WINTER PARK BAND Weekly Newsletter

Dear Winter Park Band families,

A great first week back from break - welcome back again!

We had a nice turn-out at our Incoming Freshman Student & Parent Informational Meeting this past Thursday in the Band Room. Thank you to Landon Mullins, Benjamin Nguyen, Laura Cambridge, Vanessa Fleming, and Jen Mullins for attending the meeting and answering questions - there are a lot of excited families joining our community for next year!

Congratulations again and best of luck to Conlen Smith as he rehearses and performs with the All-State Concert Orchestra in Tampa, FL later this week. Have tons of fun and learn lots! We can't wait for you to share when you return.

This week the Winter Guard gives their first performance of the year at FFCC Premiere at Innovation HS on Saturday. Have a great show!!

Looking forward to next week, All-County Band will rehearse and perform at Innovation HS. For those students who were selected, music was released last week, and full final details will be sent out in reminders. Rehearsals take place on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday that week, along with the concert in our auditorium on Saturday afternoon.

In two weeks, it will be DOOR-2-DOOR week! Our Annual DOOR-2-DOOR Fundraiser will take place on Saturday, 1/31! This is a huge day for the Band program, and a big opportunity for us to maintain ties to our Winter Park community at large that we may not see at concerts or football games. Our program relies heavily on strong community support to be able to open doors to the kind of opportunities and experiences to our students that only being a part of a comprehensive high school band program can provide. Remember, this fundraiser is mandatory for all students in the Winter Park Band – concert bands, jazz ensembles, and color guard. Get your neighbors ready!

LOOKING AHEAD

All students have the performance of their Solo & Ensemble piece at the beginning of February, as well as their parts for the pieces we will perform at the Guest Conductor Workshop and Concert MPA. In addition, jazz students also have music for Jazz MPA to prepare. Continuing from Winter Break, January is a great time to:

• Work on fundamentals on your instrument we don't get to every day in class.
• Practice your scales. (major, minor, harmonic, etc.)
• Take your mouthpiece to a music store and try out different instruments.
• Rehearse with your accompanist.
• Solo & Ensemble Project: Continued practicing of their solos and or chamber ensembles.
• District Jazz MPA (jazz students) - music passed out before we left for break
  
• District Concert MPA - music passed out before we left for break

Let's make it a great week!

Mr. Clemente

WHAT'S NEXT:

Now continues everyone's preparation of their solo and/or ensemble part for the performance coming up on either February 6 or 7. Coming out of Winter Break, students should have their S&E music (along with their Concert MPA music) prepared when we return.

Assignments this week:

DUE Monday, 1/12, on Canvas:

• A scan of their sheet music for Solo & Ensemble
• S&E Check-in Video #1

DUE Tuesday, 1/20, on Canvas:

• S&E Check-in Video #2

For those students using Mrs. Heather Langs as their piano accompanist, she will begin coming into school to rehearse with you on Monday, 1/23. 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

Band Families,

Whether you are a veteran band parent or this is your first rodeo, I invite you to participate in this week's Q&A Zoom featuring Door 2 Door. I'll give an explanation of what students and drivers can expect from this exciting event. Please join us Tuesday evening 1/13 at 7pm and then head over to Jen Mullins's section and sign up to drive!

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89050711907?pwd=PPzpqG7XRVUQX8JCy2349jltp2POWF.1

As ever, feel free to email me with any questions.

Laura Cambridge

wphsbandboosterpresident@gmail.com

🧡🖤 Door-to-Door Season Is Here… and We’re THIS Close! 🖤🧡

Let’s talk numbers — because numbers don’t lie.

We have 35 drivers signed up and need 40 to fully cover our Door-to-Door routes. That’s just 5 more drivers, friends. Five.

Door to Door Fundraiser:

Saturday, January 31

One day. One car.

And yes — each driver earns a credit that directly reduces their student’s FairShare, which is a win for everyone.

• Sign up to drive: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/5080A49A8AE22A02-59892430-2026
• Before You Volunteer (ADDitions link:) https://ocps.samaritan.com/custom/503/opp_details/112867

Door-to-Door Zoom Info Meeting:

Tuesday, January 13 at 7:00 PM

New families, returning pros, and anyone who just wants the details without surprises — this meeting is for you. We’ll walk through exactly how the day works and answer questions so you can show up feeling prepared (and not stressed).

• Join us on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89050711907?pwd=PPzpqG7XRVUQX8JCy2349jltp2POWF.1

We’re so close to checking this off the list — help us hit 40 drivers and make this another strong year for our band and colorguard students. 🧡🖤

Jennifer Mullins

WPHS Band Volunteer Coordinator

Happy New Year, Band Families!

Door-2-Door is coming up on January 31, and we still need a few drivers. If you were waiting until after the holidays to sign up—now’s the time!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A49A8AE22A02-59892430-2026

For those new to Door2Door: it’s a well-organized, safe, and fun day. Our district is divided into walkable and drivable maps. Each driver is assigned an AM and PM route with at least four uniformed students. Students walk in pairs through the map area while drivers remain nearby. The police are aware of our presence, neighbors expect us, and everyone is briefed on safety. Lunch is provided between routes.

This is our biggest fundraiser and plays a huge role in keeping fair share fees low. We’re excited to make it another record-breaking year!

Thank you for your support!

Robyn Fodor
Band Fundraising Chair

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

January 15 - 17: All-State/FMEA Conference

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January 19: No School/ Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday/ Teacher Non-Workday

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January 20, 22-24: All-County Band Rehearsals & Concert, Innovation HS

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January 31: DOOR-2-DOOR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER, mandatory for all students in band, jazz, and color guard classes

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February 5: JAZZ MPA

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February 6-7: SOLO & ENSEMBLE MPA

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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

_____________________

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