Lee's Summit West High School's Band, Choir, and Orchestra Programs
We’re excited to announce the new uniforms for the Titan Pride Marching Band. We think the design is awesome and we’re really looking forward to starting the next decade with a new look designed for the Titan Pride by DCI Hall of Fame member and Artistic Director of DCI, Michael Cesario, and produced by Fred J. Miller, Inc. (See information below about getting fitted for the uniforms)
Take a moment to imagine the unveiling in the two images below!
Greetings! We have to have all of NEXT season’s marching band members fitted in the next few days. In an effort to provide several options for getting this done, we are going to start TOMORROW (Thursday) NIGHT at 6:00pm in the band room area. If your son/daughter is available to come sometime between 6 and 8pm for about 10-15 minutes, please come during that time. This will help expedite this tight deadline.
We are SUPER excited about what next year has to offer and it all starts right now!
March on Titan Pride!
Clifton D. Thurmond
Hello. I’m sure most of you have been going through withdrawal from not receiving my email EVERY Friday.
Marching Band, the saga continues……….
What a glorious night it was last Monday. Marching band in 20 degree weather is how it’s supposed to be (says the guy who spent three years in the University of Colorado marching band)
There is a playoff game TOMORROW in Springfield at Kickapoo HS. The band will NOT be traveling to the game. In the event the team wins that game, we SHOULD have a home game on Friday, November 22nd. If this game takes place at Titan Stadium, we will again perform and have a 6pm call time.
Both Symphonic Band AND Concert Band members are taking WEEKLY playing tests via the CHARMS system. Please encourage your child to stay current on this, as getting behind will only have a negative effect.
Don’t forget the Winter Concert on December 10th at 7pm. All girls, at this point, should have a concert dress (purchased through the music staff). All boys, at this point, should have a rented tuxedo from the music staff. Boys are responsible for purchasing their own tuxedo shirt
(this is not a normal white dress shirt, it needs to be an actual tuxedo shirt), as well as their own bowtie. Percussion Ensemble boys are to wear black dress slacks, a black, long-sleeved, collared dress shirt, and black dress shoes. Percussion Ensemble girls have been instructed to wear all black matching the boys as best as possible (I’m not as good at describing their options).
Don’t forget that the current fundraiser orders/money are due THIS MONDAY.
Congratulations to the following students on their accomplishments at All-District Band Auditions this past Saturday. Students auditioned at Liberty High School against approximately 1000 other high school band members from the Kansas City area for a 100-piece concert band and a 20-piece jazz band:
The following were selected as members of the All-District Band
Shayla Brown, 7th chair flute
Maddie Krause, 8th chair flute
Courtney Bingham, 2nd chair oboe
Courtney Bingham, english horn 1st alternate
Allyssa DeJarnette, 3rd chair clarinet
Kayla Shaeffer, 1st chair baritone saxophone
David Burre, trombone 1st alternate
Sawyer Harmon, 1st chair tuba
The following were selected as members of the Honorable Mention Band
David Burre, 1st chair trombone
The following were selected to the All-District Jazz Band
Justin Nitz, 5th trumpet
Isaiah Carter, vibraphone
Isaiah Carter, drumset 2nd alternate
Kevin McMilian, vibraphone alternate
Quinn Mosier, piano
All of the above students are eligible to audition for All-State Band and Jazz Band on December 7th at Columbia-Hickman High School, more info to follow. In addition, they will be performing with their respective All-District ensembles the week of December 9th, please refer to their schedule for rehearsal and concert times.
Clifton D. Thurmond
Greetings!
There is a lot of information to pass on, so please make sure you read this in its entirety.
ALL REMAINING BALANCES FOR BAND FEES ARE DUE TO MR. THURMOND BY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14TH.
NEW CALENDAR EVENTS!
