• The OCHS Band Boosters is needing volunteers to fill Board and Committee Coordinator positions for next year along with Shadowing Opportunities.  Please see the Volunteer and Shadowing Opportunities Section below for more details on open positions.ehearsals will resume after school on Tuesdays (Symphonic II) and Wednesdays (Symphonic I) from 3:45- 5:00 with the exception of the KMEA recording dates listed below.  
• Health Check Form must be completed prior to arriving at rehearsals. Health Check Link: https://forms.gle/oXV2k7PCGYNMWLrXA
• Link to Instrumental Music Google Site: https://sites.google.com/oldham.kyschools.us/ochs-instrumental-music-2020-2/home
• The April Band Booster Meeting will be on Monday, April 19th at 7:00pm via Zoom.  Meeting Link will be sent after Spring Break.

A Message from Mr. Rogers and KMEA Executive Director John Stroube on Education in the Arts
 
OCHS Band Parents:
 
This could be very important as we dig ourselves out of the current pandemic situation.  I’m a member of KMEA and the Kentucky Coalition for Arts Education (KCAE); both organizations have been actively involved for many years to keep quality arts education available for all Kentucky students and to maintain a voice with decision-makers at the state level.  
 
I have been involved several times over the years with efforts like these; while it seems we take one step forward and two steps backward much of the time, opportunities to advocate for what we know is important in the development of our children need to be taken full advantage of.
 
I encourage you to read the following from KMEA, use the Google link below to find out more and to SIGN UP to speak briefly at one of the virtual meetings offered beginning on April 6.  It is possible to register for any or ALL of the meetings listed if you choose to do so.
 
The squeaky wheel gets the grease–with a new commissioner, it’s time to apply some more lubrication.  Thanks for your support of this effort!
 
Bradford D. Rogers
 
 
KMEA members:

I encourage you to share this email widely with arts education colleagues, music parents, and any other arts-education-friendly Kentuckians.

Did you know that not all Kentucky students have access to the arts taught by certified teachers? Did you know there is no arts consultant at the KDE, and there hasn’t been one since 2018? Did you know there is no arts advisory council to the KDE, and there hasn’t been one for even longer?

Starting this week will be the Commissioner’s Listening Tour where arts advocates can have an impact toward correcting these deficiencies. The department will tabulate how many people mention the arts during these sessions as well as the specifics they reference.

I hope you will go to the informational document linked below, register for one of the sessions if you have not, and consider addressing any or all of the three main talking points we have identified as a part of what you say. If any of these are corrected they will lead the way to many other improvements in arts education.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rDLMDLHGYmG154p-SyYr74q4nb3cWybd/view?usp=sharing

Best regards,

John Stroube, Executive Director
KMEA
 

ALL-COUNTY BAND

Rehearsals

• Thursday, April 15th 6:00-9:00 pm
• Friday, April 16th 6:00-9:00 pm
• Saturday, April 17th 9:00 am – 12:00 pm 
  • Concert Warm-up 2:00pm
  • Concert 2:30 pm

All rehearsals are in the NOHS Main Gym.  Enter through the "Gym Entrance" doors (left of the main entrance, right to the auditorium entrance.) 

SAVE THE DATES
 
KMEA GROUP RECORDINGS
Rehearsals previously scheduled for 4/21 and 4/22 at the Arvin Centered have been changed back to regular after school rehearsals.  Band Photos will be taken on 4/22 after school.  Additional Information will be given in the coming weeks.
 
Performance recording sessions:
Symphonic II: THURSDAY, April 29th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. (includes dressing in concert black, set up, recording session and photo (?))
Symphonic I: FRIDAY, April 30th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. (same as above; return equipment to band room afterward).

The Band Banquet is scheduled for May 21st at 6:00pm in the OCHS Gym. 

Tentative Spring Concert May 27th.  Details are still being determined, we will pass on additional information once it is available.

Important Dates—Summer and Fall 2021
 
Marching Band Reading Session
          Last Day for Students (TBA);
          4:15-5:30 p.m. at OCHS
 
Summer Band Rehearsals
          Mondays and Thursdays
          Starts July 5^th through the first day of the school year
          6:00-8:30 p.m. at OCHS
 
Oldham County Day Parade
          July 17^th (a.m.; schedule TBA)
 
Band Camp Week
          July 26-30
          8:30 a.m—8:30 p.m. DAILY
          OCHS
 
After school rehearsals (marching band)
          Every Thursday; August 12—end of season
 
HOME FOOTBALL DATES FALL 2021 (required performances)
August 27^th v. Shelby County
September 10^th v. Meade County
October 7^th (THURSDAY) v. Eastern (7:00 start)
October 22^nd  v. GRC (we will not play this game-fall break)
(Fall Break     October 18-22)
October 29^th v. Bullitt East (Senior night)

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE 

After Spring Break rehearsals will resume immediately after school on Tuesdays for Symphonic II and Wednesdays for Symphonic I from 3:45-5:00.  

