Dear Gahr Band & Color Guard Families,

We have a big week ahead with several exciting events and opportunities to support the program!

The Gahr Area Concert is this Wednesday, May 7th at 6:30PM in the Gahr HS Gym. This is a fantastic event that brings together our Concert Band and Wind Ensemble with Ross MS, Haskell MS, Tetzlaff MS, and over 100 elementary band students. We have some really fun music planned – you won’t want to miss it!

Admission is FREE! This is also your last chance to purchase raffle tickets for one of FIVE incredible gift baskets! Prizes include a Nespresso coffee machine, $100 gift cards for The Spa, Cheesecake Factory, and TopGolf, and a brand-new Nintendo Switch 2 (pre-ordered and arriving June 5th!) We’ll also have snacks, drinks, and merchandise available at the concert. All proceeds benefit the program and help us meet our end-of-year budget goals.

PARENTS: This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year and we could really use your help! If you’re able to assist with the concert, especially our amazing Color Guard families, click here to sign up.

STUDENTS: We have one final rehearsal for the Area Concert on Tuesday from 3:30–6:00PM, and attendance is required to perform. Please continue practicing your music and make sure your all-black concert attire is ready. On Wednesday, we will have a run-through in the gym from 3:30-4:00PM, and the call time is 5:40PM in the Band Room.

We also have several other events happening this week:

Drumline Clinics start this Thursday, May 8th from 3:30–6:00PM. These are open to all current percussionists and incoming freshmen – no experience needed, so bring a friend!
Chick-fil-A Fundraiser Night is Thursday from 4:00–9:00PM at the Los Cerritos Mall. Be sure to show the flyer or use the code “gahrband” in the app under “Community Care Event,” and 20% will be donated back to the program.
Jazz I will be performing at the RCC Jazz Festival this Saturday, May 10th. We’re looking forward to a great performance and experience.

Lastly, please don’t forget to turn in your RSVP and payment for the End-of-Year Awards Banquet, which will take place on Tuesday, May 20th at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts! Tickets are $45/person and include dinner, awards, senior recognitions, student leadership presentations, and the big reveal of the 2025 Field Show! All students and family members attending need a ticket. RSVP and payment are due by Friday, May 16th.

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT FUNDRAISING WEEKEND!

Huge shoutout to everyone who helped make our Mattress Fundraiser a success! It was awesome seeing students in the mattress costume and waving signs – and I hope you had fun and earned some money for your accounts. Thank you to everyone who helped with the FUNDrive and our PTSA Pop-Up Booth! We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who dropped off bags of items.

🏆 Most Bags Donated – $40 Amazon Gift Card 🏆
Vinny Malone with an amazing 70 BAGS!

🎟️ Raffle Winners:
$40 Amazon Gift Card – Joaquin Puma Abreu
$15 In-N-Out Gift Card – Bryan Rosales
$15 Starbucks Gift Card – Matthew Goncalves

last chance to buy raffle tickets!

We have FIVE incredible gift baskets up for grabs THIS WEDNESDAY – featuring amazing prizes like a brand-new Nintendo Switch 2, a Nespresso Vertuo Pop + Milk Frother, and $100 gift cards for Topgolf, The Spa, Cheesecake Factory, La Tavolata Italian, and much, much more! Take a look at what’s inside each basket below!

🎟️ Raffle Ticket Prices 🎟️
$1 for 1 ticket
$5 for 6 tickets
$10 for 15 tickets
$20 for 40 tickets **best value**

HOW TO ENTER:

Send cash with your student to purchase tickets and place them into the drawings of your choice.
You’re welcome to check out the baskets in-person in the Band Room and buy tickets there.
Be sure to write your name and phone number on every ticket!
All tickets go into the basket drawings of your choice (do not keep any of the tickets).

Prefer to pay online? 🎟️
No problem! Purchase tickets with a credit card and we’ll fill them out for you:
👉 https://www.gahrband.org/store/p/gift-basket-tickets

The opportunity drawing will take place THIS WEDNESDAY, May 7th at the Gahr HS Area Concert in the gym! The event starts at 6:30PM and we will call basket winners throughout the concert. You do not need to be present to win as long as your name and phone number are written on the ticket. Good luck, and thank you for supporting the Gahr Instrumental Music Program!

GAHR PERCUSSION CLINICS START THURSDAY!

Ready to level up? The Gahr Drumline is hosting clinics the next three Thursdays – May 8th, 15th, and 22nd from 3:30-6:00PM! This is open to all current percussionists and incoming freshmen. No experience is needed, so bring a friend to check it out too! We’re gearing up for an amazing year and want YOU to be part of it. See you Thursday!

CHICK-FIL-A NIGHT THIS THURSDAY! 🐄

Eat at Chick-fil-A in the Los Cerritos Mall this Thursday, May 8th from 4–9PM and support the Gahr Band & Color Guard! Make sure you show the flyer when you order and 20% will be donated back to the program. You can also use code “gahrband” in the Community Care Event section when ordering through the app. Let’s eat more chicken and support our students!

