WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT WEEK AHEAD AS WE CONTINUE PREPARING FOR OUR UPCOMING JAZZ BAND PERFORMANCES, THE WINTER BAND CONCERT, AND INDOOR PERCUSSION AND WINTER GUARD PRODUCTIONS. PLEASE READ BELOW FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE SO YOU’RE PREPARED!

Great work this past week kicking off Winter Guard and Indoor Percussion. On Friday, the marching band had an awesome performance on LIVE TV at ABC7’s Spark of Love Toy Drive! Thank you to the Gahr High School administration and everyone who helped make it possible. We also had a great time taking over Chick-fil-A afterwards!

We have an important Wind Ensemble rehearsal on Tuesday from 3:30-6:00PM and Combined Band on Thursday from 3:30-6:00PM. All Wind Ensemble winds and percussionists should be in attendance at both of these rehearsals to finish learning the music for the Winter Band Concert.

Both Jazz I and Jazz II will be performing this Wednesday evening at the Artesia D.E.S. Portuguese Hall. Because so many battery students are involved in the jazz ensembles, Wednesday’s rehearsal will be Front Ensemble only from 6:00-9:00PM. Indoor Percussion also has rehearsal this Saturday from 9:00AM-5:00PM.

Join us this Thursday for our first-ever Red Robin fundraiser – a great way to support the program while enjoying a meal with friends and family.

To finish out the week, Jazz I will be performing at the Winter Pep Rally on Friday, and Color Guard will hold their Christmas Party from 6:00–9:30PM that evening.

JAZZ CONCERT THIS WEDNESDAY 12/10

Jazz I and Jazz II will be performing this Wednesday, December 10th at the Ross MS Winter Concert, held at the Artesia D.E.S. Portuguese Hall. Our groups will share the stage with the Ross MS Advanced Band and elementary bands from Burbank, Carver, Elliott, Wittmann, Cerritos, Nixon, Juarez, and Niemes. The concert is FREE and open to the public.

There will be two short concerts, with Jazz II performing at 5:30PM and Jazz I performing at 7:00PM. All jazz students should be at both concerts to support each other (this is also a great recruiting opportunity).

Jazz students should wear ALL-BLACK CONCERT ATTIRE along with a Santa or holiday hat. Students will load equipment right after school into a U-Haul. Call time is 4:45PM at the Portuguese Hall for unloading, set up, and warm-up. It will be a packed house, so please arrive early to allow time for parking and seating. We’re looking forward to a great night of music!

JAZZ I AT WINTER PEP RALLY THIS FRIDAY!

Jazz I 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 wear your Gahr Jazz t-shirt and a Santa/holiday hat. Jazz students will be excused during periods 3 & 4.

RED ROBIN FUNDRAISER THIS THURSDAY!

Please eat at Red Robin in the Lakewood Center Mall this Thursday 12/11 anytime from 11AM-10PM! Make sure you show this flyer and 20% of your bill will be donated back to the Gahr Instrumental Music & Color Guard Program. Enjoy a meal with friends and family and support the program!

WINTER BAND CONCERT NEXT WEDNESDAY 12/17

Join us for our Winter Band Concert on Wednesday, December 17th at 6:30PM in the Whitney HS Grace Hu Auditorium! Enjoy an evening of incredible music as our Jazz Ensembles and Concert Bands take the stage.

Admission is just $10 for adults, $8 for students with ID, and children 3 and under are free if sitting on a parent’s lap. If your child requires their own seat, you must purchase a ticket for them. Due to the theater’s limited capacity, TICKETS ARE ONLINE, PRE-SALE ONLY – no walk-ups please.

Use this link to reserve seats through Ticket Leap:
tinyurl.com/winter-band

STUDENTS: Please keep practicing DAILY with a metronome so you are individually prepared for the concert. ATTENDANCE AT THESE REHEARSALS IS MANDATORY TO PERFORM IN THE CONCERT.

REMAINING CONCERT REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:
Tue 12/9 – Wind Ensemble 3:30-6:00PM
Thu 12/11 – Combined Band 3:30-6:00PM
Mon 12/15 – Combined Band / Wind Ensemble 3:30-6:00PM
Tue 12/16 – Combined Band / Wind Ensemble 2:00-5:00PM
Wed 12/17 – Run-through / Load equipment 1:00-2:00PM
Wed 12/17 – Holiday Band Concert 6:30PM @ Whitney HS (student call time 5:00PM)

On Wednesday, December 17th please make arrangements to take your instrument, music, and everything you need for the concert. Student CALL TIME is 5:00PM next Wednesday at Whitney HS to set up on stage, warm up, and sound check for the concert bands and jazz bands. Everyone will need to help with stands, chairs, and percussion equipment both for the set up as well as the tear-down after the concert.

