WINTER PARK BAND Weekly Newsletter
July 10, 2023
From Mr. Clemente
Dear Winter Park Band families,
We had a wonderful week celebrating the conclusion of a successful Fall semester!
Thursday's Winter Band Concert was a wonderful evening of music. The Freshman Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble II, Jazz Ensemble I, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Symphony students should all be proud of their efforts this semester, and are working hard day in and day out. That will hopefully be our final home concert away from our auditorium as the space is slated to be finished this coming January. Thank you to Mr. Sharpe and the administration of the Ninth Grade Center for being so accommodating.
A big thank you to the students and parents who gave many hours of their time on Thursday to help load the trailer, setup, and tear down the equipment and decorations for the concert! Many hands definitely made light work of it all. Special thank you to Mr. Strickland, Mrs. Cambridge, Mrs. Randolph, Mrs. Fleming, Mrs. Mullins, and anyone else I may be forgetting!
Thank you to Dr. Meechin for attending the concert and leading the Wind Symphony through Sleigh Ride! I don't know about everyone else, but I think he has a hidden talent!
On behalf of both Ms. O'Rourke and myself, I wanted to say a sincere thank you to everyone for such a generous gift at the concert. We consider ourselves very fortunate to work at such a wonderful school and in such a wonderful community!
A congratulations to our Band students who have been performing with the WPHS Chorus program in Disney's Candlelight Processional at EPCOT Center! Catch them one more time at their last performance on December 22.
Thank you to our volunteers who performed at the Jingle Bell Run on Saturday morning in Baldwin Park! Great job providing an exciting start to the race day. Plus as a bonus, we got a bunch of free coffee, bagels, and stuff!
Congratulations to both the Audubon Park School Band and their director Mr. Murphy and the Glenridge MS Band and their directors Mr. Brannock & Mr. Dekle for great Winter Concert performances this past two Fridays! Our final Future Wildcats concert is coming up this week, so please make it out if you're able!
- Maitland MS Band Winter Concert: Thursday, December 18, 6:30 PM, MMS Gymnasium
PLEASE PLAN AHEAD
As we quickly approach Winter Break, please make plans to help your student transport their instrument(s) and music folder(s) home over the break on Friday, December 19. Students will still have responsibilities during classes through Friday while Ms. O'Rourke and I are in Chicago for a conference later this week. While we all will take time over break to separate from our day-to-day routine, students must take some of their time over break to be prepared for the Spring Semester. 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. Winter Break 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.
- Practice your solo during the commercials of college football bowl games on TV.
- Find time to rehearse with your accompanist.
- Solo & Ensemble Project: Students should plan to carve out some time over break to map out, set groundwork, and begin practicing their solos and or chamber ensembles. Before we leave for break, everyone should have the music they are planning to perform unless waiting on music ordered through the Band.
- District Jazz MPA (jazz students) - music passed out before we leave for break
- District Concert MPA - music passed out before we leave for break
The Incoming Freshman Student & Parent Informational Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 8 from 6:30 - 7:30 PM in the Band Room. This meeting will cover what it's like to continue in the Winter Park Band after 8th grade "in a nutshell." Please spread the word as much as you can to your neighborhood & community! Infographic below in this newsletter can be copied and distributed.
"Step-Up" Instruments
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. 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.
Have a great week, a joyous holiday season, and a relaxing break. Only 5 more school days!
Mr. Clemente
Audubon Park Concert!
Dr. Meechin conducting Wind Symphony!
Glenridge Concert!
Jingle Bell Run fun!
Jingle Bell Run fun!
Jingle Bell Run fun!
SOLO & ENSEMBLE - Going into Winter Break
WHAT'S NEXT:
Every student should now be registered for their Solo & Ensemble event as of Wednesday, 12/3. Now begins the preparation of their solo and/or ensemble part for the performance coming up on either February 6 or 7. Over Winter Break, students should be periodically practicing their S&E music (along with their Concert MPA music) to have their part prepared when we return. The next part of the project is a scan of their sheet music as well as a video check-in assignment due at the end of our first week back.
Links to all forms/lists below can be found at: http://www.winterparkhsband.com/solo--ensemble.html
From our Band Booster President
What a great way to finish out this calendar year! It was great seeing everyone at the concert and everyone who made it to the cookie social. Please have an enjoyable and safe Winter Break.
Remember to see Jennifer Mullins' section about signing up for Door2Door; the more volunteers we have the more money we will make faster! This is where most of our donations come from and we really rely on all band parents to make it happen.
Happy Holidays,
Laura Cambridge
From our Volunteer Coordinator
🧡🖤 SOTW family… buckle up. It’s officially DOOR TO DOOR SEASON! 🖤🧡
This is the fundraiser that fuels our program — and we need every amazing driver we can get to make it our biggest year yet!
🚗 Door to Door – Saturday, January 31
Calling all parents, guardians, cool aunts, awesome uncles, and anyone with four seatbelts and a big heart — we need 40+ drivers!
Every driver earns a credit that directly lowers their student’s FairShare. Senior year? Freshman year? Doesn’t matter — this event helps everyone.
Let’s fill every car, every route, and hit every neighborhood like the powerhouse we are.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A49A8AE22A02-59892430-2026
👉 Before You Volunteer
Make sure your OCPS ADDitions approval is active:
https://ocps.samaritan.com/custom/503/opp_details/112867
🍪 Band Booster Adult Holiday Social & Cookie Exchange – Sunday, December 14
Our annual Cookie Exchange is back — in a fun new location! Bring your favorite cookies (homemade or store-bought!), enjoy some festive treats, and spend a cozy evening celebrating the season with our amazing adult band family.
Ready to sweeten the night? Sign up below and tell us what goodies you’ll bring!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A49A8AE22A02-59920930-band
Jennifer Mullins
WPHS Band Volunteer Coordinator
From our Fundraising Coordinator
Hello Band Families!
As the year winds down, we wanted to let families know that the band is a great option for end-of-year charitable giving. If your family — or your workplace — sets aside tax-deductible donations at this time of year, please consider supporting the Winter Park High School Band.
And remember that many employers offer matching gifts!
Your support directly enhances our students’ musical experiences and helps keep our program strong and accessible for everyone.
If you are interested in learning how to proceed, please reach out to me at the email below. Thank you, as always, for being such a supportive band community!
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Door 2 Door!
$30,000.
That's how much we can raise in just ONE day to help pay for clinicians, transportation, new music, entry fees, meals and so much more enrichment that shapes your musician in skill and character. More than any other fundraiser we do all year, Door 2 Door yields the most revenue in the shortest time and this fundraiser is the reason we are able to keep our band fees as low as possible.
To make this fundraiser a success, we need parent drivers! If you're hesitant to sign up because you're not sure what to expect- reach out to Jen Mullins (wphsbandvolunteers@gmail.com) for details. It's a fun day!
Sign up here to drive!
Thanks everyone!
Robyn Fodor
"Step Up" Your Sound with Intermediate/Professional Instruments
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:
Private Lessons - Invest in Your Future!
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.
UPCOMING EVENTS
December 22 - January 5: Winter Break
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January 14 - 17: All-State/FMEA Conference
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January 19: No School
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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
Band Calendar
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:
FINANCES AND CUT TIME
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
WPHS Band Social Media
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
Winter Park High School Band
Email: michael.clemente@ocps.net
Website: www.winterparkhsband.com
Location: 2100 Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Phone: 4076223200
Facebook: www.facebook.com/winterparkhsband