WINTER PARK BAND Weekly Newsletter

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Dear Winter Park Band families,

Wow! That's the impression I was left with after the last two weeks of work that our students have done and Friday's Premiere Show. We’re very proud of them each individually and as a whole for such a successful Band Camp 2026. This year is going to be the best year yet!

It was wonderful to see so many people in the audience for the 2026 Premiere Show on D-Lot Friday night. Performing itself is always fun, but it is a whole different experience when you’re able to perform in front of a packed audience. Friday night the fence was packed 3-4 people deep. I know I speak for everyone in the Band when I say thank you so much to all the family, friends, and Band alumni who were there to cheer this year's SOTW on. We hope to see you at our future football games and concerts!

Thank you to our Band Booster Board lead by Laura Cambridge for putting together an outstanding Band Booster Meeting before Friday's show. Our program doesn't go anywhere or do anything - both literally and figuratively - without all our Band Boosters. Your help will make this the best year yet for our program!

I'd like to especially point out and say thank you to Christina Armendariz and her team of volunteers who have come in each day to feed a bunch of hungry teenagers! It was great to see both new and veteran band parents helping each day - we couldn't do it without you.

Thank you to our 2026 Band Camp Staff for their work over the last two weeks. This awesome crew gave so much time and outstanding examples for our students to emulate: Sofia Velez, Colin Anderson, Mr. Murphy, Leon Edge, Dylan O’Dhea, Neff Bernard, Mr. Roberts, Sam Williams, Mr. Dekle, Mr. Cross, Gabby Batas, Ms. Young, and Rissy Bierbrodt.

The first financial obligations of the 2026-2027 school year come due on Friday, August 7. The first Fair Share Payment (all students), the Marching Band Shoe Payment (if needed), and the Extra Show Shirt (optional) all come due. Payments may be made on School Cash or by check/cash turned into the Band office. If you would like to refresh your memory of "what is due when" for the school year, please visit www.winterparkhsband.com/register.html and click on the information packet under Step 3. Have questions? Email wphsbandtreasurer@gmail.com, raegan.orourke@ocps.net, and michael.clemente@ocps.net.

Fundraising: Please take note of the Sponsorships & Student Dedication Fundraiser section of the newsletter this week. Sponsorship collection deadlines have been extended, so get out there, ask our community for their support, and sell some ads!

Schedule Notes:

• SOTW will have rehearsal this week Tuesday, 8/4, from 6:00 – 8:30 PM on D-Lot as a continuity rehearsal from Band Camp. Students must be in stretch block at 6:00 PM or they will be marked tardy.
• Our regular after school marching band rehearsals begin on Tuesday, 8/11. Weekly rehearsals will take place Tuesdays from 3:15 - 6:30 PM and game days from after school - 5 PM.
• We also have a performance at the "Meet the Cats" Pep Rally on Thursday, 8/20. We will wear the summer uniform, same as the Premiere Show.
• Our first football game performance is scheduled for Friday, 8/21. We will wear the summer uniform, same as the Premiere Show.

Let's make it a great week!

Mr. Clemente & Ms. O'Rourke

All-State Auditions - Saturday, September 19 at Ocoee HS

Reference Recordings and Play-Along videos: http://www.winterparkhsband.com/honor-bands.html

Concert Band (9th & 10th grade)

• Woodwinds
• Brass & Percussion

Symphonic Band (11th & 12th Grade)

• Woodwinds
• Brass & Percussion

Piano (9th through 12th Grade)

High School Jazz Band (9th - 12th grades)

• Requirement Sheet
• Excerpts & Backing Tracks
• Improv Instructions

Sight-Reading Guidelines and Past Sight-Reading Excerpts

Concert (9th & 10th Grade)

Symphonic (11th & 12th Grade)

Past Years Sightreading

Happy practicing!

Band Families,

It was great to see so many of you at the marching showcase on Friday! The students really worked hard to put on an excellent show.

Band camp would not have been as amazing without our mini-army of volunteers; with a special shout out to the uniform team for getting the students outfitted, and Christina Armendariz with the provisions team who worked miracles to make sure the students had access to diverse, filling, and nutritious meals. Thank you to everyone who pitched in to make band camp possible.

This week please note the Tuesday rehearsal, and enjoy the last week off before school begins!

Laura Cambridge

wphsbandboosterpresident@gmail.com

UPCOMING BAND PAYMENTS

• WOODWINDS, BRASS, PERCUSSION
• Friday, August 7, 2026
• Fair Share Payment - $225 OR Fair Share Payment 1 - $100.00
• Marching Band Shoe (new students and if needed) - $50.00
• Extra Show Shirt (optional) - $15.00

• COLOR GUARD
• Friday, August 7, 2026
• Fall Fair Share Payment - $325 OR Fair Share Payment 1 - $100
• Marching Band Shoe (if needed) - $50.00
• Extra Show Shirt (optional) - $15.00

🎶 Turn Community Support into Student Savings! 🎶

Did you know that every sponsorship and student dedication helps reduce your family’s out-of-pocket band expenses? Between Fair Share, the upcoming spring trip, uniforms, and other band-related costs, expenses can add up—but every sponsorship and dedication earns fundraising credit that goes directly to your student’s account.

The best part? There’s still plenty of time to submit your sponsorships and dedications! Parents are the key to making this program successful. Reach out to family, friends, and local businesses you already support, you may be surprised who is willing to help.

