WINTER PARK BAND Weekly Newsletter

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Dear Winter Park Band families,

The Student Leadership Team had a great few days last week getting ready for Band Camp at Leadership Camp and the South Orange Leadership Summit! A big thank you to the Pride of the Patriots for hosting us this year at FHS. The Leadership Team are so excited to share what they learned and bring the positive attitude and energy for camp the next two weeks. Great job everyone!

Great job by our students at Percussion and Color Guard Camp this past week. They go a ton of work done and are ready to join in with the rest of the Band!

Thank you to all of our Band families who have been working hard on FHSAA Athletic Clearance. Regardless of clearance status, students are expected to be in attendance at Band Camp for all 9 days. The directors will be helping students individually if they still need help getting fully cleared.

• Students will have a spot in the first part of the marching show if they are cleared for Band Camp.
• If a student is not cleared for Band Camp or has an unexcused absence from Band Camp, they will not have a spot in the first part of the marching show.

It's finally here - Band Camp 2026! It's going to be a great time, and so good to get the Band back together to create our show For All Mankind! Band Camp dates are Monday, July 20 - Thursday, July 23 & Monday, July 27 - Friday, July 31. All days are 8 AM - 5 PM with our Mandatory Band Booster Meeting (for all parents/guardians) in the band room on Friday, July 31 at 6 PM, followed by the Premiere Show at 7:15 PM on D-Lot or in the Auditorium (weather permitting).

Sample Band Camp Daily Schedule:

7:40 AM Arrive at WPHS Main Campus Band Room

8:00 AM Full Band Meeting

8:05 AM Visual Fundamentals

12:00 PM Lunch

12:45 PM Indoor Music Rehearsals (small sections, large sections, full music ensemble), Dance rehearsals for Color Guard

4:50 PM Announcements & Dismissal

What Do I Need for Marching Band Camp & Marching Season?

• Drink lots of water and be active outdoors prior to marching band camp – don’t wait until the first day of camp to hydrate and to be exerting yourself in the heat and humidity!
• You will need comfortable athletic shoes and socks at every rehearsal. Sandals/Flip-flops/Slip-ons/Crocs/Hey Dudes/etc. are not allowed during a marching band rehearsal. You must have shoes on your feet at all times both inside and outside.
• Sunscreen. You will need it for just about every rehearsal.
• A brimmed hat and sunglasses. This will provide extra protection from the sun, and sunglasses will allow you to see the drum majors and where you’re going while you march.
• Light colored clothing. Avoid dark colors when rehearsing outside in the sun!
• A personal instrument that is in good working order OR a school-owned instrument for those who play large/specialized instruments.
• A flip folder with at least 10 sleeves, and a lyre. This is an essential piece of equipment for marching band, and will be required at rehearsals and performances. Example linked above. Any music store that handles band instruments will have these on hand, but it would be a good idea to call ahead of time. Also, it is best to take the instrument into the store to have the correct lyre fitted to your specific instrument (different instrument manufacturers have different lyre connections).
• A half-inch, 3-ring binder with plastic sheet protectors. This will keep your sheet music safe and all in one place for rehearsals. You will need it at every rehearsal. Examples linked above.
• Tan/khaki shorts. All Students will need to provide their own tan/khaki shorts to wear as part of our Band Summer Uniform. Students must have their pair of shorts before the 2025 SOTW Premiere Show of Spanish Images on Thursday, 7/31.

Be sure you're playing your instrument leading up to Band Camp. A good amount would be 15-20 minutes a day with a focused warmup and some work on All-State audition materials (see below), 12 major scales, chromatic scale, sight-reading, stands tunes, and any music you were given at Mini Camp. You could pick one thing from that list to work on for 15 minutes and then pick another for the next day. Whatever playing you do now will pay big dividends when you get to camp!

Band Camp Meals will be served at lunch each day to those students who have already paid for them. If you chose not to purchase Band Camp Meals, please remember to bring a packed lunch with you to camp. Additionally, students will be able to grab OCPS lunch each day from the cafeteria, as well as a snack in the afternoon, if they would like.

Let's make it a great first week of the year!

Mr. Clemente & Ms. O'Rourke

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

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,

Here we go! We are excited to welcome all our students to the 26-27 Marching Season at band camp! Please come prepared with plenty of water, sun protection, and enthusiasm. Parents, please put the 6pm 7/31 Mandatory Parent Meeting on your calendar.

As always, feel free to reach out with any questions.

Have a great week!

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me.

-Laura Cambridge

wphsbandboosterpresident@gmail.com

UPCOMING BAND PAYMENTS

• WOODWINDS, BRASS, PERCUSSION
• Wednesday, July 29, 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
• Wednesday, July 29, 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

Marching Season Is Here!

