January 26, 2025 Band Notes

Competitive Winter Guard Parents: Attend the Coffee Chat on Tuesday, January 28.
CWG families: Order consumables by TONIGHT, January 26.
WGPE families:

Pay $250 fee by February 1st.
Purchase consumables by February 2.
Students - join the Remind group.

NEW INFORMATION

URGENT: Concert Band Festival Planning Help Needed

Mason is again hosting Music for All’s annual Cincinnati Regional Concert Band Festival (CRCBF). This year the festival is on Saturday, March 1. Several Mason concert bands will be performing again this year.

We are urgently in need of someone to help coordinate/chair this special event. We have a head start thanks to our amazing competitions chairs, but with MEPA and CRCBF happening to close together, they are unable to effectively manage both.

Please email Andy Weiss at president@masonbandboosters.com ASAP if you are able to help in any way. The more people willing to help, the lighter the load.

MEPA Mason - February 16 - Volunteers Needed!

Mason will be hosting a Mid East Performance Association (MEPA) Competition at the Mason Middle School. MEPA is Ohio’s premier winter performance venue for winter guard, wind and indoor percussion ensembles throughout Ohio and surrounding areas. The event will take place on Sunday, February 16, 2025.

See MEPA’s event page for more information.

Time & Location

The event is scheduled to run from 10am to 3:30 pm. All performances will be in the arena at MMS.

Parking

Spectator parking will be at the back of MMS. Parking for volunteers will be at the front of MMS, with volunteer check-in outside the auditorium.

Tickets

Ticket pricing, as set by MEPA:

ADULTS - $15
SENIORS - $10
STUDENTS - $10
CHILDREN - FREE
VOLUNTEERS - FREE

Volunteer Needs

As with our marching band competitions, it takes a lot of volunteers to make a great event.

As hosts of the festival, we ask all Mason Band families to volunteer in some capacity. We will need some volunteers for setup on Saturday, February 15, and then many volunteers on Sunday for all the various areas. Note that this is an important fundraiser that benefits the entire Mason Band program.

Please sign up for a shift or to donate (or BOTH!) below. We also have student volunteer opportunities, so check out those areas that say 15+ to sign up student volunteers!

As with our fall competitions, volunteers get free admission to the event. There are some percussion and winds (includes brass) groups performing as well as guard, so there is something for everyone!

Volunteer Positions

Most volunteer needs for the MEPA event are available in Sign-Up Genius here, due to many volunteers not being in BoosterHub. (Parking and Band Aid needs are in BoosterHub.)

Volunteers needed include:

Bake sale
Hospitality
Group check-in
Performance flow and timing
Spirit
Concessions
Ticketing
Volunteer check-in
Gym entry (usher)
Tear-down
Parking (sign up in BoosterHub)

Bake Sale and Hospitality Donations

Donation sign-ups are also in Sign-Up Genius here.

Please contact Julie Chaney and Whitley Winstanley at competitions@masonbandboosters.com with any questions.

General Booster Meeting - Save the Date!

Our next general booster meeting will be on Monday, February 10, at 7pm in the MHS Large Commons.

This will be a very important meeting - please try to have at least one family member present if possible.

Topics will include:

MEPA Mason on Sunday, February 16
Music for All Cincinnati Regional Concert Band Festival (CRCBF) on Saturday, March 1
Upcoming Marching Band Season, including the 2025 Commitment Form
Voting on proposed changes to our Booster Bylaws

Competitive Winter Guard (CWG) - New Information

Flint Trip Itinerary

WGI Flint Regional Trip Itinerary

Note: As with all itineraries for the season, this schedule is subject to change until the week of the event when the schedule is finalized. We look forward to a great regional weekend with the team!

Travel Medications

If your child will need to travel with medication this season, please refer to these procedures: Requirements for Student Medications.

DMS forms that were completed and on file from this Marching Band Season can be reviewed and used again for winter guard season.

Medication can be dropped off to the Director or to the Guard Chair on the following days:

Sunday 1/26 from 11:00-11:30am @MHS Guitar Room
Tuesday 1/28 from 6:00-6:30pm @MECC Cafeteria (enter through the Gym door C8)
Saturday 2/1 from 1:00-2:00pm @MHS Band Room

Student Volunteer Opportunity - signup deadline is TODAY

Students who are interested in helping out with the younger winter guard groups, please fill out the Interest Form by TODAY - Sunday, January 26th.

Note: All future leadership candidates should plan to volunteer for at least one of these two groups for the season.
WG7 rehearses on most Mondays from 6-7pm from February-April. WG5&6 rehearses on most Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30pm from February to April. More details coming soon!

