WINTER PARK BAND Weekly Newsletter

Dear Winter Park Band families,

I hope everyone is staying warm this weekend!

We had an outstanding all-around DOOR-2-DOOR Fundraiser on Saturday. First, thank you to our students who followed through with their commitment and showed up to the benefit of all of their current and future peers in the Band program. I'm so proud of that, and it is a testament to the community we currently have and continue to grow in the Band program. Second, an enormous THANK YOU to all of the parents who make Door-2-Door go. I want to especially thank Robyn Fodor for coordinating all the student pairings, driver assignments, and maps. Also thanks to Christina Armendariz and Beth Lybarger for coordinating food all day, Jen Mullins for organizing parent drivers, Kim Somers for smooth counting and coordination of the counting room, Jenniffer Randolph, Vanessa Fleming, and Damaris Lima Olmeda for getting everyone in uniform, and Laura Cambridge for coordinating the "Door-2-Door Dash" competition for the students - it really raised the spirits!

Through both the collection of cash, checks, and coins yesterday, and the donations the Drumline raised at the Fast Start Track & Field Event, we raised a total of $23,564.08!!! That is an amazing day and amount of funds raised, and also does not yet include any online donations. We'll be able to add online donations when we get the report midday on Monday. Well done all!!! The share amount per student will be announced later this week.

This year's winners of the "Door-2-Door Dash" are the following cars. Way to go!

• MORNING WINNER: David Kerst, Ediel Marin-Robles, Zephyr Martin, Benjamin Nguyen
• MORNING RUNNER-UP: Lance Grant, Jace Lucas, Owen McGregor, Clayton Stevens
• AFTERNOON WINNER: Alejandro Garcia, Logan Ostertag, Jexar Maldonado, Isaac Mitchell
• AFTERNOON RUNNER UP: Cameron Collins, Emir Flores, Kyle Hannon, Silas Vincent

Turning attention to this week, we have lots of performances coming up. Best of luck to all the students - play and perform well!

Friday, 2/6:

• Jazz Ensemble I & Jazz Ensemble II at Jazz MPA, hosted by Horizon HS
• Students performing at Solo & Ensemble MPA, hosted by Horizon HS
• Winter Guard performing at Auxiliary MPA, hosted by Horizon HS

Saturday, 2/8:

• Students performing at Solo & Ensemble MPA, hosted by Horizon HS
• Winter Guard performing at FFCC, hosted by University HS (Orange City)

Next week, Freshman Jazz Band will perform at JAZZ MPA on Thursday, 2/12 at 7:05 PM. All itineraries available on the Band website: http://www.winterparkhsband.com/itineraries.html.

Looking ahead on the calendar, we have our Guest Conductor Workshop upcoming on February 19 - 21. We are very excited to welcome Mr. Michael Kaufman onto our campus to work with Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Symphony for three inspiring days. Please be sure that your student's after school rehearsal with Mr. Kaufman and our Saturday sound checks and concert are already on your family's calendar.

Let's make it a great week!

Mr. Clemente

WHAT'S NEXT:

Schedule of Events

It's SOLO & ENSEMBLE MPA performance week! We are so excited for everyone's opportunity to perform and learn this Friday and Saturday. We know you're going to do an outstanding job! Solos, be sure you are communicating with your accompanist and be ready to pay them the agreed upon fee the day you perform.

Assignments this week:

Individual Check-Ins with Ms. O'Rourke and Mr. Clemente - Check-in #3 Grade in grade book

All Canvas assignments for the Solo & Ensemble Project must be completed by Saturday, February 7.

SOLO & ENSEMBLE CHECKLIST:

• Dress Professionally (nice clothes, no jeans or sneakers)
• Instrument in good working order
• Original, publisher's copy of your piece for the adjudicator with every measure numbered. The judge cannot use a photocopy.
• If you are using a piece owned by the school, check it out from the Band library this week.
• Know the time you are performing and which judge you are performing for.
• Relax, take deep breaths, and have fun getting better at your instrument!

Friday, 2/6 - Saturday, 2/7:

Solo & Ensemble MPA performances at Horizon HS!

For those students using Mrs. Heather Langs as their piano accompanist, she will begin coming into school to rehearse with you on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday after school, and Thursday. Please have your piano accompaniment music ready for her when she arrives.

Links to all forms/lists below can be found at: http://www.winterparkhsband.com/solo--ensemble.html

In two weeks, the Band will hold our annual Guest Conductor Workshop on February 19 - 21! This year, the Band program welcomes Mr. Michael Kaufman, retired band director from Michigan, to work with all three of our concert bands. Information regarding the workshop schedule, after school rehearsals, and the culminating concert has been on the Band calendar since last semester, and is being discussed daily in class rehearsals. Please be sure you and your student are communicating concerning the expectations of the event.

Mr. Kaufman will be with us during the school day both Thursday and Friday that week, as well as one after-school rehearsal for our three concert bands. The Saturday schedule includes "sound checks," followed by our Pre-MPA/Guest Conductor Workshop concert.

