WINTER PARK BAND Weekly Newsletter

Dear Winter Park Band families,

We launched the Widdy Up fundraiser this past Tuesday, August 26 and have $9.348.00 raised (37% of total) as of Friday. Current leaders for the fundraiser are:

Nadia Sebree. $710

Joel Lippert 660

Lucas Gayle 522

Christhian Aguilera 485

Jacob Owens 450

Keep sharing the fundraiser on social media, and check-in with Mrs. Fodor's Fundraising Update below in the this Newsletter. If you’re not taking advantage, you’re leaving money on the table!

Spirit Wear orders have arrived and been sorted. They will head your way soon! Extra Show Shirts should be available very soon.

This week, we will have our regular Tuesday rehearsal on 9/9 with our Game Day rehearsal and first away game performance and first game in full marching uniform(!) on Friday, 9/12. See the Uniform Chairs message below for all details and parts of the uniform required.

As always, please visit the Band Calendar early and often so your student's Band activities are factored into your family schedule. As stated in the Band Handbook, the directors must both be notified by parent/guardian email a minimum of 60 days in advance of an absence for the absence to be able to be considered excused. At this point in the year, any absence between this week and the week of Thanksgiving should have already been discussed with Mr. Clemente and Ms. O'Rourke. Thank you so much for your continued attention to the calendar and communication!

Let's make it a great week!

Mr. Clemente

TRI-STATE BAND FESTIVAL (FSU) - Open to 11th and 12th grade

The 44th annual Tri-State Band Festival on the campus of Florida State University, Thursday, December 4th through Sunday, December 7th. Following a nomination and selection process, students will audition for placement in one of four concert wind ensembles or the select honors jazz ensemble (pre-audition video required). Each ensemble will rehearse and perform under the direction of renowned guest conductors. The festival includes instrument-specific masterclasses and a series of concerts featuring FSU’s premier jazz ensemble, the University Wind Ensemble, and the PRISM concert—showcasing performances from chamber groups to the world-renowned Marching Chiefs.

Additional information can be found on the Tri-State Festival website here.

Festival Highlights for 2025

• Guest Composer Residency — John Mackey

• Each of the four concert bands will perform one of Mr. Mackey’s works, and on Saturday he will lead a special Q&A session for all students and directors.

• Honors Jazz Ensemble with Guest Conductor

• This year, the Honors Jazz Ensemble will welcome a guest conductor: Dr. Jeremy George, Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Professor of music at Huston-Tillotson University. We are thrilled to expand the experience with a nationally recognized jazz educator.

• Guest Conductors for Honor Bands

• Dr. Patricia Cornett – Temple University

• Dr. Jack Eaddy, Jr. – University of Georgia

• Dr. Jeffrey Miller – Tennessee Technological University

• Dr. Jason Nam – Indiana University Bloomington

If you wish to be nominated for this year's Tri-State festival, please complete the Google form linked below by Monday, September 15.

Tri-State Band Festival Nomination Form

FESTIVAL OF WINDS (USF) - Open to 10th, 11th, & 12th grade

The University of South Florida’s School of Music is proud to host the 50th Festival of Winds on Thursday, December 4th through Sunday, December 7th. FOW was founded by Jim Croft in 1974 and has grown to become one of the finest events of its type in the southeast. In addition to playing in one of three large concert bands conducted by outstanding clinicians, students will participate in master classes, attend multiple concerts, play in a chamber ensemble or jazz band, and experience the thrill of being on a college campus for four days. Participants are nominated by their band directors based on their musical and leadership excellence, and must be high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors in order to be eligible.

In addition to the three large concert bands and instrumental choirs – (flute choir, percussion, etc) – we also have one jazz band as a primary ensemble. Students who are interested in playing in the jazz band must submit a separate audition, and if selected, will not perform in a concert band, but will participate in all other aspects of the festival – masterclasses, chamber ensembles, etc. The jazz band and chamber ensembles will perform on Saturday evening, and the concerts will be livestreamed. Students who are not selected for the jazz band will perform in a concert band.

