BAND CAMP SNEAK PREVIEW!
THE BAND CAMP BBQ & SNEAK PREVIEW IS THIS WEDNESDAY! PLEASE NOTE THERE IS AN UPDATED SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY DUE TO THE FRESHMEN LINK CREW ACTIVITIES. WE WILL NOT HAVE THE MORNING BLOCK ON WEDNESDAY, AND INSTEAD ALL STUDENTS WILL REHEARSE FROM 12-4PM.
Congratulations on an outstanding second week of Band Camp! The progress our students have made over the past two weeks has been incredible, and we couldn’t be more proud of their hard work, positive attitude, and commitment to the program.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Friday’s Family Beach Bonfire! We had an incredible turnout, and it was the perfect way to celebrate the first two weeks of camp together. We also want to thank all of the parents who generously volunteered their time throughout the week. Your support truly makes this program possible.
We have just a few important rehearsals remaining before the Band Camp Preview! Rehearsals are Monday and Tuesday from 8:30AM–5:00PM and Wednesday from 12:00–4:00PM. It is important that every student attends all of these rehearsals so they are fully prepared for Wednesday evening’s performance.
STUDENTS: Always hydrate 24 hours ahead of time and eat a good breakfast before rehearsal. Wear a hat, athletic shoes (no Vans or Converse), athletic clothing (no jeans or long pants), and bring a 1-gallon water jug, sunscreen, and $5 for lunch. All winds, battery, and color guard students should also bring their dot book and pencil.
Please arrive at least 20-30 minutes early each day so we can start rehearsal on time. Due to school registration, this week students will be entering the gray gym gate and checking in at the Band Room lobby entrance.
UPDATED SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5TH
On Wednesday, will be canceling the morning rehearsal block for all students so that our incoming 9th graders can participate in Gahr High School’s Link Crew Freshman Welcome & Activities.
Freshmen will be provided lunch by the school at approximately 11:30AM and should report to Band & Color Guard rehearsal with everyone else from 12:00-4:00PM.
All 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students should eat lunch on their own before arriving for rehearsal, which begins at 12:00PM. Please note that our final Band Camp rehearsal and run-through will now be from 12:00-4:00PM.
On Wednesday evening, Gahr High School has scheduled a General Welcome Meeting for families at 6:00PM in the Gym. This is the same time our Band Camp BBQ & Sneak Preview begins. This meeting is the same presentation and slideshow that Dr. Keys will present at 8:15AM that morning in the Gym. If you would like to attend the General Welcome Meeting, we strongly encourage attending the 8:15AM session instead, as you would otherwise miss the start of the Band Camp BBQ & Sneak Preview. Students will also receive the same information and slideshow presentation during Registration Day on Friday, August 7th.
UPDATED WEDNESDAY REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:
No morning block for band or color guard.
7:45AM Band Room open
8:15AM Parent/Guardian Welcome Meeting in the Gym (attend this instead of the 6PM meeting)
9:00AM Link Crew Freshmen Welcome & Activities (all 9th grade Band & Color Guard students). Freshmen lunch provided by the school.
11:30AM Set up / Warm up / Freshmen eat lunch
12:00PM Rehearsal block starts – ALL STUDENTS
Warm up, Review, Concert Run-through at Stadium Field / Track
4:00PM Dismissal/Break (change to show shirt)
SNEAK PREVIEW CONCERT:
5:30PM Stadium Gates Open
6:00PM Dinner ($15 per person)
7:00PM Sneak Preview Concert!
8:00PM Approximate end time / Clean Up ASAP
Please note that soccer will be having a game at 8:00PM on the stadium field.
BAND & GUARD SCHOOL REGISTRATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 7TH
All Band & Color Guard students will attend Gahr High School Registration on Friday, August 7th. Please do not attend your assigned grade-level registration day. Instead, all Band and Color Guard students will register together on August 7th.
Please note: Gahr High School has updated the registration fees from those previously communicated. During registration, students must pay for the Gahr High School ASB Card ($85) and Transportation Fee ($90). These required school fees are paid directly to Gahr High School. Students who choose not to purchase an ASB Card will instead pay a $225 Transportation Fee.
After completing registration, all winds, battery, and front ensemble students will report directly to the Band Room for marching band uniform fitting. Please come wearing black compression gear underneath your clothing (black sleeveless compression shirt and black compression shorts).
Students should also dress nicely for their school yearbook photo. We will be taking Senior Banner Photos that day as well. Senior band members will wear their marching band uniform, and Color Guard seniors should bring (or wear) their black warm-ups for the photo.
BAND CAMP BBQ & SNEAK PREVIEW THIS WEDNESDAY 8/5
Join us this Wednesday, August 5th for our annual Band Camp BBQ & Sneak Preview at the Gahr High School Stadium! Come see the incredible progress our students have made and get an exclusive first look at our 2026 field show production, “Jungle Boogie.”
Dinner is just $15 per person and includes a delicious hamburger or cheeseburger, potato salad, chips, cookie, and drink. Everyone eating needs to pay – including students. Please click here to RSVP online if you haven’t yet so we can plan accordingly and make sure we have enough food.
STUDENTS: Winds, battery, and front ensemble students will wear the new show shirt, shorts, and athletic shoes. Color Guard students will wear the new show shirt, black leggings, and athletic shoes. You will have time to change from approximately 4:00-6:00PM.
PARENTS: If you’re available to help, we would greatly appreciate it! Click here to sign up and volunteer.