Wednesday, October 23rd
The band will be playing at the annual Dig for the Cure Volleyball Game, right here at LSW in the Fieldhouse. Students will be receiving a shirt to wear to this event. Families are encouraged to attend. The event raises awareness and funds for Breast Cancer Research, via the Susan B. Komen Foundation. It’s a wonderful event for us to be involved, and I’m excited we’ve been asked again to play. I will have a better idea on time on next week’s update, but wanted to make sure you had this put in your calendars right away to prevent conflicts from arising.
Monday, November 4th
Announcing the date for the Band Banquet. On Monday, November 4th, we will be having our annual end-of-season band banquet at Garozzo’s in Lee’s Summit. More information to follow, but again, I wanted you to get it on your calendars now. This event is for all marching band members and their families.
Tonight
Football game vs RayPec, call time is 5:30pm (5:15 for seniors)
Tomorrow, VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE
Tomorrow is Race for the Future on our campus, where hundreds of people will be running a 5K to benefit the students of the LSR7 School District. Our parking lot here will be slammed.
Your ONLY access to the parking lot is the SOUTH entrance. You will need to drop your student off at the back door early enough for them to get their instrument and get to the soccer field THROUGH a crowd of people.
Here is the itinerary again for reference: Bronco Invitational
The Week at a Glance
Monday
Band Council Meeting, 7am
Drumline Rehearsal, 2:30pm (this is in place of the Thursday afternoon rehearsal, since we don’t have school that day)
Tuesday
Band Rehearsal, 5:55pm
All students should be dressed in their marching band shoes and rehearsal shirt (navy).
Friday
Football Game vs Truman, call time is 5:30pm (5:15 for seniors), dressed in marching band shoes, black socks, and black uniform shirt.
This is also Senior Night, where the seniors from band, football, and all spirit squads are recognized for their commitment to the programs. Parents should receive information concerning this via mail this coming week.
Saturday, 10/19
UCM Festival of Champions
Please review the attached itinerary for this festival. It will be a long day.
I am selling tickets to this event for any family members traveling to Warrensburg for our performances. This ticket will gain you access to all events for the entire day. In addition, part of the ticket price will be given back to the band IF you buy the ticket through me prior to Friday, 10/18 at the ballgame. Tickets are $13 per person (children included). You can send money with your child any day next week or take care of it at the football game next Friday.
Remember, we get 20% of the money back for the band program, so please consider purchasing from us instead of at the gate.
UCM Festival of Champions
Have a great Friday!
Clifton D. Thurmond
Happy Friday Eve,
An outstanding performance given by the band last Friday AND Saturday. We were awarded a 2 (Excellent) rating and given the Outstanding Music Award for the competition.
Goings-on for this week:
Monday
Band Council Meeting – 7am
Tuesday
Band Rehearsal – 5:55pm to 9pm
NOTE: Orchestra Winds/Percussion will be released early enough to dress/prepare for concert, Mr. Mosier is aware of the conflict and we are working on a plan of action
All students in black marching shoes and navy rehearsal shirt
Thursday
Morning Sectionals – 6:50am – Flute/Clarinet/Baritone/Trumpet
Drumline Rehearsal – 2:30pm
Friday
Early Release Day
Morning Sectionals – 6:50am – Sousaphone/Saxophone/Mellophone
Football Game – call time is 5:30pm
All students with black marching shoes/socks, gloves, and black uniform shirt
We will load the equipment trailers after the game again, please plan accordingly for pick up
Saturday
Bronco Invitational – All Day – call time at LSW is 9:15am (Race for the Future will be going on, so please be aware of parking/drop off difficulties)
Contrary to years past at this competition, we WILL be bussing to LSN after a short rehearsal at LSW, AND bussing home after the awards
I would like to ask that ALL students stay with us for the duration of the festival, probably about 1.5 hours after the performance, as we will stay in the stadium to observe the last few bands as an educational activity. Students can be picked up at LSN around 5:30pm OR at LSW around 6pm
Here is the itinerary for the day:
A continued reminder that Symphonic/Concert Band Auditions are rapidly approaching (October 28-29) Please be encouraging your son/daughter to be preparing diligently at home.
Have a great weekend!
