WINTER PARK BAND Weekly Newsletter

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
  

Dear Winter Park Band families,

We're off and running! It has been a fun-filled and super productive first 4 days of Band Camp 2026.

An enormous 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 out each day - we couldn't do it without you.

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! Please reach out to Erica Diltz with any questions.

This week, the first financial obligations of the 2026-2027 school year come due, including the first Fair Share Payment (all students), the Marching Band Shoe Payment (if needed), and the Extra Show Shirt (optional). Payments may be made on School Cash(recommended) or by check/cash. 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.

Our final five days of Band Camp will run from Monday, July 27 - Friday, July 31. All days are 8 AM - 5 PM with our Mandatory Band Booster Meeting (all parents/guardians) on Friday, July 31 at 6 PM, followed by the Premiere Show at 7:15 PM. Students will not go home Friday, 7/31 until after our Premiere Show. All students will be provided dinner before the show and time to change into their Summer Uniform.

I also ask that all of our families help their students arrive at rehearsals at the appropriate time. Each rehearsal of Band Camp starts promptly at 8 AM, and students should already be where they need to be ready to rehearse. In order for that to be successful, students should be dropped off at school no later than 7:45 AM each morning. Thank you for sharing your student with us and helping us accomplish everything that is on our schedule!

Tan/khaki shorts. All students (except color guard) 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 2026 SOTW Premiere Show on Friday, July 31. Students will bring their shorts and a belt with them to change into at dinner time, and will receive their Show Shirt at Thursday's dinner as well.

Looking ahead, there is a scheduled marching band rehearsal on Tuesday, August 4 from 6 - 8:30 PM at the WPHS Main Campus. Please ensure this is a part of your family's calendar as it is our only rehearsal between Band Camp and the start of school.

Our regular after school marching band rehearsals begin on Tuesday, August 11. Tuesday afternoons will take place from 3:15 - 6:30 PM and gamedays from after school until we eat, change into uniform, and get on the bus to the game..

A quick note on an upcoming event - "Meet the Cats" pep rally. This event is typically the first week of school, but we do not have a confirmed date yet. As soon as I have that information from the school's administration, I will send it out to Band families. We will wear the Summer Uniform for this performance.

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 2026 SOTW Premiere Show of For All Mankind on Friday, 7/31.

Let's make it a great last week of Band Camp 2026!

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,

Band Camp week 2 begins tomorrow! We look forward to seeing all the parents/guardians at the Band Booster Meeting Friday at 6pm in the band room, followed by the premier show!

Please remember to wash out your water bottle and drink plenty of water this week.

Reach out with any questions!

-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

🎶 SPONSORSHIPS & DEDICATIONS = MONEY BACK TO YOUR STUDENT! 🎶

Want to help offset Fair Share and the upcoming Spring Band Trip? Now is the time to start reaching out!

💼 Sell a Sponsorship: 45% goes back to your student’s band account.
💚 Purchase a Student Dedication: 60% goes back to your student!

Ask the businesses you already support—restaurants, dentists, realtors, salons, doctors, local shops, employers, family businesses and more. And don’t forget grandparents, family and friends can purchase a dedication to celebrate their favorite band student!

Every sponsorship or dedication can mean less out-of-pocket for your family—so start asking now! Remember, the date for Sponsorships concludes on August 11th!

Questions? We’re happy to help! See link below for sponsorship & dedications info and forms.

Copy of 26:27 Full Sponsorship Packet.pdf

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

Cool Down at the July 31st Band Show: Free Kona Ice for Students & Siblings Thanks to Baldwin Park Realty!

Come out and support the Winter Park High School Marching Band as they cap off band camp with an exciting performance on Friday, July 31st! To help everyone beat the heat after the show, all Sound of the Wildcats (SOTW) students and any attending siblings can enjoy FREE Kona Ice, courtesy of our generous community sponsor, Baldwin Park Realty!

A special thank you to Brian Cirillo and Erica Diltz for supporting our band program and treating our SOTW families.

Bring your family, enjoy the music, and grab a cool treat—see you there!

Christina Armendariz, Beth Lybarger, & Griselle Monzon

WPHS SOTW Provisions Team

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

Band Camp Week 1... Complete!

Well...we survived Week 1! Between the Florida heat, construction and all the adventures that come with the first week of Band Camp, it's safe to say this week kept us on our toes. Even with a few unexpected challenges, it feels so good to be back on the main campus and we couldn't have done it without our incredible volunteers!

A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who gave their time, energy and smiles to support our students. Whether you served meals, grilled, helped with uniforms or jumped in wherever you were needed, you made a difference. Your dedication is what makes our SOTW family so special.

Now... who's ready for Week 2? We have another exciting week ahead and we'd love to see even more smiling faces join us. Let's keep the momentum going and make this an unforgettable band camp for our students.

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

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

_____________________

July 31: Mandatory Band Booster Meeting, 6 PM

_____________________

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

_____________________

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

_____________________

August 11: First Day of School

_____________________

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