The 2025 Clinicians are Dr. Dennis Llinas (University of Oregon), Col. Don Schofield (US Air Force Band) and Alfred Watkins (Lassiter High School, retired). In addition, students will interact with and learn from USF's outstanding School of Music faculty.

If you wish to be nominated for this year's Festival of Winds, please complete the Google form linked below by Monday, September 15.

Festival of Winds Nomination Form

I hope everyone had a nice little breather from Friday games, but we are back at it this week! Remember to send your student with marching shoes, compression shorts, black socks, and the show shirt for the game at Lake Nona on Friday. Remember students can only have water while in the stands!

The next few days are your last chance to send your student's Widdy Up link to friends and family! This is an important fundraiser for both the band and your student's credits!

We had a good response from the last Q&A zoom, please mark your calendars for the next one; 9/24 at 7pm.

wphsbandboosterpresident@gmail.com

Laura Cambridge

Hello Band Families

Our WiddyUP fundraiser is nearing its end! We have raised ( update— $8,884 as of Thursday morning— 35%) of our goal reached. Our fundraiser ends on Tuesday Sept 9.

We appreciate all of you who have participated! We still have only 36 active participants out of 150 band students! Imagine how easy to reach our goal of $25,000 if 1/3 of the band was active— just 50 students? There is still time to add contacts and/or share your fundraiser to social media, family group chats, etc. Don’t miss this opportunity to raise money for the band and for your student!

Go Cats!

Robyn Fodor

wpbandfundraising@gmail.com

🎺WPHS Band & Guard – Marching into Full Uniform This Friday!

Greetings Band & Guard Families!

The beat goes on! 🥁 It’s been a busy and exciting two weeks as our students continued fine-tuning the show while the Uniform Crew has been busy with additional fittings and prepping the Uniform Room. The payoff? Our very first performance in Full Marching Uniform is almost here—and families, you’re in for a standing-ovation moment, because these students look incredible! “Spanish Images” Marching Season is officially in full swing. 🎶

🎼 This Friday’s Look: Full Marching Uniforms!

Students should bring everything with them to school on Friday so they can change right after rehearsal.

🔸 Instrumental Students:
Marching onto the field in style means wearing:

• 2025–2026 “Spanish Images” Show Shirt

• Compression shorts or black athletic leggings

• Black crew socks

• Marching shoes

• SOTW Water Jug – yes, this is part of the uniform! Stay hydrated, march strong. 💧
  

🔹 Color Guard Students:
Gliding into the season looking sharp with:

• Jazz shoes

• Team jacket & team bag

• Hair & makeup supplies

• Guard uniform/costume (watch for updates from Coach Kiana!)

• SOTW Water Jug – Guard strong, guard hydrated!
  
  

👉 Very Important: Please have all uniform items ready Thursday night. Students will change right after Friday’s rehearsal, and the Uniform Room is not stocked with enough extras if something is forgotten.

📣 Uniform Rule Reminders

• No eating and no drinks other than clear water while in Full Uniform.
  (Full Uniform = Marching Jacket & Bibbers.)
  
  

• Parents/Guardians: please do not deliver food or drinks to students in the stands. Goodies will have to be confiscated by chaperones. Students will enjoy dinner/snacks during their break—jackets off, food on!
  
  

• Students represent our school and band program at all times in uniform—appearance, behavior, and words matter.

Thank you, families, for helping us keep our Band & Guard sharp, polished, and performance-ready. 🎶 We’re so excited for you to see your students shine under the lights this Friday—it’s going to be a show to remember!

