Cougar Band Family,

It has been a whirlwind since we got back from winter break. Since that time we have entered into the very busy world of concert band rehearsals for the FBA District Music Performance Assessments (MPA, our band FCAT). Our Jazz Bands have performed at their Jazz Music Performance Assessments (MPA). We have had Solo & Ensemble performances, Winter Guard Shows, and lots of things still on the horizon. I will try to tackle them one at a time!

Congratulations to both of our Jazz Bands for their performances at the FBA District Jazz Music Performance Assessment (MPA). Both groups performed well and represented a very high level of professionalism throughout the day. I am very grateful for that. Our Jazz 1 has qualified for the State level Jazz MPA to be held on Tuesday April 6th at Westport HS in Ocala. Times and details will come later.

Congratulations to all of our students that participated in the Solo & Ensemble. We had a great showing with 77% of our students that participated receiving an Excellent or Superior Rating with 14 Solos and 6 Ensembles meeting the requirements to move on to the State Level Solo & Ensemble to be held on Tuesday April 6th at Westport HS in Ocala.

Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble is gearing up for their FBA District MPA. As part of our Preparation we will have our Pre-MPA Concert on Tuesday February 23rd at 6:00pm at East River HS. The Symphonic Band will perform at 6:00 in the East River HS Performing Arts Center followed by Colonial HS at 6:30, University HS Wind Ensemble at 7:00, and East River HS at 7:30. Please come out and join us as we make our last preparations for our Concert MPAs.

On Saturday February 27th we are hosting the WGI Orlando Percussion Regional. This is a huge event for us to host. We will need lots of help, just like with the Fall University Classic show, except it is inside and is not as stressful! We ask for parents and students to volunteer for the day running concessions, being door guards and such. Please email Mr. Steff at adam.steff@ocps.net to let him know if and what times you are available. The day starts at 9:00am and will go until 10:00pm with a break between prelims and finals from 4:00pm-6:00pm

The Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble have our dates and times for our MPA performances that are being held March 4th - 6th at Freedom HS. Here are the Itineraries for each ensemble. Wind Ensemble performs at 7:35pm on Thursday March 4th and Symphonic Band at 2:45pm on Friday March 5th .

*UHS Wind Ensemble Itinerary*
*FBA MPA 3/4/10*
*Freedom HS*
5:00pm – Report to UHS Band Room Dressed
5:15pm – Load Buses and Depart
6:00pm – Arrive at Freedom HS & Unload
6:15pm – Sit in Audience and Watch Ocoee HS performance
6:45pm – Get our Instruments (Leave cases where designated) Line up to go to Warm-up
7:00pm – Warm-up
7:35pm – UHS MPA Performance
8:10pm – Sight Reading
8:35pm – Load Buses
9:00pm – Depart
9:45pm – Arrive at UHS, Unload & Put Stuff Away
10:00pm – Dismiss

Please arrive dressed in your concert attire (all black).
Please eat before your report time as we will not have time to eat at Freedom HS.
Please be professional at all times. You represent yourselves and the best that University HS has to offer.
Please be respectful when you are watching other bands perform. They have put in just as much time and effort as you have and deserve the same type of audience that you would expect.
Please be mentally prepared to have a great performance!

*UHS Symphonic Band Itinerary*
*FBA MPA 3/5/10*
*Freedom HS*
10:31am – Everyone Goes to “A� Lunch
11:08am – Report to Band Room for Short Rehearsal
11:45am – Pack-up & load Buses
12:00pm – Depart
12:45pm – Arrive Freedom HS
1:00pm – Watch Lake Nona HS and Winter Park HS
2:00pm – Get Instruments. Leave cases in designated area. Line up to go to warm-up
2:15pm – Warm-up
2:45pm – UHS MPA Performance
3:10pm – Sight Reading
3:35pm – Put Instruments back in cases and store in designated area
3:45pm – Eat at concessions set up.
4:15pm – Watch Cypress Creek HS and Timber Creek HS
5:15pm – Load Bus
5:30pm – Depart
6:15pm – Arrive UHS, Unload, & Put Stuff Away
6:30pm - Dismiss

Everyone will go to “A� lunch that day and will then report right to the band room for a short run through rehearsal.
Please arrive dressed in your concert attire (all black).
Please bring money for concessions at Freedom HS. You will have an opportunity to eat while there.
Please be professional at all times. You represent yourselves and the best that University HS has to offer.
Please be respectful when you are watching other bands perform. They have put in just as much time and effort as you have and deserve the same type of audience that you would expect.
Please be mentally prepared to have a great performance!

The Jazz Big Band 1 has been invited to perform at the UCF Orlando Jazz Festival! The students will attend concerts and master classes Friday Evening and Saturday Evening with our performance during the Day on Saturday. This is being held at UCF on Friday March 19th and Saturday March 20th . More info to come as we get closer to the event!

Thank you all for a successful beginning to 2010. Let’s keep it going!

Musically,