SENIOR NIGHT & LAST SATURDAY REHEARSAL!
PLEASE JOIN US TONIGHT, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14TH AT 6:30PM IN THE BAND ROOM FOR AN IMPORTANT PARENT BOOSTER MEETING! WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT AND DEDICATION! AS WE HEAD INTO THE FINAL STRETCH OF OUR COMPETITIVE SEASON AND THE GAHR INVITATIONAL, WE WANT TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS INVOLVED AND READY FOR THE EXCITING WEEKS AHEAD. SEE YOU TONIGHT!
Congratulations on a strong performance at the Ayala Music in Motion Field Tournament this past Saturday! We saw great improvement throughout the week leading up to the competition, and we’re proud of how our students performed despite the rainy weather. A huge thank you to our students and parents for their professionalism and problem-solving throughout the day. We would especially like to recognize our amazing booster parents for their nonstop support with equipment, props, meals, uniforms, and so much more. Let’s continue building on this momentum as we work toward completing the final movement of our production.
We have a HOME FOOTBALL GAME and SENIOR NIGHT this Friday, October 16! Please make sure you bring everything you need for full uniform/costume. Band students need their black sleeveless compression shirt, black compression shorts, LONG black socks, and black marching shoes. Don’t forget your lyre, and make sure your flip folder is organized with all of our pep tunes. Please complete the Senior Night Form, including phonetic spellings of your name and your parents’/guardians’ names, and return it to Mr. Loney before Friday’s game.
This Saturday, October 17th, is our final Saturday rehearsal of the season from 8:30AM–5:00PM. We will continue learning Movement 3 of the show, and this rehearsal is absolutely critical as we prepare for next Saturday’s Bands of America Regional Championships. We need everyone in attendance, focused, and ready to work.
As we enter the final stretch of our competitive season, attendance at ALL rehearsals is absolutely critical. We are continuing to learn and refine the final movement, which involves complex choreography, staging, and the movement of large props and equipment. When students are absent, it affects the entire ensemble’s ability to rehearse safely and effectively. Please understand that students who miss rehearsals during the week of a performance may not be permitted to perform, depending on the circumstances of the absence and their level of preparation. Every student plays an important role, and we need everyone present, prepared, and fully committed as we head into the most important competitions of our season.
PARENT VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP LINKS:
✅ Home Football Game & Senior Night – Friday 10/16
✅ Saturday Rehearsal Lunch & Uniforms – Saturday 10/17
We are asking all families to consider supporting our program by donating items from our Booster Wishlist. These donations help us continue providing rehearsal lunches for just $5 per student and meals on competition days. Every contribution makes a difference, and we greatly appreciate your continued generosity and support!
DONATIONS PAST DUE – At this point in the season, all students should be caught up with any outstanding program donations. We are still working to cover final prop construction, equipment needs, and production expenses. Please pay with cash, a check made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or click here to make a payment online with a credit card. All students must be caught up with donations to participate in the WBA Championships trip.
HOME FOOTBALL GAME & SENIOR NIGHT THIS FRIDAY 10/16
This Friday, October 16, is our LAST HOME FOOTBALL GAME OF THE SEASON and SENIOR NIGHT! The school will recognize graduating seniors from Football, Cheer, and Band & Color Guard during a special pre-game ceremony. Seniors will be escorted by their parents/guardians as their names are announced. ALL SENIORS AND THEIR PARENTS/GUARDIANS MUST REPORT TO THE STADIUM TRACK BY 5:45PM and line up alphabetically by LAST NAME. Please complete the Senior Night Form, including phonetic spellings of your name and your parents’/guardians’ names, and return it to Mr. Loney before Friday’s game.
SENIOR NIGHT CEREMONY SCHEDULE:
4:30PM Stadium Gates Open / Ticket Sales Begin
5:15PM Football Senior Recognition
6:00PM Cheer Senior Recognition
6:15PM Band & Color Guard Senior Recognition
7:00PM Football Game Begins
IMPORTANT FOR SENIOR PARENTS: All participating parents/guardians must purchase a ticket to enter the stadium. Tickets will be available beginning at 4:30PM. Please arrive early enough to purchase your tickets and report to the stadium track by 5:45PM.
STUDENTS: PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN DINNER OR MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO EAT AFTER SCHOOL. At 4:45PM, ALL STUDENTS will change into FULL UNIFORM/COSTUME. Band students must bring their black sleeveless compression top, black compression shorts, LONG BLACK SOCKS, and black marching shoes. Color Guard students must bring everything needed for their full costume, hair, and makeup. Don’t forget your lyre and flip folder with all pep tunes organized!
