12/15/13 UPDATE

BAND BLOG BULLETS

- Thanks to the students for a great Christmas concert this week!

- MAIS Concert Band Clinic January 9-11

- Check spring and summer dates in the sidebar and calendar link - BAND CAMP July 21-25 and July 28-August 1

JA BAND BOOSTERS

Thanks to David Bowman for picking up the Corky's order in Memphis and transporting it to Jackson, and to Charlette Oswalt, Kate Bowman, Jamie Niemeyer, and Cassie Carroll for organizing the pickup. Thank you also to everyone who bought and sold the products in support of the band.

Charlette & Kate sorting Corky's BBQ orders for pickup.

This will be the last Blog update for 2013. We wish all JA Band members, families and friends a happy, healthy, and blessed Christmas.

12/8/13 UPDATE

BAND BLOG BULLETS

- CHRISTMAS CONCERT TUESDAY - 7:00 in the PAC

- MAIS Concert Band Clinic Registration due THURSDAY

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Attire for students is concert black, and all students should be in the PAC by 6:45 on Tuesday, to listen to the Sixth Grade Band.

There will be a reception after the concert, with refreshments provided by the JA Band Boosters.

The concert is free and open to the public. Please invite your families and friends.

MAIS CONCERT BAND CLINIC

Clinic registration, and roommate lists if staying on campus, are due this Thursday, December 12.

WINTER GUARD

The Winter Guard had a great camp Friday and Saturday. Next rehearsal will be January 5 & 6.

12/1/13 UDPATE

BAND BLOG BULLETS

- Band Program Christmas Concert Tuesday, December 10 in the PAC

- WINTER GUARD begins this week - Practice Friday, 5:00 - 9:00 and Saturday, 12:00 - 6:00

- Two videos have been added to the YouTube listing to the right - JA Band 2013 - A Place for My Stuff, and JA Band at the Clinton Invitational 2013

- MAIS Concert Band Clinic registration deadline December 12

- FINAL WEEK for Corky's fundraiser - get your orders in for all your holiday entertaining

MAIS CONCERT BAND CLINIC - JANUARY 9-11, 2014

All JA Band members are encouraged to participate.

Students will be signed up when they bring the $65 registration fee (checks payable to JA Band).

Audition materials are available so students can prepare for the placement auditions.

All clinic activities are on the campus of Hinds Community College. Housing is available at the Eagle Creek Conference Center if desired. Total lodging fee for two nights:

2 students per room - $85 per student
3 students per room - $63.50 per student
4 students per room - $47.50 per student

Email bcarter@jacksonacademy.org with rooming requests or any questions.

11/24/13 UPDATE

BAND BLOG BULLETS

- Band Program Christmas Concert December 10, 7:00 pm in the PAC

- Congrats to Samantha Hill and Caroline Burford for earning spots on the 2014 Mississippi Lions All-State Band!

- MAIS Concert Band Clinic signup deadline December 12 - Clinic is January 9-11, 2014

- CORKY'S Fundraiser continues - a great choice for holiday entertaining and family meals. Please support the JA Band by selling CORKY'S through December 5!

MS LIONS ALL-STATE BAND

Congratulations to JA Band members Samantha Hill and Caroline Burford for their outstanding showings at the callback (second round) auditions on Saturday at Pearl HS.

Samantha was 7th overall on Dance, to become only the third JA guard member ever to earn a spot in the Lions Band as a dancer.

Samantha was 6th and Caroline 7th on Flag, after a process that began with over 90 performers from around the state auditioning. The girls will travel with the band to Toronto, Canada in July.

Well done, Samantha & Caroline!

MAIS CONCERT BAND CLINIC

All band members are encouraged to consider participating in the MAIS Concert Band Clinic, which will be January 9-11 at Hinds Community College.

Deadline to register is December 12, and the registration fee is $65. Housing is available at the Eagle Creek Conference Center on the Hinds campus if desired. The cost is $85 per room per night for one or two students per room, and $95 per room per night for 3 or 4 students per room.