Thursday, February 19

• Symphonic Band after school rehearsal, 2:45 – 4:45 PM, Auditorium

• Wind Symphony after school rehearsal, 7 – 9 PM, Auditorium

Friday, February 20

• Concert Band after school rehearsal, 2:20 – 3:30 PM, Auditorium

• This rehearsal is an extension of 7th period. Please plan transportation after rehearsal accordingly.

Saturday, February 21

• Wind Symphony sound check, 10:30 – 11:30 AM

• Symphonic Band sound check, 12:00 – 1:00 PM

• Concert Band sound check, 1:30 – 2:30 PM (dressed for the performance)

• Call Time - 2:30 PM, Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band, Band Room, ready to walk on stage

• Pre-MPA Concert, 3 PM

DRESS: Concert Uniform

Both Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band will have time to go home and come back following their sound check, however, Concert Band students will need to wear their full concert uniform to their sound check.

There are very few after-school Band commitments in the winter and spring, so please make sure that this takes a priority over work schedules, baby-sitting, athletic practices, etc. It has been on the Band Calendar since July - more than ample time to accommodate schedule adjustments.

All rehearsals and performances are co-curricular and a graded component of the class.

Band Families,

Thank you so much for everything you have done to make our Door to Door fundraiser a success! We couldn't have done it without the students who walked in the chilly weather and the family members who joined them and kept our students safe. I am really thankful for everyone's efforts. I would like to say a special thanks to the board members who worked tirelessly to pull this off -- Robyn Fodor, Jennifer Mullins, Kim Somers, and Christina Armendariz.

Coming up this week are Jazz MPAs and Solo & Ensemble. Please also check out the volunteer opportunities coming up in Jennifer Mullins' section.

Laura Cambridge

wphsbandboosterpresident@gmail.com

Hello Band Families!

Wow! Saturday was a “knock-out” day! You know what made it so great? All the drivers and students who showed up doing their best and having fun too The way parents helped each other out to make sure maps were covered was just stellar and the kids’ positive attitudes made this day amazing. Thanks to all who contributed, as this is most definitely a group effort. We did it!

Robyn Fodor

Band Fundraising Chair

🧡🖤 DOOR-TO-DOOR: WE DID IT! 🖤🧡

WOW, SOTW family — what an incredible Door-to-Door fundraiser! From the bottom of my heart, thank you! This success belongs to all of you — our drivers, food crew, money counters, planners, and every helping hand behind the scenes. Every role mattered, every effort counted, and together you made something truly special happen for our band and colorguard students. I am beyond grateful for your time, your energy, and your willingness to step up when it mattered most. This community is something truly special, and I’m so thankful to be part of it with you.

Uniform Washing Volunteers Needed
As we officially wrap up the marching season, we are asking for volunteers to help wash band uniforms so they can be properly cleaned and stored. Detergent and instructions will be provided.
Uniform Pick-Up:
Monday, February 9 | 5:00–7:00 PM
👉 Sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A49A8AE22A02-61570176-uniform

MPA Chaperone Volunteers – March
Looking ahead to Music Performance Assessments (MPAs), we are also seeking parent volunteers to chaperone our students. Your support helps ensure a safe, smooth, and successful experience for our students.
👉 Sign up to chaperone MPAs:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A49A8AE22A02-61997552-mpavolunteers

ADDitions Registration (Required to Volunteer): https://ocps.samaritan.com/custom/503/opp_details/112867

Thank you again for all you do to support Sounds of the Wildcats. Your continued support means more than you know. 🧡🖤

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

February 6: JAZZ MPA for Jazz Ensemble 1 & Jazz Ensemble 2, Horizon HS

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February 6-7: SOLO & ENSEMBLE MPA, Horizon HS

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February 12: JAZZ MPA for Freshman Jazz Band, Freedom HS

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February 16: No School

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February 19-21: GUEST CONDUCTOR WORKSHOP

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March 5 - 7: CONCERT MPA

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March 11: Senior Concerto Competition Auditions

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March 13, 16 - 20: Spring Break

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March 26: 26-27 Drum Major Auditions

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April 2: 26-27 Student Leadership Team Interviews

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April 8: Wind Symphony @ Music for All UCF/Orlando, Steinmetz Hall

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April 7, 16-18: All-County Jazz

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April 14: Incoming Freshman Ice-Breakers/Parent Information Meeting, 6 - 8 PM

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April 23: SPRING JAZZ & PERCUSSION CONCERT

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April 30: SPRING BAND CONCERT

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
• Wednesday, 8/27
• Fair Share Payment 2 - $75.00
• Wednesday, 10/1
• Jazz Fair Share (jazz students only) - $25.00
• Semester 1 Instrument Maintenance (if applies) - $75.00

• 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
• Wednesday, 8/27
• Fall Color Guard Fair Share Payment 2 - $125.00
• Wednesday, 10/1
• Fall Color Guard Fair Share Payment 3 - $100.00
• School Equipment Semester 1 Maintenance - $75.00

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