Week of November 17, 2025

Holiday Parades — November 25 and December 4

Each year, all students in our four bands combine to perform in the Oshkosh and Appleton Holiday Parades. This is a required performance for all students.

The uniform for the parades is as follows:

All students will wear their marching uniform jacket, pants, and hat provided by the school. Students are responsible for providing long black socks and all-black shoes. Shoes that are not all-black will be made all-black. Expensive and/or fancy shoes are unnecessary! Find a pair of cheap all-black shoes that will last all four years at Walmart, Target, Goodwill, or your favorite local store. Students with financial difficulties should contact Mr. Singer or Mr. Flynn for assistance. (Students will not board the bus or be able to perform without the proper attire.)

It will be cold! The band program provides clean black ear warmers to be worn underneath the marching hats. The uniforms were fit with a little room so students can wear thermals, sweatshirts, Underarmour, or the like. Please do not wear anything with a hood as that will make the jacket bunchy. It may be a good idea to bring hand and/or foot warmers as well.

Clarinet and saxophone players may wish to purchase plastic reeds for the cold temperatures. Plastic reeds have strengths in quarters (2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5) rather than halves (2.5, 3, 3.5) like cane reeds. We recommend ordering a quarter stronger than you typically play. So, if you typically play a 2.5, order a 2.75 (though we should consider moving you up to a 3 cane reed). If you typically play a 3, order a 3.25. If you typically play a 3.5, order a 3.75. We recommend using the Légère Signature brand. Légère has other cheaper models, but this is definitely a “you get what you pay for” situation. From our experience, we do not recommend other brands at this time.

Brass players may wish to purchase a plastic mouthpiece for the cold temperatures. Please get a clear, white, blue, gray, silver, or black mouthpiece. Below are links to recommended mouthpieces. You can purchase these on Amazon, at Heid, or through the Kelly website.

Holiday Parade Volunteers

Mr. Flynn previously sent out volunteer needs. We still need helpers, including someone to pull the trailer. Please consider helping out. Please contact Mr. Malakai Flynn to volunteer or for more information. malakai.flynn@oshkosh.k12.wi.us

  • Pull Band Trailer (Need truck -- F150 or similar): 5:00-8:45pm

    • This position will pull our band trailer to and from the parades.

BAND-O-RAMA — DECEMBER 13

We are excited to continue our tradition of having all 800+ district band students perform at Band-o-Rama!

This year’s performance will be on Saturday, December 13th at 6pm in the Oshkosh North Field House. Due to fire code, each student we are asking each student to bring only 2-3 audience members. Please let us know if you’d like to bring more, as we may be able to accommodate that as well.

Due to the magnitude of the performance, we will have a required rehearsal in the field house prior to the performance. Below is the high school schedule for the day:

  • 12:40 pm Arrive at North and report to homerooms

  • 1:00 pm 6-12 rehearsal

  • 1:30 pm 7-12 rehearsal

  • 2:00 pm Combined Wildcat, Spartan, and Concert Bands rehearsal

  • 2:30 pm Combined High School rehearsal

  • 3:00 pm Combined Wind Ensemble and Varsity Band rehearsal (Wildcat, Spartan, and Concert Bands students dismissed)

  • 3:30 pm Wind Ensemble and Varsity Band students dismissed

  • 5:30 pm call time to homerooms

  • 6:00 pm Performance

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.

Daniel Singer