We hope you’re having a wonderful summer! Last Saturday, we had over 100 students, parents, and alumni attend Drum Corps at the Rose Bowl, and it was an incredible and inspiring evening! Our Color Guard, Battery, Front Ensemble, and leadership team has been working hard over the summer. We’re excited to have everyone back together for Band Camp starting this Monday, July 20th!

PLEASE DO THIS RIGHT NOW >> All NEW and RETURNING members of the Gahr Marching Gladiators must complete the 2026-27 Band Registration & Participation Form before Band Camp begins on Monday. Please have a parent or guardian complete this form together with your student. It only takes about 10 minutes and is crucial to helping us get the season off to a great start.

IT’S ALMOST THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! Band Camp for all members begins this Monday, July 20th through Wednesday, August 5th, at Gahr High School. Band Camp runs each day from 8:30AM-5:00PM, with an hour lunch break from 12-1PM.

We will learn music, drill, and choreography for our 2026 field show production, “Jungle Boogie.” All students MUST attend Band Camp to be admitted into the field show for the fall semester. We perform before school starts, and it is very difficult to catch up after missing 75+ hours of instruction.

Students will begin each day by checking in at the patio gate and meeting at the Band Room. Always eat a big breakfast/lunch and arrive at least 15-20 minutes early each day. Students must wear athletic clothing, athletic shoes, a hat, and bring a 1-gallon water jug and $5 each day for lunch. Go outside and get used to the heat – ride a bike, go to the pool, or go for a jog.

DOWNLOAD AND READ ALL THE INFORMATION IN THE BAND CAMP NEWSLETTER. This contains important information so we can get off to a great start!

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER AND DONATE

We are looking for parent and family volunteers to help during Band Camp in areas such as uniform fitting, meals, and other important activities throughout the week. Please click here to sign up for volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule. Even volunteering for just an hour can make a huge difference and is greatly appreciated!

You can also help us kick off the year by donating an item from our Gahr Band Wishlist. This helps keep our lunches at $5. The wishlist will be updated throughout the year. Donations may be dropped off in the Band Room.

Thank you for your continued support. We truly could not do this without our amazing parent and family volunteers!

This is a Google doc that has all the dates for the fall semester. Bookmark this link!

https://tinyurl.com/gahr-fall-2026

ATHLETIC CLEARANCE UPDATE – IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Gahr High School has changed the platform used for athletic clearance. Beginning this year, all athletic clearance paperwork will be completed through Home Campus, and the school is no longer using FamilyID.

All students participating in the 2026–27 Gahr High School Marching Band & Color Guard are required to complete athletic clearance each year and must have a current athletic physical on file.

Parents should create an account and complete the clearance process through the following website: https://www.homecampus.com/login

After completing a physical exam, families will need to scan or take photos of both pages of the form and upload them to Home Campus as part of the athletic clearance process.

Click here to download the required physical evaluation form.

Students who have not yet completed their athletic physical may still do so through Anderson Chiropractic Clinic.

10671 Los Alamitos Blvd.
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
(562) 594-6538

Please call ahead to schedule an appointment. They are continuing to offer athletic physicals for just $20 cash.

Additionally, all marching band and color guard students are required to purchase an ASB Card and pay the school Transportation Fee before the start of the school year. These items may be paid for during Band & Color Guard School Registration Day on Friday, August 7, 2026.

2ND DONATION DUE MONDAY 7/20

The 2nd Donation of $175 is due this Monday, July 20th. All students should already be caught up with the 1st donation that was due on June 1st. This is crucial for us to be able to pay for instructors, production costs, registration fees, and uniforms/costumes. Missing any part of the summer or Band Camp does NOT exclude you from this donation.

We accept cash, checks made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or click here to pay with a credit card on our website. Because the booster organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your donation may be tax-deductible.

MANDATORY PARENT/STUDENT MEETING

There is a MANDATORY Parent/Student Meeting on Wednesday, July 22nd at 6:30PM in the Gahr High School Band Room. The boosters will be providing students with dinner after rehearsal to make things more convenient for parents coming directly from work.

During the meeting, we will review important information for the upcoming season, including this year’s rehearsal and competition schedule, program expectations, fundraisers, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and areas where parent support is needed.

Booster Membership is just $30 per person and includes a field show t-shirt and a Gahr Marching Gladiators clear cinch bag. Become an “Early Bird” Booster by Wednesday, July 29th to receive your field show shirt at the Sneak Preview!

We are looking forward to an incredible year and truly cannot do it without your support and involvement!

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR ORLANDO 2027!

If you are interested in traveling with the Gahr High School Band & Color Guard to perform at Walt Disney World during Spring Break 2027, this is your final opportunity to register.

We already have over 100 students signed up, and this trip is shaping up to be something truly special. We still have room for additional performers and would love for even more students to be part of this unforgettable experience.

✨ WHY THIS TRIP IS SO SPECIAL

This is a once-in-a-lifetime high school experience. Our full marching band will perform and march down Main Street at Walt Disney World — an incredible opportunity that very few programs get to enjoy. Students will also participate in a Disney Imagination Campus Workshop, working with Disney professionals in a behind-the-scenes learning experience.

Performance at Walt Disney World
3 days at Walt Disney World
2 days at Universal Studios, including Epic Universe
Airfare, hotels, meals, and transportation included
Travel with Gahr staff, a professional tour manager, and hotel security

📋 Click here to download the full trip itinerary.