RCC JAZZ FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY 5/10

UPDATE: Unfortunately, due to poor attendance, tardies, and absences, we’ve made the tough decision to pull Jazz II from performing at the RCC Jazz Festival this Saturday. Let’s work together to improve commitment and responsibility moving forward. Jazz I will still be performing at the festival as scheduled.

Both Jazz I and Jazz II will still perform at our End-of-Year Jazz Concert on Wednesday, May 21st at 6:30 PM in the Gahr HS MPR. We’re looking forward to celebrating all their hard work and growth this year!

Call time for Jazz I is 2:00PM wearing jazz concert attire. Make sure you eat a big meal before you arrive and bring money or dinner (please note that we will be walking as a group to get food nearby). The festival is located at the Coil School for the Arts. Admission is FREE and the festival is open to the public. Please note that the site is downtown, not on the RCC campus.

JAZZ I SCHEDULE:
2:00PM – Jazz I Call Time, load bus ASAP
2:30PM – Depart for Coil School for the Arts
3:30PM – Arrive, unload, restroom break
4:00PM – Warm-up (Percussion Room)
4:30PM – Jazz I Performance (Concert Hall)
5:00PM – Sight-reading & Clinic (Choral Room)
5:30PM – Put away equipment, dinner (bring money to eat nearby)
6:45PM – Watch remaining Heavy Bands
8:30PM – Watch RCC Jazz Orchestra with Bob McChesney
9:00PM – Evening Awards
9:30PM – Load bus ASAP, depart back to Gahr
10:30PM – Approximate arrival back at Gahr, unload and dismissal

2025-26 BOOSTER EXECUTIVE BOARD

Thank you to everyone who came to our final Booster Parent Meeting last Wednesday! We’re excited to introduce our new Executive Booster Board for the 2025–26 school year! We would also like to congratulate our 2024–25 outgoing Board, Chairs, and Representatives for their outstanding service.

LEADERSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN 🏆

Are you ready to step up and make a difference?
Applications are now available for the 2025–26 Gahr Instrumental Music Leadership Team!

✅ Applications are due by Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
Please be prompt, professional, and showcase your best self!

We are looking for motivated, passionate students who want to build, inspire, and lead the next chapter of the Gahr Marching Gladiators and the entire Gahr Instrumental Music Program. Leadership isn’t just a title — it’s a chance to make a real impact.

📣 Drum Major interviews will be held on Monday, May 14, 2025 from 4:00-7:00PM.

Whether or not you are selected for a leadership role this time, going through the application process is a valuable experience that will help you grow. We encourage everyone with the drive and heart to serve to APPLY!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mr. Loney.

🔥 Take a leap. Challenge yourself. Be part of something bigger.
We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!

ALL OUTSTANDING DONATIONS ARE PAST DUE

This is a friendly reminder that all donations for Indoor Percussion, Winter Guard, and Marching Band are now past due. We are unable to pay for end-of-year awards and outstanding bills — including flag silks, floor tarps, costumes, and staffing — without these donations.

Students must be caught up with all outstanding donations in order to attend the Awards Banquet.

We accept cash, checks made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters”, or you can click here to pay online with a credit card. Thank you for your support!

THIS WEEK:

MONDAY 5/5
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
7:17AM Jazz I & II
3:30-6:00PM Combined Band rehearsal

TUESDAY 5/6
7:17AM Jazz I & II
3:30-6:30PM Final Combined Band rehearsal/run-through

WEDNESDAY 5/7
LAST DAY TO PURCHASE RAFFLE TICKETS

GAHR AREA CONCERT IN GYM
Set up during periods 4, 5, 6
3:30-4:00PM RUN-THROUGH IN GYM WITH VIDEO
5:40PM CALL TIME in Band Room – All black concert attire
6:00PM Run-through with MS
6:30PM Gahr Area Concert starts!
8:00PM Approximate end time / Clean up ASAP

THURSDAY 5/8
7:17AM Jazz I ONLY – RCC Prep
3:30-6:00PM Drumline Clinic (all current students + incoming freshmen)

FRIDAY 5/9
7:17AM Jazz I & II (new music for Jazz II)
3:30-5:30PM Jazz I rehearsal ONLY

SATURDAY 5/10
8:00AM-4:00PM Cerritos College Honor Band rehearsal

RCC Jazz Festival
2:00PM JAZZ I CALL TIME

SUNDAY 5/11
Happy Mother’s Day!

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES/EVENTS

5/7 Gahr Area Concert @ 6:30PM in the Gym
5/8 Percussion Clinic 3:30-6:00PM
5/10 RCC Jazz Festival – Jazz I only
5/15 Percussion Clinic 3:30-6:00PM
5/16 Cerritos College Honor Band Concert!
5/19 New Student/Parent Meeting @ 6:30PM
5/20 End-of-Year Awards Banquet @ Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
5/21 RMS/GHS Jazz Concert @ 6:30PM in the MPR
5/21-23 Color Guard Clinics from 3:30-5:30PM
5/22 Percussion Clinic 3:30-6:00PM