WINTER BAND CONCERT THIS WEDNESDAY!
Our annual Winter Band Concert is this Wednesday, December 17th at 6:30PM at the Whitney HS Grace Hu Auditorium! Get in the holiday spirit with all your favorite tunes from our jazz and concert bands. Admission is just $10 for adults, $8 for students, and children 3 and under are free if they are sitting on your lap. If you would like them to have their own seat, you must purchase a ticket for them. Please note that TICKETS ARE ONLINE, PRE-SALE ONLY – no walk-ups please. Tickets are selling FAST!!
Use this link to reserve your seats through Ticket Leap:
tinyurl.com/winter-band
STUDENTS: Please continue practicing DAILY with a metronome so you are individually prepared for the concert. ATTENDANCE AT THESE REHEARSALS IS MANDATORY TO PERFORM IN THE CONCERT.
WINTER BAND CONCERT REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:
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 – Final Run-through / Load 1:00-2:00PM
Take instrument & music with you – the Band Room will close immediately afterwards.
Wed 12/17 – Holiday Band Concert 6:30PM @ Whitney HS (student call time 5:00PM)
On Wednesday, please make arrangements to take your instrument, music, and everything you need for the concert after the run-through. Student CALL TIME is 5:00PM 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 right 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 extend below the knees - NOT a skirt)
EVERYONE – Wear a Santa hat, antlers, or fun/festive/holiday hat!
PARENTS: We need your help with check-in, refreshments, and merchandise before the concert, at intermission, and after the concert. Please click here to sign up to help at the concert. These areas will be closed during performances so you are still able to watch your student perform. Thank you!
Celebrate an unforgettable season with our 2025 limited-edition “And Sew It Goes” ornament, handmade with charming details inspired by this year’s production and finished with a 2025 charm. Only 75 ornaments will be made, making this a truly special keepsake.
Relive the season all year long with the official 2026 Gahr Marching Gladiators 11” x 17” wall calendar, featuring beautiful photos from rehearsals, competitions, booster support, and championship performances. It’s a perfect gift for family, friends, and supporters, with limited quantities available.
Commemorate the 10th annual Gahr Invitational Field Tournament with this limited-edition embroidered patch, a meaningful keepsake for band members, alumni, and supporters. This 3” sew-on patch looks great on jackets or in shadow boxes. Quantities are limited.
Great work this past week! Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Red Robin fundraiser – we had a great turnout, it was a lot of fun, and your support truly makes a difference for our program. Thank you as well to the parents, students, and alumni who spent Saturday moving all of the props from the 600s overhang to the old tennis courts. It was a huge amount of work, and it was impressive that everything was completed. Our next project will be cleaning out the space underneath the stadium bleachers to use for storage.
WINTER GUARD & INDOOR PERCUSSION UPDATE
Great work this past week, Winter Guard and Indoor Percussion! Both groups began staging and learning material for their 2026 productions, and the progress has been excellent. We have a mandatory Indoor Percussion Parent/Student Meeting this Thursday, December 18, at 5:30PM (immediately following practice).
Monday, December 15
Winter Guard Staging: 2:30-5:30PM
Thursday, December 18
Winter Guard: 11:00AM-2:00PM (Block 6th period until 2:00PM)
Indoor Percussion: 2:00-5:30PM
Mandatory Indoor Percussion Parent/Student Meeting at 5:30PM
Friday, December 19
Indoor Percussion: 9:00AM-5:00PM (bring $5 for lunch)
Winter Guard: 10:00AM-5:00PM (bring $5 for lunch)
Saturday, December 20
Indoor Percussion Camp: 9:00AM-5:00PM (bring $5 for lunch)
Please note that the 1st Winter Guard donation of $225 is due this Friday, December 19th. As always, we accept cash, a check made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or click here to pay online with a credit card. We are unable to begin production of costumes or the floor tarp without these funds.