💰 FLEXIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS

Registration only requires a $150 deposit, and remaining payments can be spread out over the months leading up to the trip.

The sooner you register, the lower your monthly payments will be.

If your account was previously cancelled due to missed payments, don’t worry! Simply contact the tour company and they can reinstate your account and help spread any past-due balance across the remaining payment schedule.

✅ HOW TO REGISTER

1. Visit www.etadventures.com
2. Click Login
3. Enter Trip Code: gahr27
4. Create an account
5. Submit your deposit

🔁 TO MODIFY YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENT SCHEDULE

1. Click Payments
2. Select View/Modify Recurring Payments
3. Adjust your remaining payments as needed

⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTES:

This trip is open to all members of the 2026–27 Gahr High School Band & Color Guard, including current freshmen.
Students are required to register in quad rooms (4 students per room) for safety purposes and to help keep costs affordable.
This is a student performer trip only. Parents and family members are absolutely welcome to travel to Orlando independently to attend performances and enjoy the parks, but all parent travel arrangements must be made separately.
We typically take a major trip like this only once every four years. Especially for incoming freshmen, this may be your only opportunity to participate in an experience like this during high school.

This trip will be filled with incredible performances, lifelong friendships, and memories that students will remember forever. We hope you’ll consider being part of this amazing experience!

For questions, please contact:
Dee Dee Varney
dvarney15@gmail.com
(562) 413-3068

🎷 JOIN GAHR JAZZ!

Gahr High School is proud to offer two outstanding jazz ensembles that continue to grow each year. Jazz Ensemble I is our premier auditioned ensemble for more experienced musicians, while Jazz Ensemble II is a great opportunity for students who are newer to jazz, want additional performing opportunities, or are interested in learning a secondary instrument.

Jazz students perform a wide variety of music including big band swing, Latin jazz, funk, rock, and contemporary styles. Students also have the opportunity to learn improvisation and soloing – one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of jazz.

Exciting Plans for 2026–2027

Regular jazz sectionals with professional guest artists and coaches
A brand-new commissioned work for Jazz I by composer Jack Lanhardt
Formation of jazz combos that will compete at festivals
A recording studio experience for both Jazz I and Jazz II
Festival performances and our annual Music in the Parks trip to Knott’s Berry Farm

Jazz Band meets before school during zero period, allowing students to participate while still taking all of their academic classes, AP courses, and electives. Jazz is also an honors course, providing students with an additional weighted class in their schedule.

We are currently looking for saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and students interested in joining our rhythm section on piano, guitar, bass, and drum set.

Even if you did not sign up for jazz during registration, it is not too late! If you are interested in joining, please let Mr. Loney know during Band Camp. We are excited to continue building something special in 2026–2027!

📲 REMIND ANNOUNCEMENTS

We use Remind to send important announcements and updates to both students and parents throughout the year. This is our primary method of communication for reminders, schedule changes, important deadlines, and other program information.

Please make sure that both students and parents sign up for Remind using the class code for your student’s grade level below:

✅ PROGRAM DONATIONS – MARCHING BAND

The Gahr High School Band & Color Guard is a largely self-funded program. Student donations make it possible for us to provide the outstanding educational and performance opportunities that define our program each year.

The 2026 Marching Band Program Donation is $775 per student. This donation directly supports essential program expenses, including instructional staff, music, equipment and instruments, uniforms and costumes, props, production materials, transportation, and more. This year’s donation also includes our trip to the Western Band Association Championships.

Families may submit the donation in full or according to the following payment schedule:

$250 – 1st Donation – Past Due June 1, 2026
$175 – 2nd Donation – Due July 20, 2026
$175 – 3rd Donation – Due August 21, 2026
$175 – 4th Donation – Due October 2, 2026

➡️ Click here to make a donation online.

If your family is able to, we strongly encourage paying the full donation at the start of the season. Early donations help us purchase materials and cover significant upfront expenses such as props, equipment, instruments, registration fees, and other program needs.

Your support helps provide students with exceptional educational experiences while developing discipline, confidence, responsibility, teamwork, and leadership – skills that extend far beyond the marching field.

Please note that missing any part of rehearsals, camps, or performances does not excuse you from the donation. Program expenses are incurred regardless of individual attendance.

Thank you for supporting the Gahr High School Band & Color Guard. Your generosity makes these incredible opportunities possible.

📆 SUMMER REHEARSALS & EVENTS

7/20 Donation #2 of $175 Due
7/20-8/5 Band Camp 8:30AM-5PM, each day M-F
7/22 Mandatory Parent/Student Meeting at 6:30PM
7/29 Early Bird Booster Membership Due
7/31 Family Beach Bonfire at Bolsa Chica State Beach 6-9PM
8/5 Band Camp Sneak Preview – Dinner 6:00PM / Performance 7:00PM
8/6 DCI Big, Loud & Live in movie theaters (optional)
8/7 School Registration, uniform sizing, and senior band/guard photos
8/12 First Day of School!
8/14 Popcornopolis Fundraiser Starts!
8/15 Saturday Rehearsal 8:30AM-5PM / Prop Party!

STAY IN CONTACT

WEBSITE: www.gahrband.org
INSTAGRAM: Follow us @gahrband
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/gahrband
REMIND: Text "@gahr2030” to “81010”
SLACK (STUDENTS ONLY): http://tinyurl.com/gahr-slack
EMAIL: darren.loney@abcusd.us

BAND CAMP STARTS MONDAY!