At 5:00PM, all students will rehearse pep tunes and cadences before heading into the stadium to support our Band & Color Guard seniors during the Senior Night ceremony. Following the ceremony, we will perform the National Anthem as usual, and the football game will begin at 7:00PM.
PARENTS: WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are looking for volunteers to assist with concessions, merchandise sales, and pushing equipment and props for our halftime performance. Please click here to sign up to volunteer.
FALL JAZZ EXCHANGE CONCERT – THIS WEDNESDAY 10/21 🎷🎺
Join us Wednesday, October 21st at 7:00PM for a special Jazz Exchange Concert at Cerritos College! Our Gahr High School Jazz I and Jazz II ensembles will perform alongside the Cerritos College Jazz Band, directed by Dr. David Betancourt. The Cerritos College Jazz Combo will also provide pre-concert music beginning at 6:45PM. Come enjoy a great evening of jazz and support our students as they share the stage with college musicians!
LOCATION: Cerritos College Student Center – 11110 Alondra Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650
ADMISSION: FREE! Parking is $5 (mobile payment only)
STUDENTS: Please make sure you have your Gahr Jazz Band T-shirt ($20) for the concert. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR JAZZ BAND T-SHIRT. We have important Jazz I and Jazz II rehearsals leading up to Wednesday’s concert, and 100% on-time attendance is expected. Continue practicing your parts and listening to the recordings so we can put on a great performance!
FAN-PLEDGE FUNDRAISER – FINAL WEEK TO DONATE! 💙💛
A HUGE thank you to our Gahr Band & Color Guard families, friends, alumni, and supporters for your incredible generosity! We have officially raised $51,046, exceeding our original $30,000 goal by more than $21,000! We are so grateful for the tremendous support of our students and program!
THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK TO DONATE! Donations will be accepted through Monday, October 19th. All funds benefit the entire Gahr Band & Color Guard program and will help purchase additional Marching Band uniforms, Color Guard parade costumes, flags, and equipment as we prepare for our 2027 Walt Disney World performance trip!
PLEASE DONATE AND SHARE OUR LINK:
https://www.fpfans.com/625c81
The competition isn’t over yet! The top individual fundraiser will receive Apple AirPods, and the section with the highest average raised per student will earn a Pizza or Raising Cane’s party! Check out the current leaderboard below:
Thank you again for your outstanding support of the Gahr Instrumental Music Program! 💙💛
ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT – FIELD SHOW PROGRAM ADS!
Advertise in our program for the Gahr Invitational Field Tournament! THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST INDIVIDUAL STUDENT FUNDRAISER OF THE ENTIRE YEAR! Students earn 90% of the profit from all ads sold. Please click here to download the form. The deadline for all advertisements is Monday, October 19, 2026. We cannot accept late ads once the program is sent to the printer.
This is a great way for local businesses to advertise to the community! The Gahr Invitational Field Tournament typically has over 5,000 people in attendance, and we usually sell around 500 programs. This is also a great opportunity to put in a "shout-out" for your son/daughter in the program! Best of all, students still earn 90% of profit!
You can also purchase a program ad directly through our website! Please make sure you email your artwork to Mr. Loney at darren.loney@abcusd.us.
SCSBOA ALL-SOUTHERN HONOR GROUP AUDITIONS
Students are encouraged to audition for the 2027 SCSBOA All-Southern Honor Groups! These ensembles bring together the top high school musicians from across Southern California for an unforgettable musical experience. Selected students will rehearse with renowned conductors and perform in a showcase concert at the SCSBOA Conference in January.
Auditions are open to winds and percussion, and include required scales, prepared excerpts, and sight-reading. All audition information – including requirements, registration forms, and deadlines – can be found on the SCSBOA website. Students interested in auditioning should begin preparing now and speak with Mr. Loney for guidance.
This is an excellent opportunity to challenge yourself, meet other outstanding musicians, and represent Gahr at the regional level. In recent years, we’ve had students make the top Wind Band and the Jazz All-Star Band. Don’t miss the chance to be part of one of Southern California’s most prestigious honor groups!
WBA CHAMPIONSHIPS – PARENT HOTEL FILLING UP FAST!
Planning to travel to Fresno for the WBA Championships November 21-22? Our discounted Parent Hotel block is filling up FAST!
This year, the band will travel up early Saturday morning and stay one night, returning home late Sunday evening after WBA Grand Championships. We have a discounted parent room block at the Homewood Suites Fresno, located right across from where our students will be staying.
