WELCOME BACK!
We hope you had a wonderful and well-deserved Thanksgiving break! December is going to be an exciting month as we prepare for our Holiday Concert, upcoming jazz performances, and the start of Indoor Percussion and Winter Guard!
This week includes rehearsals for Indoor Percussion, Winter Guard, Wind Ensemble, Combined Band, and Jazz I & II.
Monday 12/1 – Indoor Percussion 6th period-6:00PM
Tuesday 12/2 – Wind Ensemble 3:30-6:00PM / Winter Guard 5:00-9:00PM
Wednesday 12/3 – Winter Guard 6th period-4:30PM / Indoor Percussion 6:00-9:00PM
Thursday 12/4 – Combined Band 3:30-6:00PM / Winter Guard 5:00-9:00PM
We invite all families to join us for our monthly Booster Meeting this Wednesday, December 3rd, at 6:30PM in the Band Room. Just a friendly reminder that See’s Candies fundraiser orders are due tomorrow. If you would like to support the program by purchasing candy, you can place an order using this link. Thank you for your support!
Last weekend, the Gahr Marching Gladiators closed out the 2025 season with our most competitively successful results in program history. Gahr earned the title of WBA Class 4A Champion – winning High Effect, High Music, High Visual, and High Color Guard!
After advancing to the WBA Combined 4A/5A Grand Championships, we brought home the bronze medal with a score of 93.025 – making Gahr the first 4A band in WBA history to place in the top three at Grand Championships! If you’d like to relive this incredible moment, you can watch our Grand Championships performance here.
Your dedication, heart, and hard work brought “And Sew It Goes” to life in the most beautiful way. This season has been a remarkable journey, and I could not be more proud of what we accomplished together. From the first day of band camp to the final performance, they pushed themselves, supported one another, and created a show we will never forget.
These accomplishments were made possible because of the incredible people who surround this program. Thank you to the families and alumni who helped with transportation, equipment, props, uniforms, food, and so much more. A very special thank-you goes to Mrs. Varney and Mrs. Barcelos, who spent months planning and coordinating the trip and making sure our students had an unforgettable experience. Thank you to our amazing instructional staff for inspiring our students and helping them perform at their very best.
We are so proud of our students and grateful for the support of our families, alumni, Gahr High School staff and administration, and our community.
We look forward to seeing you this Wednesday at 6:30PM in the Band Room for our monthly Booster Meeting as we recap the Gahr Invitational, celebrate the fall marching season, and look ahead to our winter, concert, and jazz ensembles!
Every student deserves the chance to experience the power of music.
The Gahr Instrumental Music & Color Guard Program provides life-changing opportunities for students — discipline, teamwork, leadership, and artistic expression. As our program has continued to grow, so have our needs for new instruments and equipment.
Your Giving Tuesday donation ensures that every student, regardless of financial circumstances, has access to a world-class music education.
Please click here to donate: https://givebutter.com/gahrmusic
INDOOR PERCUSSION KICKS OFF TODAY!
Indoor Percussion starts TODAY, Monday, December 1st from 6th period until 6:00PM! If you’re a wind player who is interested in auditioning for the cymbal line or front ensemble, please come right after school to check things out and get worked in. We are super excited to have John Mapes, Frankie Rice, Zach Wilson, and Mr. Loney writing and designing this year’s indoor production. It’s going to be an amazing season!
WINTER GUARD PRACTICES & PARENT MEETING!
Winter Guard starts this week with Tuesday and Thursday evening practices from 5:00-9:00PM. There is a Mandatory Winter Guard Parent Meeting TOMORROW, Tuesday, December 2nd at 8:00PM. We are super excited to start our 2026 production and build on the success from the marching season!
JAZZ BAND – DECEMBER PERFORMANCES
We have THREE PERFORMANCES coming up before Winter Break!
Wednesday 12/10 – We will be performing at a band concert at the Artesia D.E.S. Portuguese Hall with the Ross MS Advanced Band and several elementary bands! There are two short concerts – one that starts at 5:30PM and one that starts at 7:00PM. We will have Jazz II perform at 5:30PM and Jazz I perform at 7:00PM. Please wear all black concert attire and a Santa hat!
Friday 12/12 – We will be performing at the Winter Pep Rally during school! We'll have our Holiday tunes ready, but will also be ready to play pep tunes, the Alma Mater, and the Fight Song as needed. Please be ready for this to be both Jazz I and II, but we may need it to be Jazz I only. Please wear your Gahr Jazz t-shirt and a Santa hat.
Wednesday 12/17 – Our annual Holiday Band Concert will take place at 6:30PM at Whitney HS! This concert features Jazz I & II, Wind Ensemble, and Combined Band. Please wear all black concert attire and a Santa hat.
SEE’S CANDIES FUNDRAISER – DEADLINE TUESDAY 12/2
Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 2nd is the last day to get See’s Candies orders in! There’s still time to spread some holiday cheer while supporting the Gahr Instrumental Music Program. Click here to see the product list.
This fundraiser helps students raise money directly for their individual accounts and gives families and friends the chance to order delicious See’s Candies just in time for the holidays! Students can earn 15–50% profit, depending on the item purchased.