PARENT HELP & DONATIONS NEEDED
Thank you to all of the parents and alumni who volunteered this past week – we could not have done it without you! We still need more help!! Even if you’re only available for a short time, it can make a big difference.
LUNCH VOLUNTEERS:
signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48AFA82EA3F8C61-64979301-8326
SNEAK PREVIEW HELP:
signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48AFA82EA3F8C61-64979395-8526
BOOSTER WISHLIST:
signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48AFA82EA3F8C61-50477110-gahr
DCI BIG, LOUD & LIVE – THURSDAY IN MOVIE THEATERS!
Get your 50-yard-line seats to the Drum Corps International World Championship Prelims LIVE from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis when Big, Loud & Live returns to cinemas. Catch all the marching music action live on the big screen as DCI's top-15 performing corps battle it out for the chance to be named the 2026 DCI World Champion!
GET TICKETS HERE: https://www.atomtickets.com/movies/dci-2026-big-loud-live/417766
GET YOUR OFFICIAL BOOSTER MEMBERSHIP!
Support the Gahr Band & Color Guard and become an official Gahr Band Booster Member! For just $30 per person, your Booster Membership includes a 2026 “Jungle Boogie” Field Show T-Shirt and a Gahr Marching Gladiators clear cinch bag. Proudly support the Gahr Marching Gladiators during our 2026 season!
MARCHING BAND AND COLOR GUARD ORDER FORMS
During the Parent/Student Meeting we went through the required items needed depending on the section your student is in. Please fill out the Marching Band Order Form (all winds, battery, and front ensemble) or the Color Guard Order Form. There are three payment options for both forms:
Cash (please turn in with physical order form)
Check made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters” (turn in with physical order form)
Pay online through the website (and still turn in physical order form)
https://www.gahrband.org/store/p/make-a-donation
Please enter the grand total as the quantity amount.
BAND REGISTRATION & PARTICIPATION FORM
All NEW and RETURNING members of the Gahr Marching Gladiators must complete the 2026-27 Band Registration & Participation Form. Please have a parent or guardian complete this form together with your student. The form takes about 10 minutes to complete.
PARENT/STUDENT MEETING HANDOUTS
Thank you to everyone who came to our Parent/Student Kick-Off Meeting! We went through important information about the upcoming marching season and school year. Please click below to access the handbook, flyers, and handouts from the meeting.
2ND DONATION PAST DUE
The 2nd Donation of $175 was due Monday, July 20th. All students should already be caught up with the first two donations by this point. 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.
ATHLETIC CLEARANCE – 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. They are continuing to offer athletic physicals for just $20 cash. Call ahead to schedule an appointment.
10671 Los Alamitos Blvd.
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
(562) 594-6538
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 THE GAHR JAZZ PROGRAM!
Gahr High School is proud to offer two outstanding jazz ensembles! 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.
TWO GREAT WAYS TO RAISE MONEY
Use the fundraisers below to raise money for your marching band donations! This can also go towards Winter Guard and Indoor Percussion. This is the BEST TIME to do it before we get busy with school starting.
Field Show Program Ads - Earn 90% of the profit from all field show ad sales. The ad prices range from $25 to $175. Many local businesses are looking for ways to advertise to the community. See Mr. Loney to get a past field show program that you can use as an example when selling ads.
Student Sponsorship Letter - 100% of the money sponsorships goes directly to your student account. These take a few hours to complete and mail out, but the return on investment is HUGE if you can make $400-500! This is a great way your family and loved ones can help support.
📆 SUMMER REHEARSALS & EVENTS
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!
8/13 Jazz Band Kick-Off!
8/14 Popcornopolis Fundraiser Starts!
8/14 Marching Band Order Forms & Money Due
8/15 Saturday Rehearsal 8:30AM-5PM / Prop Party!
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 8/3
7:30AM Band Room Open
Check in at Band Room lobby – DO NOT BE LATE
8:29AM Block 1
12:00PM Lunch – Orange Chicken (bring $5)
1:00PM Block 2
5:00PM Dismissal
TUESDAY 8/4
7:30AM Band Room Open
8:29AM Block 1
12:00PM Lunch – WALKING TACOS! (bring $5)
1:00PM Block 2
5:00PM Dismissal
WEDNESDAY 8/5
No morning block for band or color guard.
7:45AM Band Room open
8:15AM Parent/Guardian Welcome Meeting in the Gym
**Please attend this one instead of the 6:00PM meeting
9:00AM Link Crew Freshmen Welcome & Activities (all 9th grade Band & Color Guard students). Freshmen lunch provided by the school.
11:30AM Set up / Warm up / Freshmen lunch (provided by school)
12:00PM Rehearsal block starts – ALL STUDENTS
Warm up, Review, Concert Run-through at Stadium Field / Track
4:00PM Dismissal/Break (change to show shirt)
Band Camp BBQ & Sneak Preview!
5:30PM Gates Open
6:00PM Dinner ($15 per person)
7:00PM Sneak Preview Concert
8:00PM Approximate end time / Clean up
Please note that soccer will be having a game at 8:00PM on the stadium field.
THURSDAY 8/6
Color Guard Order Form & Money Due
DCI BIG, LOUD & LIVE IN MOVIE THEATERS!
GET TICKETS HERE: https://www.atomtickets.com/movies/dci-2026-big-loud-live/417766
FRIDAY 8/7
8:30AM Band & Color Guard School Registration
Uniform Fitting & Senior Banner Photos
FRESHMEN CAMPUS TOUR WITH LINK CREW