With gratitude and excitement,

Your Uniform Chairs,

Vanessa Fleming & Jen Randolph

wphsbanduniforms@gmail.com

🎶 Volunteers Needed – Come Be Part of the Fun! 🎶
A huge thank-you to all of the amazing volunteers who helped this week (Damaris Lima Olmeda, Sandra Clisby, Jill Hoehn, Vanessa Marshall, Griselle Monzon) with fitting our band members in their concert attire and reorganizing the uniform room. Your hard work, dedication, and time have not gone unnoticed—I know our Uniform Chairs, Vanessa Fleming and Jenniffer Randolph, we truly appreciate you! 🧡🖤

Looking ahead, we’d love your help at upcoming events. To volunteer, all helpers must first be registered with OCPS ADDitions. If you haven’t already, please take a few minutes to complete your registration here: https://ocps.samaritan.com/custom/503/opp_details/112867

Once registered, check out these opportunities to support our students:

• Football Games – Cheer on the Wildcats while helping the band and colorguard run smoothly. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A49A8AE22A02-57686523-football#/

• Homecoming Parade – Be part of this exciting community tradition. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A49A8AE22A02-58062723-homecoming#/

• Westside Showcase (Pre-MPAs) – Join us for this special event showcasing local bands. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A49A8AE22A02-58063562-west#/

Your time and support make all the difference for our band and colorguard—thank you for being part of our success! 🧡🖤

Jennifer Mullins

WPHS Band Volunteer Coordinator

🎉 Sponsorship & Dedication Update 🎉

We’re thrilled to share that this year, the Winter Park High School Band has secured over 20 incredible sponsorships and raised significant funds to support our students and program! None of this would be possible without the dedication and hard work of our amazing band students—thank you for showing up and making it happen!

We’re still actively collecting Student Dedications, and this is the final call! If any parents are planning to submit a dedication for their student, now is the time. We are on a tight timeline to finalize and send everything to print for this year’s concert program.

📌 Please submit your form, payment, and dedication within the next few days to ensure your spot!

Let’s finish strong and make this year’s program the best one yet!

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

September 12: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Football Game, 5 - 10 PM

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September 19: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Football Game, 5 - 10 PM

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September 20: All-State Auditions, as scheduled, Ocoee HS

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September 26: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Middle School Night Football Game, 5 - 10 PM

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September 30: MB Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Homecoming Parade, 5 - 7 PM

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October 3: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Homecoming Football Game, 5 - 10 PM

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October 10: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Football Game, 5 - 10 PM

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October 11: Jazz Ensemble I @ WP Autumn Art Festival, 9 - 11 AM

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October 13: No School/Teacher Workday

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October 17: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Football Game, 5 - 10 PM

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October 18: WEST SIDE SHOWCASE, Itinerary TBA, West Orange HS

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October 24: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Football Game, 5 - 10 PM

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October 30: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Senior Night Football Game, 5 - 10 PM

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November 1: MARCHING MPA, Itinerary TBA, Boone HS

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November 5 FALL FESTIVAL OF BANDS

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November 17: All-County Auditions, as scheduled

http://www.winterparkhsband.com/calendar.html

Since the Cut Time software has been updated, the synced calendar link has changed. Copy the link below to subscribe to the Band public events calendar in Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, or other calendar app:

• https://app.gocuttime.com/program/calendar/c308b229-e7ac-4762-93ef-6112f6f8daf3/ics
  

PAST DUE BAND PAYMENTS

• WOODWINDS, BRASS, PERCUSSION
• Thursday, July 31, 2025
• Fair Share Payment - $225 OR Fair Share Payment 1 - $100.00
• Marching Band Shoe (new students and if needed) - $45.00
• Extra Show Shirt (optional) - $15.00

• COLOR GUARD
• Thursday, July 31, 2025
• Fall Fair Share Payment - $325 OR Fair Share Payment 1 - $100
• Marching Band Shoe (if needed) - $45.00
• Extra Show Shirt (optional) - $15.00

For questions concerning general Band inquiries, Band financial obligations, or to request a payment plan, contact Mr. Clemente, at Michael.Clemente@ocps.net. For questions regarding your CutTime account or statement, contact the Band Booster Treasurer, Kim Somers, at wphsbandtreasurer@gmail.com.

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 @winterparkcolorguard @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