We are excited to share with you that our marching band and orchestra have the opportunity to travel again during the 2023 – 2024 school year. Next year, our program will be traveling to Orlando, Florida, where both our marching band and orchestra will have performance opportunities! This experience is a result of the hard work many have put in to provide us with this unique opportunity. Each of your children continues to excel in rehearsals and bring pride to the community in our performances. Thank you for supporting them.
The reasons why we travel with our ensembles are:
To provide educational opportunities to our students through performances/ adjudications
To bring recognition to our school district and music program
To build a sense of community between the members of our groups
When planning this trip, there are many different aspects we must consider, including:
School Schedule
Costs
Performance Schedules & Availability
All members of our marching band and high school orchestra (grades 9-12) are invited to perform. The decision to take each group will be made independently based on the commitment forms that are returned. In order for each group to perform and learn as one, we need to field a representative group.
There is only one more sectional for all of our students in the percussion & guard sections:
Monday, August 02
All sectionals run from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. and are held at EAHS. Attendance is required at all sectionals, as we are a team. These practices allow us to put our best foot forward heading into band camp in August. Excused absences include vacation, family events (wedding), illness, or PIAA events.
In order to be excused from a sectional, students/ parents/ guardians should email Mr. Ballentine two (2) weeks prior to the conflict.
Band Camp needs your help!
Band Camp is less only a week away! We provide all the snacks and dinners for the band during camp. We need many helpers to make it run smoothly. Please sign-up to provide what you can. Please use the following link to sign-up to volunteer or provide food for our hard working band!
This year we will be having an additional pasta night. We will need several helpers during those dinners as well as people willing to bake pasta dishes. We would like a variety of dishes if possible.
2021 Band Camp Information
We are one week away from our first days of band camp! There are many great things happening behind the scenes to make this year special for our students, families, & community.
Band Camp is a massive undertaking to bring all of our students together. In order to make this a success, the following will occur before camp begins:
Summer sectionals: each section has summer sectionals to get to know one another, bond as a group, and work on music & marching before camp. Sectionals are required for students to attend unless on vacation, family event, etc. If you have not yet heard from your section leader, please contact Mr. Ballentine.
Obtain any needed materials: all students must have certain items in order for us to achieve our potential. Please see the “Band Camp Welcome Letter” found below.
Complete & return all required forms: all students are required to return the forms found below BY July 30, 2021. A hard copy mailing was also sent in July with these documents. If you have not yet turned in these forms, please drop them off at the HS prior to band camp.
As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to Mr. Ballentine or any of the band council leadership.
2021 March A Thon – Friday, August 13
It is that time of year when we begin preparing for our annual March A Thon!
What is it?
Taking place during our regularly scheduled camp, students march the equivalent of 50 laps around the football field throughout the morning. In addition, they partake in team building activities, games & other events.
What do I need to do?
We ask all students to find sponsorships for this day. Section leaders will be relaying information to their sections regarding specifics for the event & ways you can sponsor a student.
Our goal is $5,000. If every student found $20 in sponsorships, we would EXCEED our goal! See the forms below for sponsorship information:
There are MANY ways that you can help! One of the best ways to help us fundraise is to contact businesses who may be interested in sponsoring the instrumental music program. There are options for businesses to also get special shout outs on our social media, in our concert programs & more.
Parents & Guardians: there is a DISCOUNTED rate for pre-sale tickets. This form is due back by September 04.
There are also ways for you to take out an ad for your child. You can also choose to put a shout out in the program (only $5!). All ads are due by August 28.
Solo lists for the 2021 – 2022 PMEA District festivals have been released.
Auditions take place on Saturday, December 04, 2021. To view the solo lists & see more information about the requirements, please visit the PMEA D10 website.
Booster Bulletin
Calling all volunteers!
As we prepare for the upcoming year, we are looking for volunteers to help at various events! In order to do this, clearances need to be on file with EASD.
Please be sure to also complete & return the volunteer form found under the strings camp/ band camp information sections of this newsletter. This form will also be mailed out in mid-July.
Additionally, if you are interested in serving as a nurse for the band during band camp & football games, please reach out to our medical coordinator, Mrs. Ferretti, at medicalrecords@eahsmusic.org.
Thank you!
Band App – Stay Informed
This year, we are using a platform called the “band” app to communicate. This is a supplement to our emails sent out weekly.
The advantages of this app include:
Notifications sent directly to phone or device.
Instant communication to relay last-minute changes or details.
Integrated calendar (with ability to import the calendar to your phone’s calendar).
Attachments tab to keep track of any forms.
It is recommended every parent/ guardian sign up for this app. To do so, please click this link. This group is specifically for any parent/ guardian of a student in the band or orchestra.
This year, Band and Orchestra will be using a platform called the BAND app to communicate. This is a supplement to the emails sent out weekly.
The advantages of this app include:
Notifications sent directly to one’s phone or device.
Instant communication to relay last-minute changes or details.
Integrated calendar (with ability to import the calendar to your phone’s calendar).
Attachments tab to keep track of any forms.
It is recommended every parent/ guardian sign up for this app. This group is specifically for any parent/guardian of a student in the band or orchestra.
On June 5, 2021, the Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, 9th Grade Band, and Concert Band Grades 10-12 all performed as whole groups for the first time in quite a long time. The performances were all held on the new turf field located on the Easton Area High School campus and viewed by a limited number of families due to capacity restrictions.
On May 27, 2021, immediately in front of the main entrance of Easton Area High School, the Easton Area Middle and High School Jazz Bands held a “Jazz Under the Stars” performance.
On May 27, 2021, in front of the main entrance of Easton Area High School, the Orchestra Spring Concert included outdoor performances of four ensembles: EAHS Chamber Strings, EAHS 9th Grade Orchestra, EAHS 9-12th Grade String Ensemble, and EAHS 10-12th Grade Symphony Orchestra.
