THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THE GAHR INVITATIONAL FIELD TOURNAMENT SUCH A HUGE SUCCESS! WE HOSTED 32 BANDS AND HAD THE LARGEST CROWD IN THE EVENT’S HISTORY. I’M PROUD OF ALL THE HARD WORK, TEAMWORK, AND EFFORT YOU BROUGHT. YOU SHOWCASED WHAT MAKES THE GAHR INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM SO SPECIAL.
Coming Up This Week:
Tuesday 11/10 – Winter Guard Parent Meeting at 7PM in the Band Room
Wednesday 11/11 – Important Rehearsal 9AM-4PM
Friday 11/13 – Middle School Band Night
Saturday 11/14 – Photo Day & WBA Regional Championships
We need everyone to be 100% and healthy as we head into our final performances. Please wash your hands frequently, hydrate 24 hours in advance, get plenty of rest, and wear a mask if you have the sniffles. Keep the momentum and improvement!
Parent Volunteer Sign-Up Links:
✅ Wednesday 11/11 – Lunch Volunteers Needed
✅ Friday 11/13 – Middle School Band Night!
✅ Saturday 11/14 – WBA Regional Championships
GAHR INVITATIONAL – THANK YOU!
Thank you to all the parents, students, teachers, administrators, and alumni who made the 11th Annual Gahr Invitational Field Tournament such a huge success! We hosted 32 incredible bands and welcomed our largest crowd ever, filling both the home and away bleachers and with several bands overflowing onto the track. Directors, adjudicators, and spectators shared countless compliments about the organization, hospitality, and professionalism of the competition. You represented Gahr with pride and made a lasting impression on everyone who attended.
A very special thank-you to our dedicated parent volunteers for their incredible work on Saturday – many of them all day – as well as for all the planning that went into the event. We are so grateful for all the alumni parents and students who continue to give back to the program year after year.
Thank you to our executive board, chairs, and representatives for their preparation and coordination that helped the tournament run smoothly. A very special thank you to our Gahr Invitational leads, Dee Dee Varney and Ida Barcelos. They worked tirelessly to plan and coordinate every detail of the tournament. Their dedication, care, and countless hours of hard work helped bring this incredible event to life.
Concessions – Tania Costa & Dee Dee Varney
Group Check-In – Ida Barcelos
Spectator Parking - Michael Costa & Jef Aquino
Bus & Trailer Parking – Rod Maralit & Larry Barcelos
Tickets – Angie Cruz
Stadium Traffic – David Wiitanen
Hospitality – Vickie Gonzales
Satellite Concessions – Caryle Buenaventura
Jewelry/Merch – Ester Rodriguez & Sophea Sim
Cup o’ Corn – Veronica De Santiago
Bake Sale – Lawanda Thomas & Lisa Mayeda
First Aid Station – William Gonzales
Student Dinner – Sarah Szabatura
Director Liaison & Program Booklet – Jeffrey Varney
Student Host Coordinator – Joon Mock
Announcer – Mr. Miller
Judge Runner – William Wu
We’d also like to thank ABCUSD School Board Member Jeannie McHatton for joining our boosters and working alongside them to help make the day a success. We’re grateful to the Gahr High School administrators who came throughout the day to show their support: Ms. TreAna Marbrey, Mr. Adam Taylor, Mr. Ariel Legaspi, and Principal Dr. David Keys.
We will debrief the Gahr Invitational Field Tournament at our next Parent Booster Meeting on Wednesday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m. We always appreciate your feedback!
We hope to see everyone this Friday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m. at Gahr High School Stadium for Middle School Band Night. Come support the Gahr Marching Gladiators this Saturday, November 14, at 8:40 p.m. at the WBA Regional Championships, hosted at Trabuco Hills High School!
EL CAMINO AL ÉXITO PERFORMANCE TODAY!