Parents and spectators will not be allowed to attend the rehearsals due to the restrictions.
If parents or their student are uncomfortable with this arrangement, they should let me know they will not attend. Please email with concerns [email protected].  

KMEA ASSESSMENTS

Assessment events will be virtual this year; solo and ensemble festival and concert assessments at the district level will be video/audio recorded and submitted for evaluation to KMEA.  Instructions have been posted to GOOGLE Classroom concerning the online entry process through Collabra (much like the All State audition process).  All OCHS students are required to perform ONE EVENT for the Solo/Ensemble assessment but can enter more than one event if they wish (I would recommend no more than three total events).

Mr. Rogers has been working to produce a virtual KMEA assessment recording for our two concert bands, using the large meeting rooms at the Arvin Center to facilitate whatever social distancing requirements we may be dealing with as we go forward.
 
After discussing with Arvin staff, the following dates are available:
 
Dress rehearsals:

Rehearsals previously scheduled for 4/21 and 4/22 at the Arvin Centered have been changed back to regular after school rehearsals.  Band Photos will be taken on 4/22 after school.  Additional Information will be given in the coming weeks.
 
Performance recording sessions:
 
Symphonic II: THURSDAY, April 29th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. (includes dressing in concert black, set up, recording session and photo (?))
Symphonic I: FRIDAY, April 30th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. (same as above; return equipment to band room afterward).
 
Students on sports teams or who have after school employment obligations have more than one month to get these dates cleared and should do so immediately to ensure they will be rehearsing and performing with the band on these dates.  
 
The broad time frame is to ensure we have enough time deal with the fact that we won’t be "just down the hallway" to perform, must dress in concert attire after school on our "performance" days, and any other logistical issues.  If we finish early, that means our planning was solid and we were efficient in our use of the time we had.
 
This will be a big step in the direction we need to be going and will provide the opportunity of a traditional outcome for our work during this crazy time.  The recordings produced will be posted on YouTube for parents/relatives/supporters to view.

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS NEEDED

As you know, each spring our Photo Coordinator creates the End-of-Year Band Video for our graduating seniors and the rest of the band members. This year has been especially challenging with getting pictures of our band members. With few public appearances to pull from, it’s important that we capture as many photos and videos as we can of our band members. We are asking you for help in doing this.
 
Please do the following by no later than April 30, 2021:
 
1. Find any band pictures or videos taken this year already, preferably in a .jpg (photo) and .mp4 (video) format.
 
2. Take pictures of your band student practicing at home or putting on a family performance.
 
3. Create a folder on your desktop and save all of your photos and videos in the folder. 
 
4. Rename the folder in the following format using your band student’s name: 
last name_first name (Example: Fuller_Katie)
 
5. To upload your folder to the right location, do the following:

• Click on this link: Photo Upload
• Drag and drop the folder you created into the Google folder that opens up and says, "Drop files here"

If you have any questions, please send one email to the following two email addresses: [email protected][email protected].

VOLUNTEER AND SHADOWING OPPORTUNITIES

The OCHS Band Boosters is needing volunteers for open positions for next year.  Board positions are elected positions called out in the By laws and include the officer positions and the class reps.  Committee Positions are non-elected positions.
After surveying those currently serving, the following positions are open for next year:
Board (all positions except Treasurer are up for elections but the following do not have someone rerunning): 

• Treasurer – Elect

Committee Coordinators 

• Oldham County Day Coordinator (would be both 2021 OC day if they have and 2022)
• Script Gift Cards Coordinator
• Hospitality Co-coordinator to work with previous year’s coordinator.
• Letterman Jacket/Spirit Wear Coordinator
• Picture Coordinator
• All District Co-chair to work with previous year’s coordinator.
• Alumni Coordinator

In addition, all committee positions are always open to shadowing or additional help.  The committees below will have Senior parent next year and would be great to have someone shadowing next year that could take over the following year: 

• Sponsorships
• Mums Sale Coordinator
• Directory
• Instrument Rental
• Band Website Support
• T-shirts

Please email me at [email protected] if you are interested in filling any of the roles listed above or if you are interested in shadowing any committee.  If you would like more details on each position’s role, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact the current coordinator. 

BAND BOOSTER LEADERSHIP

Board Members for 2020-2021
President – Chad Adams
Vice President – Brandon Gossett
Secretary – Sandy Walker
Treasurer – Lisa Zahradnicek
Senior Member-at-Large: Sonya Cook
Junior Member-at-Large: Katie Fuller
Sophomore Member-at-Large: Stephanie Skeens
Freshman Members-at-Large: Natalie Dorris and Kristin Goodloe