CWG Season Rources

CWG Season Calendar

2024-25 CWG Handbook

CWG Lookbook

Winter Guard Performance Ensemble (WGPE) - New Information

We are excited to announce the members of our 2025 Winter Guard Performance Ensemble!

We look forward to a great season!

Members - see below for helpful information for the season

Consumables: Each season, there are important personal consumable items to be purchased. Please have the required 2025 WGPE Consumables purchased by Sunday, February 2nd.
- If you are choosing to purchase through the group order, fill out the ORDER FORM by Sunday.
Practice Flags: All members were sent home with a school-owned practice flag this week! Be sure to take care of the flag you were assigned. If it is returned damaged at the end of the season, you will be charged to replace all parts, so please keep inside and away from water or other elements.
Season Fee: See here for the Financial Info Document. The WGPE Fee of $250 is due February 1st. You may turn in a check made out to Mason City Schools at rehearsal or pay electronically on PaySchools Central.

- If paying by check, please include your student’s name and student ID on the memo line of the check.

WGPE Member Remind: Students! Please join the Group Remind to receive important rehearsal updates if you have not already.

Text @wgpe25 to 81010.

WGPE Season Calendar
Mason Color Guard Spirit Wear: Available for purchase at Friday Threads

Tape Donations for Guard

Our Winter Guard groups are in need of white and black electrical tape for the season! If you are able, donations would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to stop by a hardware store or order some on Amazon, then drop off at any rehearsal. We will need this to tape on our show equipment arriving soon. Thank you in advance!

Instrumentalist Uniform Distribution - Second Chance

Attention 2024 Marching Band Instrumentalists - If you would like to have your competition uniform and missed the first opportunity to pick it up, we are providing a second chance, Thursday, January 30 from 6:30-7. Please reach out to the Uniform Crew if you plan to pick yours up at uniforms@masonbandboosters.com.

You do not need to purchase the uniform this year - it is yours for the taking.

Color Guard Uniform Distribution

2024 Color Guard Members - If you would like to have your competition uniform and headpieces please email Erica Sleppy. We will email you with details for uniform pick up. You do not need to purchase the uniform this year - it is yours for the taking.

Concert Silver and and Green Small Ensemble Concert

Our Concert Silver and Concert Green students will be performing with their small ensembles on Tuesday, February 4th.

Students should report to the band room wearing their concert uniforms. Concert Attire Information - CLICK HERE.

Families who wish to view the performance can park in the back music lot, and enter through the Small Commons Door. See map below for parking and entry instructions. This performance is in the MHS Small Commons, not the auditorium, since this concert features small chamber ensembles instead of the full ensemble.

CONCERT SILVER ITINERARY (Woodwinds/Percussion)

5:50 Arrive at the C13 Music Door.

6:00 Warm-Up in the band room.

6:20 Move to the Small Commons.

6:30 Small Ensemble Concert Begins

CONCERT GREEN ITINERARY (Brass)

6:50 Arrive at the C13 Music Door.

7:00 Warm-Up in the band room.

7:20 Move to the Small Commons.

7:30 Small Ensemble Concert Begins

REMINDERS

Prospective Member Meeting - Help Spread the Word!

Please help us spread the word to any prospective students who may be interested in joining Marching Band that there will be a 2025 New Member Meeting this Thursday, January 30th at 7pm in the MHS Band Room. All rising freshmen, prospective new members, and parents are encouraged to attend.

Fundraising with Freddy’s in February

Our next Dine and Donate is on Wednesday, February 19th, at Freddy's at 7615 Trailside Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069 from 11:00 - 10:00 PM.

For in-person orders, just present this flyer or say "I'm here for the fundraiser" for us to get our 15% donation.

For online and mobile orders, use the code GIVEBACK for all online or mobile orders.

Winter Guard Signups Are Live for Grades 5-7

Signups Mason Winter Guard grades 5-7 are due by February 2.

Link: https://docs.google.com/.../1D5PVrPopNpzLd3mazEP.../edit

MHS Winter Percussion Information

See the attached schedule from Mr. Scharf for more information: 2025 WINTER PERCUSSION SCHEDULE. These dates are also now on the Band Website calendar. Email Mr. Scharf with any questions: scharfj@masonohioschools.com

Jazz Band Information

CLICK HERE

The link above has all the information about Jazz Band for this year! Jazz band begins in January after break. Jazz I and Jazz II are both underway. See above for schedules and more!

Members of Our Band Family Need Us

Thank you to those that donated so far. Fuz and the Burton family have greatly appreciated your support. February meal dates have now been opened up on Meal Train if you would like to sign up or send a DoorDash gift card. You are appreciated!

You can also still donate to the GoFundMe.