November 21-22 | $179 + tax
Complimentary Breakfast & Parking
The official booking deadline is October 22, but availability is limited. If you’re planning to attend, reserve your room ASAP!
GAHR INVITATIONAL FIELD TOURNAMENT – SIGN UPS!
We are excited to announce that the Gahr Invitational Field Tournament will take place on Saturday, November 7th, right here at Gahr High School! This year, we are proud to welcome over 30 bands from across Southern California for an incredible day of marching band! This is the one competition you should NOT be sitting in the stands watching. The Gahr Invitational is our biggest event of the year, and it takes a huge team of volunteers to make it happen. We need ALL HANDS ON DECK!
From concessions and parking to tickets, hospitality, merchandise, and more, there are many ways to help throughout the day. We will have thousands of students, families, and spectators in attendance and cannot do it without your support.
If you haven’t signed up for a shift yet, please click here to sign up to volunteer.
Let’s make this the biggest and best Gahr Invitational yet! 💙💛
ATHLETIC CLEARANCE PAST DUE
If you have not yet completed your 2026-27 Athletic Clearance, it must be completed ASAP. All Marching Band & Color Guard students are required to complete athletic clearance through Home Campus. Families must complete the online clearance and upload both pages of the completed physical evaluation form to Home Campus.
Complete Athletic Clearance through Home Campus
Students who still need a physical may complete one at Anderson Chiropractic Clinic in Los Alamitos for $20 cash. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment at (562) 594-6538.
ASB CARD & TRANSPORTATION
Make sure you have paid for your student’s Gahr High School ASB Card ($85) and Transportation Fee ($90). These school fees are paid directly to Gahr High School at the Finance Office during school hours. Students who choose not to purchase an ASB Card will instead be required to pay the $225 Transportation Fee.
📆 IMPORTANT DATES
10/16 Home Football Game vs. California & SENIOR NIGHT!
10/17 Saturday Rehearsal 8:30AM-5:00PM (bring $5 for lunch)
10/21 Cerritos College Jazz Exchange Concert!
10/23 BOA Rehearsal & Load from 3:30-6:00PM
10/24 Bands of America Southern California Regional
10/28 Red Robin Fundraiser – ALL DAY!
11/3 Mandatory Field Show Meeting at 7:30PM at the stadium
11/6 Rehearsal/Run-through 3:30-6:00PM
11/7 Gahr Invitational Field Tournament!
11/11 Important Rehearsal 8:30AM-5:00PM
11/14 WBA So Cal Regional Championships & Make-Up Photo Day
11/17 Mandatory Fresno Trip Parent Meeting at 7PM
11/20 WBA Rehearsal & Send-Off Performance 5-7PM
11/21 WBA Class 4A/5A Championships!
11/22 WBA Grand Championships!
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 10/12
9:00AM-4:00PM-Rehearsal
TUESDAY 10/13
6:50AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II
Study Hall during periods 4/5/6
After School – Do Homework and Eat Dinner
5:30-8:45PM Marching Band Rehearsal
WEDNESDAY 10/14
7:30AM Band Room open
3:30-4:30PM Wind Sectionals
6:30PM Monthly Parent Booster Meeting!
THURSDAY 10/15
6:50AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II
3:30-6:00PM Marching Band Rehearsal
FRIDAY 10/16
6:50AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II
HOME FOOTBALL GAME VS. CALIFORNIA HS
6th Period – Get everything to the stadium
After school — Hydrate and eat dinner (not provided)
4:45PM CALL TIME FOR ALL STUDENTS TO CHANGE INTO UNIFORM
5:00PM Warm up / Run pep tunes in Band Room
5:45PM Everyone walk to stadium
6:00PM Senior Night!
6:45PM Star-Spangled Banner
7:00PM Home Football Game vs. California HS
8:15PM Half-time performance (approximate)
9:30PM Approximate game end time*
9:45PM Walk back to Band Room
10:00PM Change out of uniform and HANG CORRECTLY
10:30PM Approximate dismissal*
HYDRATE AND GO TO BED.
*The end time of a football game varies. The Gahr Marching Gladiators always stay until the end of the game to support our school and team. Please have your student call you for pick-up time or check Remind for updates.
SATURDAY 10/17
7:45AM Band Room open
Eat a good breakfast and arrive early.
8:30AM-5:00PM Saturday Rehearsal!
8:30AM-12:00PM Block 1
12:00-1:00PM Lunch – Bring $5 for lunch!
1:00-5:00PM Block 2
5:00PM Clean Up / Dismissal