STUDENT ALL-BLACK CONCERT ATTIRE:
Option #1) Long-sleeve, collared, black button-up dress shirt/blouse, black dress pants/slacks, tucked in with belt, black dress shoes/flats/heels, long black socks
Option #2) Long, black concert gown/dress (must go below the knees - NOT A SKIRT)
EVERYONE – Wear a Santa hat or fun/festive/holiday hat!

PARENTS: Please click here to sign up to help at the Holiday Concert! We need help with check-in, refreshments, and merchandise before the concert, at intermission, and after the concert. We will close these areas during the performances so you are still able to watch your student perform. Thank you!

WINTER GUARD UPDATE

Thank you to the parents who came to last week’s Winter Guard Parent Information Meeting! We have a great group of students and are super excited about our 2026 production, “String Theory.”

These are the documents that were handed out at the meeting:

2026 Winter Guard Info Packet
2026 Winter Guard Calendar

INDOOR PERCUSSION UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who came out for Indoor Percussion auditions last week! Our 2026 production will be designed by John Mapes, Frankie Rice, Zach Wilson, and Mr. Loney.

This week’s schedule:

Today (Monday): Battery & Front Ensemble rehearsal from 6th period until 6:00PM
Wednesday: Front Ensemble ONLY 6-9PM (due to the number of battery students performing with Jazz I & II)
Saturday: Battery & Front Ensemble practice from 9:00AM-5:00PM (bring $5 for lunch)

We will also be doing our SHOW REVEAL today right after school in the Band Room! Please note that we are rescheduling our Parent/Student Information Meeting to next week (after finals).

PARENT FUNDRAISING UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who attended last week’s Booster Parent Meeting! We had a great time recapping the marching season, reviewing the Gahr Invitational, and planning our upcoming events and fundraisers.

We’re happy to share that we hit our See’s Candies profit goal, earning $1,750 toward individual accounts! Congratulations to Noah Ojeda, who led with an outstanding $1,225 in sales.

Thank you also to everyone who contributed on GivingTuesday. Together, we raised $1,000 for the music program!

We are excited to announce that work has begun on getting the equipment trailer wrapped using the money we raised from Fan Pledge! Our goal is to have it finished before the first Indoor Percussion competition in February. We will keep you updated with the progress.

Thank you for your continued support of the Gahr Instrumental Music & 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. FALL MARCHING BAND DONATIONS MUST BE PAID IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WINTER PROGRAMS. Please pay with cash, a check made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or click here to make a payment with a credit card.

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

❇️ 12/10 Elementary, Ross, and Gahr Jazz Concert at 5:30PM @ Artesia D.E.S.
❇️ Red Robin Fundraiser 11AM-10PM
❇️ 12/12 Jazz I @ Winter Pep Rally / Guard Christmas Party!
❇️ 12/13 Indoor Percussion 9AM-5PM
❇️ 12/15 Combined Band rehearsal 3:30-6PM
❇️ 12/16 Combined Band rehearsal 2-5PM
❇️ 12/17 Holiday Band Concert at 6:30PM @ Whitney HS!
❇️ 12/18 Winter Guard 11AM-2PM / Indoor Percussion 2-6PM
❇️ 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 12/8
7:00AM Jazz I & II set up & warm up
7:15AM Jazz I & II meeting in Band Room
7:20AM Jazz I & II downbeat
6th-6:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
3:20PM Wind/Jazz sectionals
3:30PM Indoor Percussion SHOW REVEAL!

TUESDAY 12/9
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance
7:20AM Jazz I & II downbeat
2nd/3rd – Clarinets with Beto
3:30-6:00PM Important Wind Ensemble rehearsal
5:00-9:00PM Winter Guard rehearsal

WEDNESDAY 12/10
7:30-8:20AM Jazz I & II run-through
6th-4:30PM Winter Guard rehearsal (staging)
3:30-4:00PM Load jazz equipment (music stands, chairs, vibraphone, rhythm section)
6:00-9:00PM Front Ensemble rehearsal ONLY

Jazz I & II Performance at Artesia D.E.S. Portuguese Hall
4:45PM Call time / Unload/ Set up / Warm Up
5:30PM Concert with Jazz II
7:00PM Concert with Jazz I
7:45PM Approximate clean up / load

THURSDAY 12/11
NO JAZZ BAND
11:00AM-10:00PM Red Robin Fundraiser!
3:30-6:00PM Important Combined Band rehearsal
5:00-9:00PM Winter Guard rehearsal

FRIDAY 12/12
HONOR BAND AUDITION MUSIC!
6:55AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance
7:20AM Jazz I & II downbeat (Jazz I run pep rally songs)
JAZZ I @ WINTER PEP RALLY!
3rd/4th – Wear jazz t-shirt, jeans, Santa hat. Jazz I set up and rehearse.

TAKE INSTRUMENTS HOME AFTER SCHOOL!

6:00-9:30PM Guard Christmas Party!

SATURDAY 12/13
9:00AM-5:00PM Indoor Percussion Rehearsal (bring $5 for lunch)