Band and Color Guard members (and their parents) should have received an email with a personalized Yum-Raising link to share with family and friends. Each link will automatically credit your student’s account with any profits earned. You’ll know it’s your link if you see the first few letters of your name in the URL.
All orders are placed online and shipped directly to the customer as soon as the order is processed – no pickup or sorting required. The last day to order is Tuesday, December 2nd, which ensures delivery in time for the holidays.
If you have any questions or need help with your fundraising link, please contact Vickie Gonzales at wvw3@ymail.com. Thank you for supporting the Gahr Instrumental Music and Color Guard Program!
ALL OUTSTANDING DONATIONS PAST DUE
Please make sure you have paid all of your marching band donations. This is critical so that we are able to pay our instructional staff, outstanding bills for production costs, and register for festivals and competitions. Please pay with cash, a check made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or click here to make a payment with a credit card.
SENIOR DINNER – THANK YOU!
Before heading to championships, we celebrated the Class of 2026 at our annual Senior Dinner! It was a beautiful evening at the Artesia D.E.S. Portuguese Hall, filled with great food, laughter, and unforgettable memories. A huge thank you to the incredible parents who organized the event and served dinner – you made the night truly special for our seniors!
SCSBOA HONOR GROUP AUDITIONS DEADLINE
The deadline to audition for the 2026 SCSBOA Honor Groups is this Friday, December 5th! 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.
SCSBOA HS All-Southern Band Music & Scales
SCSBOA HS All-Southern Jazz Audition Materials
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!
ATTENDANCE COMMUNICATION UPDATE
Over the past several weeks, we’ve received a number of last-minute messages about absences from rehearsals, and even performances – sometimes just a day or two before the event. While we absolutely understand that legitimate emergencies happen, last-minute communication hurts the entire team and makes it difficult to plan rehearsals and teach drill spots, music, and choreography. It impacts not just the staff, but the success of every student in the ensemble.
To ensure fairness, responsibility, and consistency moving forward, the following Attendance Communication Policy will now be enforced, effective immediately:
Excused Absences require a minimum of 2 weeks advance notice.
Medical appointments, school events, and family commitments must be scheduled outside rehearsals and performances whenever possible.
Same-day or last-minute messages are not acceptable and will be considered unexcused unless it is a verifiable emergency.
Emergency absences must be communicated by a parent/guardian in writing or an email before the rehearsal begins.
Unexcused absences may result in loss of set drill spot, alternate status, or performance ineligibility.
Excused Absences (with documentation & 2 weeks notice)
Illness (with parent/guardian communication)
Family wedding (immediate family only)
Religious holidays
School-sponsored, graded event (conflicting class performance/competition)
Unexcused Absences
Work
Studying or homework
Babysitting
Driver’s training
Routine doctor/dentist appointments scheduled during rehearsal
Last-minute messages without prior communication
“Not feeling well” without parental communication
Transportation issues
Thank you to the many students and families who already communicate responsibly and plan ahead. These expectations are not a punishment – but rather are about respect for each other and the work we are doing together. Consistent effort and communication are part of what makes this program so successful.
If you have any questions about this policy, please feel free to contact me directly. Thank you.
IMPORTANT DATES
❇️ 12/1 Indoor Percussion Kick-Off!
❇️ 12/2 Winter Guard Parent Meeting
❇️ 12/3 Monthly Parent Booster Meeting @ 6:30PM
❇️ 12/5 SCSBOA Honor Groups Deadline
❇️ 12/10 Elementary, Ross, and Gahr Jazz Concert at 5:30PM @ Artesia D.E.S.
❇️ 12/12 Jazz I & II @ Winter Pep Rally
❇️ 12/13 Indoor Percussion 9AM-5PM
❇️ 12/17 Holiday Band Concert at 6:30PM @ Whitney HS
❇️ 12/19 Indoor Percussion 9AM-5PM / Winter Guard 10AM-5PM
❇️ 12/20 Indoor Percussion 9AM-5PM
❇️ 12/22 Winter Guard 9AM-9PM
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 12/1
BRING INSTRUMENT AND MUSIC TO SCHOOL
6:55AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance
7:20AM Jazz I & II downbeat
2nd/3rd Period – New Holiday Concert Music!
6th-6:00PM Indoor Percussion Kick-Off rehearsal!
TUESDAY 12/2
SEE’S CANDIES DEADLINE
GIVINGTUESDAY!
6:55AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance
7:20AM Jazz I & II downbeat
3:30-6:00PM Wind Ensemble rehearsal (new music)
5:00-9:00PM Winter Guard rehearsal
8:00-9:00PM Mandatory Winter Guard Parent Meeting
WEDNESDAY 12/3
6th-4:30PM Winter Guard rehearsal (staging)
6:00-9:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
6:30PM Monthly Parent Booster Meeting
THURSDAY 12/4
6:55AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance
7:20AM Jazz I & II downbeat
3:30-6:00PM Combined Band rehearsal
5:00-9:00PM Winter Guard rehearsal
FRIDAY 12/5
SCSBOA HONOR GROUP DEADLINE
6:55AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance
7:20AM Jazz I & II downbeat
TAKE INSTRUMENTS & EQUIPMENT HOME AFTER SCHOOL