Clifton D. Thurmond
Director of Bands, Lee’s Summit West High School
Auditions for next year’s Titan Pride drum majors will include conducting the following arrangement of a couple of popular (a while ago) tunes. Download the audio file and score. Get plenty of practice with the audio file so you’re comfortable. Feel free to print the score as needed and put the mp3 on your phone, iPod, etc…
Wow! Back from NYC and no rest for the weary. We had a GREAT time. The kids were awesome, behaved well, didn’t complain, and represented LSW to it’s highest regard. I was proud of them and it allowed the staff to have a good time as well. The performance was an extreme highlight of my career and I credit that to the kids as they played their rear-ends off. In fact, as some of them have told you, I had trouble holding back the tears at the end of a very inspiring performance of Shenandoah.
Woodwind Class
Tomorrow morning, 6:45AM is when we START . See you all there! We have clinicians scheduled to work with the kids, so please have them there on time.
District Contest
This Saturday, SOME of the students are performing a solo or small ensemble at District Contest, which is hosted here at LSW. Students not on the attached schedule will be performing at the Lee’s Summit Festival in mid-April. More info on that to come. Here is an UPDATED schedule. All changes were at the request of the student, so they should know about it already, but wanted you to have the right times/rooms.
(See attached file: Solo Ensemble Schedule.pdf)
State Band Contest – also held at LSWHS
The Concert Band will be performing at State Band Contest on Wednesday, April 3rd at 3:10pm . More information to follow.
The Percussion Ensemble (all percussionists in Symphonic Band/Concert Band, plus Trevor Allen and Jacob Grigsby) will be performing at State Band Contest on Wednesday, April 3rd at 2:30pm
The Symphonic Band will be performing at State Band Contest on Friday, April 5th at 3:00pm
Brass Class
Next THURSDAY, March 28th, 6:45am
Have a great weekend!
Clifton D. Thurmond
Hope you have had a great week and that your weekend is blessed!
Legally Blonde Pit Orchestra
Rehearsal Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 6:40am.
Also, please make sure you have the rehearsals in your calendar that start on Jan 28th, as they are everyday after school and evening.
Here is the schedule one more time:
Legally Blonde Pit Orchestra Schedule
Fall 2013 Drumline
The first audition clinic, which is not required but strongly encouraged, is Thursday, Jan 17th after school until 4:30.
Also on this schedule is drumline camp for this summer. Please make sure this gets in your calendar now to prevent vacation conflicts, etc…..
Percussion Ensemble
Rehearsal on Monday, 3:15 to 4:30. Be ready to rehearse with instrument and music set up by 3:15.
Basketball Band (ALL MEMBERS of the Band program)
We will be performing at two basketball games this Winter. Students will need to arrive at school at 6:15 and will be released after the games.
Thursday, February 21st
Friday, February 22nd
Fall 2013 Marching Band
All students in the 2013 Titan Pride Marching Band need to mark these dates off in their calendar for summer camp.
Monday, July 29 through Tuesday, August 6 (excluding Saturday and Sunday) 8am to 4pm
New York Trip
All students going on the New York Trip must be in attendance at our rehearsal next Monday, January 21st from 10am to 1pm.
Also, your final payment (which means you have paid a total of $1800) is due no later than Friday, February 1st
Sincerely,
Mr. Thurmond
Monday, September 10th
Drumline Rehearsal, 2:30-4:30
Tuesday, September 11th
Ice Cream Social performance
(Food served starting at 5:30, performances starting at 6pm)
Band students should be in the band room for warm up at 5:45pm
They should be wearing khaki or white shorts/pants along with their Aerodynamics tee shirt, which they will receive Monday or Tuesday during class.
All band members should sell ALL of their ice cream social tickets. This is very important to the success of the program and support from the Music Parents.
A reminder that even the students need a ticket to partake in the concessions.
Thursday, September 13th
Full Band Rehearsal, 5:55pm to 9pm
The Homecoming Parade has been moved to Thursday, September 27th at 3:30pm. The football game will remain on Friday, as originally scheduled. Please make note of this change as we march in this parade.