The countdown is over - Marching Season officially kicks off on Monday, July 20 and we can't wait to welcome everyone back for another incredible season of music, memories, and Wildcat spirit!

If you plan to volunteer at any Band or Colorguard events this year, be on the lookout for the 2026-2027 OCPS ADDitions application link coming soon. An approved ADDitions application is required to volunteer, so we encourage families to complete it as soon as it's available. We can't wait to see you this season!

Jennifer Mullins

WPHS Band Volunteer Coordinator

🎶 Band Camp Is Almost Here! ☀️

It’s hard to believe, but Band Camp kicks off next week! We hope everyone has had an amazing summer and is as excited as we are to welcome our students back for another incredible season of music, friendships, and unforgettable memories.

As we gear up for football season and all of the performances ahead, don’t forget that Sponsorships and Student Dedications are still underway! If you haven’t started reaching out to local businesses, there’s still time. Summer is a great opportunity to connect with businesses you frequent or have relationships with and invite them to support the Winter Park High School Band.

Remember:
🎵 Business Sponsorships earn 45% fundraising credit back to your student’s account, with no limit to the number of sponsorships you can sell! Sponsorships help provide instruments, repairs, transportation, guest clinicians, music, uniforms, competitions, and so much more for our students.

📅 Upcoming Deadlines

• Business Sponsorships Due: August 11
• Student Dedications Due: August 25

💳 Payment Options
We’re in the final stages of getting our School Cash Online payment link activated for the new school year. As soon as it’s available, we’ll share the link with everyone! In the meantime, sponsors are always welcome to pay by check, made payable to Winter Park High School Band. Once School Cash is live, businesses and families will also have the option to pay securely by credit card.

If you need additional sponsorship packets, dedication forms, or have any questions during Band Camp, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Or click this link for the Sponsorship Packet -

Copy of 26:27 Full Sponsorship Packet.pdf

We can’t wait to see everyone back next week and kick off another fantastic year of Winter Park Band!

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

🎶 Band Camp is Just Around the Corner! 🎺

The excitement is building, the instruments are tuned, and Provisions is thrilled to fuel our incredible Marching Band and Colorguard teams for the upcoming two weeks of band camp! Being out on the field takes serious energy, and we are fully prepared to keep everyone nourished, hydrated, and ready to perform.

Here is a quick look at what we have lined up for lunchtime at camp:

• Fresh & Fueling Options: We’re serving up a delicious variety of nutrient-packed meals, featuring plenty of crisp fruits and veggies to keep energy levels high all day long.
• Ultimate Hydration: Staying safe in the heat is our top priority. Gatorade and dedicated water hydration stations will be provided daily during lunchtime to all students to ensure everyone stays properly hydrated and refreshed.
• No Student Left Hungry: Didn’t purchase a meal plan during registration? Forgot your lunch at home? Don’t sweat it! We’ve got you covered:
• Daily PB&J Station: A quick, delicious go-to backup for anyone who needs it. Please note: To maintain safe food zones, this station will be completely separate and served away from the main food service area.
• OCPS School Lunches: Available daily at no cost, so every student has access to a full, balanced meal if needed.

⚠️ Attention New Freshman & Incoming First-Year Parents: Allergies & Preferences

As we look ahead to the upcoming school year, your student's health and safety are our number one priorities. If your child has any new or existing food allergies, dietary restrictions, or specific dietary preferences to report, please email us directly at wphsbandprovisions@gmail.com prior to the start of band camp. Beyond just knowing the logistics, we truly want to connect with parents of students with allergies personally so we can partner together to keep your student safe and comfortable.

Please Note: While we work closely with our food partners to accommodate specific needs, band camp meals are prepared in outside vendor kitchens. Because of this, we cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free environment, and there is always a possible risk of cross-contamination. If your child has a severe food allergy and plans to purchase camp-provided meals, please contact Provisions with any questions regarding specific vendors to discuss if band camp meals are the right choice for your child. When allergen exposure risks are unknown, packing a lunch from home is always the safest and best choice to eliminate doubt.

We can't wait to see all the hard work come together. Let’s make this the best band camp yet!

Christina Armendariz, Beth Lybarger, & Griselle Monzon

WPHS SOTW Provisions Team

Questions? Reach out to us: wphsbandprovisions@gmail.com

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

July 20 - 23 & 27 - 31: BAND CAMP, 8 AM - 5 PM

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July 31: Mandatory Band Booster Meeting, 6 PM

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July 31: 2026 SOTW Premiere Show, 7:15 PM

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

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August 11: First Day of School

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August 21: Football Game

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