Every sponsorship, every dedication, and every conversation makes a difference. Together, we can help offset costs for our students while supporting the incredible Winter Park High School Band! 🎺🥁🎶 ** see attached the links for the forms for both sponsorship and dedications**

Copy of 26:27 Full Sponsorship Packet.pdf

Sponsorship Forms

Erica Diltz, Sponsorship Chair
Winter Park High School Band
wpbandprogram@gmail.com | 407-784-4361

We did it...we survived Week 2 which means we survived Band Camp 2026! Hooray!

This year's band camp certainly kept us on our toes! Between the Florida heat, ongoing construction, serving lunches from the auditorium lobby instead of the cafeteria, hauling countless water jugs and coolers, a few bumps and bruises along the way (literally) and everything else that came our way, our volunteers never missed a beat.

To every volunteer who gave their time, energy, and heart-THANK YOU! Your flexibility, dedication and willingness to jump in wherever you were needed helped keep our students fed, hydrated and ready to learn. Because of you, our students had an amazing start to the marching season.

As we transition into football games, performances, competitions and everything else this season has in store, I hope you'll continue your volunteer journey with us. If you've been thinking about getting involved but haven't volunteered yet, there's no better time to jump in! We'd love to welcome you to our amazing volunteer family, so don't hesitate to reach out - I would be happy to help you find the perfect place to get involved.

Here's to an incredible marching season ahead. Go Wildcats!

Jennifer Mullins

WPHS Band Volunteer Coordinator

This time of year, many families consider purchasing a higher quality instrument for their student. While the rental instruments or student instruments many students had during middle school served them well during that time, high school music and musicians need instruments with higher quality make and materials to continue to improve. Please especially do not buy an instrument for your student from discount websites like Amazon. We music teachers refer to instruments sold on those websites as ISOs - Instrument Shaped Objects.

If you are able and considering a "step-up" instrument for your student (sometimes referred to as "intermediate" or "professional" instruments by manufacturers), please feel free to reach out for guidance. We will be happy to point you in the right direction and give options for quality instruments at fair prices.

Local music stores:

Underwood Music - 4949 N Pine Ave, Winter Park, FL 32792

Music Shack - 702 S US Hwy 17 92, Longwood, FL 32750

Allegro Music - 851 E State Rd 434, Longwood, FL 32750

Music & Arts - 4676 Millenia Plaza Way, Orlando, FL 32839

A few websites to peruse:

www.allcountymusic.com

www.musicmaninconline.com

www.musicandarts.com

www.steveweissmusic.com

Whether a student is learning a musical instrument to pursue a career in music, or simply for personal musical fulfillment and recreation, private lessons are one of the best investments that a parent can provide for their musical child. When working with a private teacher, students receive one-on-one instruction from a professional musician who specializes on that instrument.

​Unlike a full band rehearsal experience, studying with a private teacher focuses in on the student’s individual needs. Students who study privately once a week from a professional musician are usually those who excel and find Band more enjoyable. These students frequently earn positions in honor groups like All-State and All-County, and make entry into our more advanced bands like Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble I. Some even go on to earn college scholarships, even if they are not majoring in music!

Below is a link to a list of local private teachers. This list is not exhaustive, and there may be other individuals who are not on the list. If you are a private teacher who would like to be added to our list (or deleted), or know a private teacher who should be added, please contact Mr. Clemente at michael.clemente@ocps.net.

http://www.winterparkhsband.com/private-teachers.html

August 4: Marching Band Rehearsal, 6 - 8:30 PM

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August 11: First Day of School, Marching Band Rehearsal 3:15 - 6:30 PM, continuing on Tuesday afternoons during marching band

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August 13: Marching Band Rehearsal, 2:45 - 5 PM, continuing the following weeks on gamedays during marching band

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August 20: "Meet the Cats" Pep Rally

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August 21: Football Game

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August 28: Football Game

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September 4: Football Game

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September 10: Football Game

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September 18: Football Game

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September 19: All-State Auditions, Ocoee HS

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September 25: Football Game

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October 1: FALL BAND CONCERT

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October 3: Marching Band Rehearsal, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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October 9: Football Game

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October 14: Homecoming Parade & "Roar"

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October 17: West Side Showcase

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October 23: Football Game

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October 29: Fall Orchestra Concert, Orch. Winds & Perc. Only

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October 30: Senior Night Football Game

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November 7: MARCHING BAND MPA, 9 AM - 9 PM

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November 10: FALL FESTIVAL OF BANDS

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November 14: Jazz Ensemble I @ WPAAF, Downtown Winter Park

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November 16: All-County Auditions

We've been posting lots of photos our social media platforms, and we will continue to post updates, photos, video, and other media to those pages throughout the year. Follow the Band!

• Facebook: @winterparkhsband
• Instagram: @winterparkhsband @wphs_flutes @wphsclarinets @wpsaxes @wphs_trumpets @wphs.trombones @wphstubas @winterparkhspercussion @winterparkhscolorguard @wphs.drumajors
• YouTube: @winterparkhsband
• Twitter: @wphs_bands
• Tik Tok: @winterparkhsband

Email: michael.clemente@ocps.net
Website: www.winterparkhsband.com
Location: 2100 Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Phone: 4076223200
Facebook: www.facebook.com/winterparkhsband