Sunday, December 13, 2009

12/13/09 UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who attended the Christmas Concert on Thursday. This will be the last scheduled weekly newsletter until after the holiday break.

PRESIDENT'S CORNER – Jim Lowery

My appreciation goes to all who helped with the refreshments at the Christmas Band Concert. With the attendance filling the library, it will be nice to have the next concert in the Fine Arts Center!

Thanks for those who helped with the delivery of Christmas flowers. Since Shae was unable to lift anything due to her surgery, the help from John, Kevin, and Jonathan moving the flowers was especially welcome. This continues strong as a fund raiser for the boosters.

I am thankful that the boosters were able to bring Christmas wishes to the staff. It was a special fall season and we are blessed with those who work with our children. While the hard work of marching season is complete, we still have opportunity to hear the talent of our children in the upcoming concerts.

As a member of the Lions of Mississippi All-State Band Committee, I am especially proud of our children that are a part of the 2010 band. (All four seniors-what a group!) If you want to hear the finest band musicians in Mississippi, travel with me to Ellisville in June to hear the concert before they travel to Sydney, Australia for parade competition at the Lions Clubs International convention in July.
See you in 2010.

DIRECTORS’ REPORT – Bruce & Cammie Carter

We were very proud of the Sixth Grade Band, the Concert Band, and the Jazz Band for their performances at the JA Band Program Christmas Concert on Thursday.

Thank you to Kristal Golden for organizing the refreshments for the concert, and to those parents who contributed items and helped with setup, serving, and cleanup.



The following students have indicated that they are planning to participate in the 2010 MAIS Concert Band Clinic January 7-9:

Caroline Burford
Annie Campbell
Samantha Hill
John Humphreys
Brandon Hutchins
Bryant Hutchins
Zack McWilliams
JP Pierce
Alex Ray
Jonathan Sandlin
Jace Stanley
Luke Strong
Jacob Theisges
Will Tribble

If your student is not on this list and wishes to participate, please send me an email so I can add them to the roster.

Clinic Details:

-Student Cost - $75 (checks made payable to JA Band, due by Tuesday, January 5)

-Students will have excused absences from school for the afternoon on Thursday, January 7, and all day Friday, January 8

-All students must stay at the Regency Hotel, where all clinic events will be held. Cammie & I will also be staying at the hotel to supervise.

-Students will be placed in one of two ensembles based on auditions Thursday afternoon, which will consist of a short prepared piece (30 sec - 2 min), two major scales, and a sight-reading exercise. We will assist our students with preparations for the auditions.

-Final concert, for parents and the public, will be Saturday, January 9, at 1:00 in the Regency Hotel Ballroom.

Please send me an email if you have any questions about the clinic.

PHOTO GALLERY - Wendy Hutchins

Here are a few photos from the Christmas Concert. These and many more are posted in the online gallery at JA BAND GALLERY.














Thursday, December 10, 2009

12/06/09 UPDATE

We hope the weather this weekend put everyone in the holiday spirit to enjoy the Christmas Concert on Thursday.

POINSETTIA SALE – Shae Lowery




CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA pickup is Tuesday. Thank you for your support of this fundraiser.

If you have any questions, please contact me at sclowery@jacksonacademy.org.


DIRECTORS’ REPORT – Bruce & Cammie Carter


The JA Band Program Christmas Concert will be this Thursday, December 10, beginning at 7:00 in the JA Library.

Percussion section members should report to the Band Hall by 6:15 Thursday to move equipment to the Library

Sixth Grade Band members should be in their seats in the library by 6:45. Attire for the concert will be Sunday dress up (coats and ties for the boys, pants or skirts knee length or longer for the girls).

High School Band members should be in the Library by 7:00. Attire for high schoolers is black for the boys and dark pants or skirts knee length or longer for the girls.

The concert will begin with the 19-member Sixth Grade Band giving its premiere performance with several traditional Folk and Christmas classics. The High School Concert Band will be performing a few "new" Christmas classics from film, radio and TV, including music from Home Alone, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, selections from A Charlie Brown Christmas, a crazy version of the James Brown classic retitled Santa’s Got A Brand New Bag, and the premiere of a modern/ jazzy arrangement Silent Night for Brass and Percussion by JA Alumnus Corey Carter.

The program will conclude with the always popular High School Jazz Band, performing fresh arrangements of pop standards such as Santa Baby, Baby, It’s Cold Outside, and a hard swinging version of Jingle Bells.

Please join us to get in the holiday spirit. Come early – it will be crowded in the Library – and plan to stay late, to enjoy plenty of current and unusual holiday music.

John Humphreys traveled to USM Saturday to participate in the "Trumpet Day" with high school trumpet students from across the state as well as the USM Trumpet studio. It was a day of concerts, clinics, discussions, and lessons for trumpets only.



The JACKSON INDEPENDENT WINTER GUARD had a wonderful first week of preparation for their season. The girls learned the drill for the entire show and most of the equipment work during their rehearsals Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Thank you to Kate Bowman for preparing a spaghetti dinner for 20 on Friday and delivering it to the rehearsal.

The Winter Guard rehearsal schedule for this week:

Tuesday, December 8 – Weapons only, 4:00-6:00