This morning, the Gahr Wind Ensemble + Pep Band rhythm section will welcome more than 400 elementary students to campus for “El Camino al Éxito.” Students are excused Periods 1 and 2 for this event. Please come to school wearing your “Jungle Boogie” show shirt and jeans. Bring your flip folder & lyre.
8:15AM Set up the drum set on the new rug, along with the bass amp + jackery power
8:30AM Meet in the band room wearing your show shirt and jeans. Bring your flip folder & lyre.
8:45AM Be ready to play pep tunes outside (near gym entrance)
9:15AM Move to center court in the gym
9:45AM Play additional songs (As It Was, Fight Song)
10:15AM Return to the Band Room
SENIOR DINNER AT LUCILLE'S BAR-B-QUE — NEXT THURSDAY 11/19
Join us Thursday, November 19th, at 7:00PM at Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que as we celebrate the Class of 2027 at our annual Senior Dinner! Parents and immediate family are welcome to attend for just $40 per person. The boosters will cover dinner for our senior band and color guard students.
Please RSVP to Tania or Dee Dee and submit payment for family meals by Friday, November 13.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND NIGHT THIS FRIDAY!
We’re excited to welcome our future Gladiators to Middle School Band & Guard Night this Friday, November 13th!
PARENTS: Parents – we’d love your help to make the night run smoothly! PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER
High school students have call time at 4:00PM to eat pizza dinner (provided) and change into full uniform/costume. Middle schoolers will be checking in at 5:30PM at the stadium. We’ll have sectionals and a short rehearsal as we teach the students some pep tunes, cadences, and warm ups/routines. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR FLIP FOLDER & MUSIC LYRE!
Our "Show & Tell" performance will take place at 7:00PM in the stadium! This is FREE and open to family and friends. At approximately 7:30PM, the middle schoolers will eat pizza and watch our 2026 production of “Jungle Boogie” in the bleachers. If you are a high school parent who normally helps with push-on, this is a great opportunity to enjoy the field show in full uniform from the up in the stands!
RAIN PLAN: If it rains we will have Middle School Night in the gym instead.
BAND & COLOR GUARD PHOTO DAY – THIS SATURDAY 11/14
This Saturday, November 14th, we will be taking band and color guard photos after our morning rehearsal/run-through! Please make sure to complete the photo order form your student received in class, or print the order form here.
Please bring all forms and payments directly to the photographer on Saturday. Do not place photo payments in the band room drop box.
Students may also take optional “Buddy Photos” for $5 per person. YOU MUST PURCHASE A PHOTO PACKAGE TO BE IN A BUDDY PHOTO.
WBA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS SATURDAY 11/14
WBA Regional Championships are this Saturday, November 14th hosted at Trabuco Hills High School!
STUDENT CALL TIME IS 8:30AM — DO NOT BE LATE. Pack everything you need the night before, including your 1-gallon water jug, money for dinner, full uniform – black sleeveless compression shirt, black compression shorts, LONG black socks, and black marching shoes – and everything you need for guard hair & makeup. We will be in uniform/costume for FULL RETREAT (just like at the Bands of America Regional).
LOCATION: Trabuco Hills High School
ADDRESS: 27501 Mustang Run, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
EVENT DETAILS: https://www.westernbands.org/events/details.php?ID=1531
GET TICKETS: https://bluedevils.org/events/event_details.php?eventID=18937
VOLUNTEER LINK: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48AFA82EA3F8C61-67048829-111426
PACKET: https://bit.ly/TITH2026-InfoPckt
8:30AM CALL TIME — DO NOT BE LATE. Set up at the stadium field ASAP.
RAIN PLAN: If it rains in the morning, we will move rehearsal indoors to the band room and gym.
