Good evening, everyone! Let me jump right in. Dancers and Color Guard, all you need are the first couple of paragraphs. Great job dancers at your show on Saturday night. We’re PROUD of you and your accomplishments this year!
2026 Marching Show
We have settled on a show for next season. It is called Club Fuego or Club Fire! It has a definite Afro-Cuban or Latin Jazz flavor. From the show’s website, “this show blends mambo, salsa, and modern Latin jazz elements to create an atmosphere bursting with color, motion, and musical excitement.” We envision a lot of movement and certainly some dancing as we try to bring the high-energy jazz nightclub idea to life. Here is the website to listen to the music. https://randallstandridge.com/music-catalog/marching_band_6/club-fuego-marching-band
Upcoming Events
Savers – Pack the trailer night. We had a great response a couple of weeks ago, here is another opportunity to bring your gently used clothes, board games, small kitchen appliances and more to clean out your house and add to the band’s donation fundraising. The trailer will be open from 6:30-7:30p. I have attached a PDF that will provide guidance. Help us reach 300 boxes/bags! We have 75ish right now. Keep it coming!
Monday Night – BAW Meeting at 7:00p in the band room. We will be looking ahead to Jazz on the Bridge and End of the Year Banquet planning.
Tuesday – Symphonic Band performance at SM Northwest @ 7:00p. Call time for students is 6:30. Dress is normal “Concert Black.” Gentlemen, the uniform room will be unlocked for you Monday and Tuesday so you can get your tux coat. We will play for all of the other Shawnee Mission bands and for a judge to provide feedback to help us continue to improve before we go to State Large Group Contest in a couple of weeks. Parents, there is no charge for entry, so we would LOVE to have you there supporting us!
Contest season – Regional Solo and ensemble and State Large Group thoughts. I have attached the schedule for Regional Solo and Ensemble as well as thought on how you can continue to prepare yourselves. We typically have a table or two at Olathe South for the West kids to “hang out” during the day between events. It is common for everyone to bring snacks to share. If you want to eat some, you need to bring some. Everyone drives themselves to Olathe South to make you lives easier. MAKE SURE to pick up your instruments and music Friday after school! Thank you to those who have signed up to help manage the festival!
NEXT WEEK
State large Group – Thursday, Apr. 16 during the school day. The Wind Ensemble performs at 1:25p at Olathe East HS, and the Symphonic Band performs at 2:15, also at Olathe East HS. The choirs are at Olathe North earlier in the day and the Orchestra is at Olathe Northwest. Again, parents you are encouraged to come listen if you like. More details to come.
Jazz on the Bridge – Friday, Apr. 17 – No School but we have Jazz on the Bridge. The performances begin around 5:30 and go until a little after 9:00p. Set up of the performance spaces will begin around 3:30p. This is a GREAT celebration of Jazz music in Shawnee Mission and beyond. The evening is free of charge, but we do have The Rubselling dinner from their food truck because great Jazz music goes well with great BBQ.