Click on these links to access the Winter Guard Info Packet and Winter Guard Calendar that was handed out at the Parent/Student Information Meeting. Thank you for your continued support.
JAZZ BAND UPDATE
Outstanding job by Jazz I and II at the Ross Middle School and elementary band performance at the Portuguese Hall! Both ensembles sounded fantastic, and it was truly inspirational for the Ross and elementary students to hear our bands perform. Jazz I also performed for the school at the Winter Glow Pep Rally on Friday. If you missed it, catch both Jazz Bands this Wednesday at the Winter Band Concert!
This week, we will have Jazz I and II zero period Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to prepare for the Winter Band Concert. Make sure you keep practicing DAILY so you can have the best performance possible!
HONOR BAND AUDITION MUSIC NOW AVAILABLE
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Christi Lundahl will be conducting the 2026 ABCUSD High School Honor Band. She has programmed some truly phenomenal literature, and this will be an outstanding musical experience for our students. All Wind Ensemble students are REQUIRED to audition. Concert Band students are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to audition (and many of these students make the honor band every year).
Please note that the Honor Band audition excerpts will also be used for ensemble and chair placements for second semester, so all students should prepare the material carefully.
Audition Music (PDFs): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/08rcf0p9ghyl7j8ftizy2/AIcIit9s7DNLpi3NUcGD_Vg?rlkey=8ntjff96uqpzfk5carmjewqdo&dl=0
More details regarding audition dates and procedures will be shared soon. Please let Mr. Loney or Mrs. Johnson Miranda know if you need any help. Happy practicing!
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
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
❇️ 12/15 Combined Band & Wind Ensemble 3:30-6PM
❇️ 12/16 Combined Band & Wind Ensemble 2-5PM
❇️ 12/17 Concert Run-through & Load 1-2PM
❇️ 12/17 Holiday Band Concert at 6:30PM @ Whitney HS!
❇️ 12/18 Winter Guard 11AM-2PM / Indoor Percussion 2-5:30PM
❇️ 12/18 Indoor Percussion Parent/Student Meeting at 5:30PM
❇️ 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 12/15
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance
7:20AM Jazz I & II downbeat
6th-5:30PM Winter Guard Staging
3:30-6:00PM Combined Band & Wind Ensemble Rehearsal
TUESDAY 12/16
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance
7:20AM Jazz I & II downbeat
FINALS – BLOCK SCHEDULE – PERIODS 1 & 2
Band Room open after school / Eat lunch
2:00-5:00PM Combined Band & Wind Ensemble Rehearsal
WEDNESDAY 12/17
7:30AM Jazz I & II final run-through
FINALS – BLOCK SCHEDULE – PERIODS 3 & 4
1:00-2:00PM Combined Band & Wind Ensemble Run-through / Load
Take instrument, music, and everything for the concert.
5:00PM STUDENT CALL TIME AT WHITNEY HS – 16800 Shoemaker Ave, Cerritos, CA 90703
Wear ALL BLACK concert attire and a Santa hat. Bring your instrument and music.
6:00PM Doors open
6:30PM Holiday Band Concert at Whitney HS!
8:15PM Approximate end time. All students help load and clean up.
THURSDAY 12/18
NO JAZZ BAND
FINALS – BLOCK SCHEDULE – PERIODS 5 & 6
11:00AM-2:00PM Winter Guard rehearsal
TAKE INSTRUMENTS & MUSIC HOME TO PRACTICE OVER WINTER BREAK
2:00-5:30PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
5:30PM Mandatory Indoor Percussion Parent/Student Meeting
FRIDAY 12/19
WINTER GUARD DONATION – $225 DUE
9:00AM-5:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal (bring $5 for lunch)
10:00AM-5:00PM Winter Guard rehearsal (bring $5 for lunch)
SATURDAY 12/20
9:00AM-5:00PM Indoor Percussion Rehearsal (bring $5 for lunch)