9:00AM Warm up / Rehearse in sections
10:00AM Full ensemble
12:00PM Full run-through with push on/off – PARENT HELP NEEDED
12:15PM Load equipment ASAP (keep equipment out you need for photos)
12:45PM Lunch (Penne pasta, provided)
1:15PM Change into full uniform/costume ASAP
2:00PM Band & Color Guard Photos (bring order form and check/cash)
4:15PM Meet in Band Room
4:30PM Load buses
4:45PM Depart for Trabuco Hills HS – 27501 Mustang Run, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
5:30PM Arrive / check in
5:45PM Restroom / Sack dinner / Unload
6:30PM Warm up / Parents pre-stage props
7:45PM Music ensemble
8:15PM Push to gate
8:30PM Gate time
8:40PM Performance time
8:55PM Clear and secure equipment / watch RCC if time allows
9:10PM STUDENTS REPORT FOR FULL RETREAT STAGING
9:30PM Awards 3A/4A/5A — Full Retreat
10:15PM Walk back to buses / restroom if needed
10:30PM Change out of uniform/costume ASAP
11:00PM Load buses
11:15PM Depart for Gahr HS
12:00AM Arrive / unload ASAP (everyone helps)
12:30AM Dismissal
THE REST OF THIS WEEK:
TUESDAY 11/10
6:50AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II
8:30AM El Camino al Éxito Performance (Wind Ensemble)
Period 4/5/6 – Move Props/Equipment, HW, Practice Time
After School – Do Homework & Eat Dinner
5:00PM Set up in the stadium
5:30-8:45PM Marching Band Rehearsal in Stadium
7:00PM-8:00PM Winter Guard Parent Meeting
WEDNESDAY 11/11
8:00AM Band Room open
Eat a good breakfast and arrive early.
9:00AM-4:00PM Rehearsal Prepping for WBA Regional
8:30AM-12:00PM Block 1
12:00-1:00PM Lunch – Bring $5 for burgers & hot dogs
1:00-4:00PM Block 2
4:00PM Clean Up / Dismissal
THURSDAY 11/12
6:50AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II
3:30-6:00PM Marching Band Rehearsal
FRIDAY 11/13
7:17AM Jazz I & II
3:30PM Set up for Middle School Band Night at stadium (tables, chairs, EZ-ups)
4:00PM Pizza Dinner at patio (provided)
4:30PM Change into full uniform/costume
5:15PM Walk to stadium (bring instrument/equipment, flip folder, lyre, music stand racks)
5:30PM Middle Schoolers check-in / mingle!
6:00PM Sectionals – winds learning pep tunes, drumline learning cadences, guard learning routine
(front ensemble rehearsal in stadium)
6:45PM Wrap up / Set up for performance
7:00PM FREE Show & Tell Performance! (Drumline, Guard, Pep Tunes, Field Show)
7:45PM Clean Up – put away props and equipment
8:15PM Change out of uniform ASAP – hang correctly
8:30PM Dismissal
Hydrate and go to bed early!
SATURDAY 11/14
WBA SO CAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
LOCATION: Trabuco Hills High School
ADDRESS: 27501 Mustang Run, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
EVENT DETAILS: https://www.westernbands.org/events/details.php?ID=1531
GET TICKETS: https://bluedevils.org/events/event_details.php?eventID=18937
PACKET: https://bit.ly/TITH2026-InfoPckt
8:30AM Call time / Set up at stadium (bring cases)
12:00PM Full run-through with push on/off – PARENT HELP NEEDED
12:45PM Lunch (Penne pasta, provided)
2:00PM Band & Color Guard Photos (bring order form and check/cash)
4:45PM Depart for Trabuco Hills HS – 27501 Mustang Run, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
8:40PM Performance time
9:10PM STUDENTS REPORT FOR FULL RETREAT STAGING
9:30PM Awards 3A/4A/5A — Full Retreat
📆 IMPORTANT DATES
11/10 Winter Guard Parent Meeting at 7PM in the Band Room
11/11 Important Rehearsal 9AM-4PM
11/13 Middle School Band & Guard Night!
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!