ensemble that received a “Second Division Rating” (Good) was with Kara Krupp, Hannah Legal, and Maddie Allen (clarinet trio).

Students who were nominated as outstanding soloists and/or ensembles, and those students who have been invited to perform in the 2012 Michigan Youth Arts Festival, should be announced on Tuesday, March 27.

Congratulations to all who performed!

SENIOR CONCERTO AUDITIONS

Auditions for the 2012 Senior Concerto Competition will be held on Thursday, March 29, beginning at 3:00 p.m. in the High School Band Room. Information can be found HERE, or on the GLHS Bands website. Questions should be directed to Mr. Blackmer.

STATE SOLO & ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL

The MSBOA State Solo & Ensemble Festival is Saturday, March 24, hosted at Okemos High School. The event schedule is posted in the High School Band Room, or you can link directly to it HERE.