Week of February 27

 

Solo and Ensemble Unit

All students are currently preparing solos and/or ensembles to be performed at either the District Solo and Ensemble Festival on Saturday, March 4, or in class for a clinician on March 16th or 17th. 

District Solo and Ensemble Performance

The District Solo and Ensemble Festival will be held at Menasha High School. Families are responsible for their own transportation. Students only need to be there for their own performance(s). We recommend arriving no later than 30 minutes before the performance time. Following the performance, students may wait for their scores or head back home. Scores and rubrics will be available in class the following week. Students were given a preliminary performance time on Tuesday. A final schedule was shared in class yesterday and is available here.

As shared in class, students who are performing at the festival have a small fee associated that is due by March 3rd.  Class A solos are $12, Class B and C solos are $9, and Ensembles are a total of $16 split among the ensemble’s members.  Students with an accompanist have an additional $30 fee to pay the accompanist for their practice time, a rehearsal, and the performance.

In-Class Solo and Ensemble Performance

Students who chose the in-class performance will perform their work on March 16th or 17th. There is no fee for this.

Families, please ask to hear your student play their piece for you!  It will get them used to playing alone in front of others and will help to push their preparation!

WSMA FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES

In March each band will travel by coach bus to Carroll University in Waukesha to perform in a Wisconsin School Music Association Large Group contest.  The Wildcat and Concert Bands will travel on March 13, and Varsity Band and Wind Ensemble will travel on March 14.

We will take coach buses to Shattuck Auditorium to perform and conclude the day with a visit to a local attraction and/or have a group meal as voted on by the students.  There is a small cost ($80 for Wildcat and Concert Bands; $85 for Varsity Band and Wind Ensemble) to this day which was determined based on the students’ choices.  For more information including a schedule and specific destinations, click here.

All students will attend and two fundraising opportunities have been available to help with the cost. Students with financial challenges should contact Mr. Singer or Mr. Wilson for assistance. 

Permission slips were handed out on Tuesday, February 21st and are due on Tuesday, February 28th. A page dedicated to these trips (with itineraries) can be found here.

We will not be wearing the standard West concert attire for the WSMA performances. Instead, students will “dress nice,” choosing from a collared polo shirt, collared button-down shirt, blouse, khaki pants, slacks, skirt, or dress, with “nice” shoes. These items can be any color. Students will not be permitted to perform if they’re wearing sweatpants, jeans, shorts, t-shirts, tennis shoes, etc. Students should arrive in the band room, dressed for the performance, by 7:30am on the day of their performance(s).

Take a look at the information below for dressing “nice.”

For Students in Multiple Bands

We have many students who participate in multiple bands during the school day.  Those students are encouraged to perform with each of the bands they rehearse with while at the festival.  As a thank you to our students in multiple bands across the 2 days, Monday will be free.

Grading and Make-Up Procedures

Are you curious about how grades are determined?  Click here for more information!

Do you have to miss a pep band performance?  Students who have a school-related activity are excused from the pep band performance.  Students missing for any other reason must make up the performance to gain the points.  Students wishing to be excused for a school-related activity should fill out this form prior to the date of the performance.  

Do you have to miss a concert or parade performance?  All students missing a concert or parade performance for any reason must make up the performance to earn the points.

View make-up procedures here.  Please contact Mr. Singer or Mr. Wilson with questions.

Important Upcoming Dates

  • March 4 — District Solo and Ensemble Festival at Menasha HS (interested students)

  • March 13 — WSMA Trip (Wildcat and Concert Bands)

  • March 14 — WSMA Trip (Varsity Band and Wind Ensemble)

  • March 15 — FVA-South Honor Band at UW-Oshkosh (invited students)

  • March 16 from 3:30 to 4:30pm — Kringle Delivery in the Kimball Lobby

  • March 17-18 — In-Class Solo and Ensemble performances

  • April 29 — State Solo and Ensemble Festival at UW-Oshkosh (advancing students)

  • May 8 at 8:00pm (call time is 7:00pm) — Spring Concert I (Wildcat Band and Wind Ensemble)

  • May 9 at 8:00pm (call time is 7:00pm) — Spring Concert II (Concert and Varsity Bands)

  • May 22 at 6:00pm — Music Department Awards Night in the O-Room

  • May 26 at 6:00pm (call time is 4:30pm at West) — Graduation Ceremony at the Oshkosh Arena (Current and 2023-2024 Wind Ensembles)

  • May 29 ay 9:00am (call time is 6:30am) — Memorial Day Procession (ALL Band Students, including seniors)

Oshkosh West Bands