PBJ: 5/4-10

We're in the final month of the school year, and we have several events coming up to wrap things up. There is a lot going on this week in particular, so please take time to make sure you have all of the information you need to finish the year strong!

All band students will perform at our annual Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 5th at the PHS Auditorium. The concert will begin at 6:30pm with the Jazz Band. See below for details about each group's performance. Attire for the Spring Concert is "Sunday Best" or Concert Black.

Concert Schedule:

6:30pm - Jazz Band, Mr. Diaz (6:00pm call time)

7:00pm - Symphonic Band II/Concert Band, Ms. Amigh (6:30pm call time)

7:25pm - Symphonic Band I, Mr. Diaz (6:55pm call time)

7:50pm - Wind Ensemble, Dr. Knight (7:20pm call time)

Please join us in celebrating an amazing band and colorguard season at our annual Band Banquet this Friday, May 8th at Princeton Senior High School. Meal service will begin at 6:30pm in the Cafeteria, followed by an Awards Ceremony at 7:30pm in the Auditorium. Each person who is eating must have obtained a ticket prior to the April 24th ticket deadline. Tickets are not required for family members attending the Awards Ceremony only. A student dance will take place following the Awards Ceremony until 10:00pm.

All attendees should park in the student parking lot and enter through the glass doors closest to the flagpoles (door A3). Families are kindly requested to pick up students promptly at 10:00pm.

All band students will participate in our Solo Festival at Princeton Senior High School on Saturday, May 9th. Students who perform a director-approved solo and earn a 1st division rating at the Solo Festival will qualify for a Band letterman jacket (provided they have not already earned one through another activity).

Click the links below to see performance times and rooms. Students should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before their performance to check in and warm up in the Band Hall. Students will enter through doors B4 or B5 on the student parking lot side of the building.

Auditions for band class placement for the 2026-2027 school year will take place during band classes the week of May 11th. All current brass/woodwind students in grades 8-11 will perform an audition, regardless of their plans for next school year. The audition will consist of two parts - scales and a prepared etude. Click the link below for more details.

These auditions will determine placement in one of four band classes (Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band I, Symphonic Band II, or Concert Band) for the entire 2026-2027 school year. Any class changes after the start of the school year will be at the sole discretion of the band directors.

Messages were sent on Friday to families with outstanding balances for 2025-2026 Band Fees. Most of these costs were assigned at the start of the school year for fees and items related to marching band. With only 3 weeks of school left, it is imperative that unpaid fees are taken care of to help us wrap up financial records from the 2025-2026 school year. Graduating Seniors with outstanding fees may experience delays in obtaining diplomas and other records until fees are paid. As always, payments may be made online through CutTime or by cash/check through the directors.

As we approach the end of the school year, it's time to start preparing for the upcoming marching season! We will hold 4 workshops in May focused on developing and refining movement and marching skills before students go on their summer break. Participation in these workshops is expected for all brass, woodwind, and battery percussion students returning for the 2026-2027 school year, and attendance will be a factor when considering assignments for our 2026 contest show.

• Tuesday, May 12, 4:00-5:30pm: Workshop 1
• Thursday, May 14, 4:00-5:30pm: Workshop 2
• Monday, May 18, 4:00-5:30pm: Workshop 3
• Tuesday, May 19, 4:00-5:30pm: Workshop 4

Due to changes in local clinic management and lack of provider availability, we will be unable to host a designated band/colorguard UIL Pre-Participation Physical night this school year.

To comply with UIL and program requirements, all band and colorguard students must complete and turn in both pages of the UIL Pre-Participation Physical form prior to the start of each marching band season. The first page of the form is a medical history completed by the student's parent or guardian. The second page is a physical examination completed and signed by a licensed Physician or Physician's Assistant, a Registered Nurse recognized as an Advanced Practice Nurse, or a Doctor of Chiropractic. Many health clinics and urgent care centers are now offering this service with no appointment needed. Please be sure to take a copy of the form with you, as providers may not have blank forms available.

All students participating in band or colorguard for the 2026-2027 school year must provide us with a completed form on the first day of rehearsal for the student's group in July (July 20th for percussion, July 23rd for colorguard, July 27th for all other band students).

Our summer rehearsal schedule is now set and has been added to the band calendar (Google Calendar on the high school band website and linked near the end of the PBJ). All summer events are required for all students participating in band or colorguard in 2026-2027 unless otherwise noted. Students and their families are encouraged to go through the summer schedule carefully.

It takes a lot of work to prepare for, set up, and clean up for the Band Banquet, and we will need all hands on deck! Interested in helping? Contact Heather at 972-838-6784 or via email at PPantherBandBoosters@gmail.com for more information!

The official calendar for the Princeton High School Band can be found on the high school band website. Students and families are encouraged to periodically check the calendar to ensure they have the most current information.

Do you have band or color guard photos that will make great memories later this year? Click the link below to share them with us!

Monday, 5/4: Drum Major Auditions, 3:30pm

Tuesday, 5/5: Spring Concert, 6:30pm

Wednesday, 5/6:

• Front Ensemble Rehearsal, 5:30-7:00pm
• Jazz Band at Teacher of the Year Banquet, 5:30pm

Friday, 5/8: Band Banquet, 6:30pm

Saturday, 5/9: Solo Festival

*Brass/Woodwind Placement Auditions in Classes

Tuesday, 5/12:

• Marching Band Workshop, 4:00-5:30pm
• Front Ensemble Rehearsal, 5:30-7:00pm

Thursday, 5/14: Marching Band Workshop, 4:00-5:30pm

Monday, 5/18:

• Marching Band Workshop, 4:00-5:30pm
• Battery Rehearsal, 5:30-7:00pm

Tuesday, 5/19:

• Marching Band Workshop, 4:00-5:30pm
• Full Drumline Rehearsal, 5:30-7:00pm

Thursday, 5/21

• Last Day of School
• Graduation, 6:30pm (Wind Ensemble performs)

Dr. Steven Knight

Director of Bands

steven.knight@princetonisd.net

Jeremy Diaz

Assistant Band Director

jdiaz@princetonisd.net

Emily Amigh

Assistant Band Director

emily.amigh@princetonisd.net

Alan Gray

Percussion Director

agray@princetonisd.net

Ben Cordell

Assistant Percussion Director

bcordell@princetonisd.net

Michael McGehee

Colorguard Director

mmcgehee@princetonisd.net

Madison Jenkins

Colorguard Assistant

madison.jenkins@princetonisd.net