All students will audition at the start of the clinic for their placement into one of two bands. The clinic is always a valuable experience for our students, affording them the opportunity to work with quality clinicians and to get to know student musicians from independent schools around the state.

Please let us know as soon as possible if your student would like to participate, so that we can distribute audition materials.

REGISTRATION FEE DEADLINE - DECEMBER 12

MAIS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Thank you to the students for braving the wet and cold to provide support for the JA Football Raiders at the championship game at Mississippi College on Friday. A few photos:

We wish all JA Band Families and Friends a Happy Thanksgiving!

11/17/13 UPDATE

BAND BLOG BULLETS

- All State Lions Band auditions were Saturday - check below for results!

- Mark your calendars - Christmas Concert December 10, location TBA

- MAIS Concert Band Clinic January 9-11, details below

- MAIS CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL GAME Friday at Mississippi College - Band members will provide support as the drumline in the stands. Watch for an email this week with details about report time and location.

2014 MISSISSIPPI ALL-STATE LIONS BAND

The first round of auditions for the 2014 Lions Band were Saturday at Pearl HS.

Congratulations to JA Band member Samantha Hill, who earned spots at callback auditions next week on both flag and dance. She placed third out of 94 flag students.

Congrats also to Caroline Burford, who was 9th on flag and will return for callbacks.

Will Tribble and Tyler McClellan placed in the top 20 out of over 40 on alto sax.

The 2014 All-State Lions Band will be traveling to Toronto, Canada, in July.

The JA connection at auditions was strong. Here is a photo of JA Guard Director Cammie Carter flanked by JA alumni Jessie Stribling Robinson (guard director at Southaven HS) and Jessica Thompson (guard director at Wayne County HS). All three had students qualify for callbacks. Jessie and JA percussion instructor Jason Mathena also served as audition judges.

CORKY'S FUNDRAISER - BEGINS THIS WEEK!

Order sheets for the Corky's fundraiser were distributed at the last JA Band Booster meeting. If you need one, please contact Charlette Oswalt (charlette.oswalt@millsaps.edu). The sale is November 18 - December 5.

Watch for an email this week with the gift wrap fundraiser schedule.

MAIS CONCERT BAND CLINIC

All JA Band members are encouraged to consider attending the MAIS Concert Band Clinic January 9-11, 2014, at Hinds Community College.

Deadline to register for the clinic is December 12. Registration fee is $65 per student. If desired, rooms at the Eagle Creek Conference Center are $85 per night for single or double occupance, and $95 per night for 3 or 4 student per room.

All students will audition at the clinic to be placed in one of two bands. If your student would like to participate, please let us know so that we can distribute audition materials in time for preparation. 

The clinic is a valuable experience for all who participate, with quality clinicians and an opportunity to meet and perform with student musicians from around the state. 

JA BAND SCHEDULE 11/18-23

MONDAY - THURSDAY - Class 2:10 - 3:00

FRIDAY - Class 2:10 - 3:00

FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME at MC, 7:00 Kickoff - Drumline in the stands

An email will be sent this week when details are finalized

SATURDAY - Good luck to Samantha Hill and Caroline Burford at MS Lions All-State Band callback auditions!

11/10/13 UPDATE

BAND BLOG BULLETS

- Congratulations on a successful (and fun) Indianapolis trip! Photos and more info below.

- Home playoff football game Friday vs. Presbyterian Christian School - halftime show performance.

- No more after school or Tuesday evening rehearsals.

- Good luck to those band members auditioning for MS All-State Lions Band on Saturday.

BOA INDIANAPOLIS SUPER REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Congratulations to the JA Band for their Third Place honors in Class A at the BOA Indy Super Regional! The competition was fierce, with many of the best bands in the country in attendance for the two days of performances at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Our students put on an outstanding performance, and they were the smallest group on the field by far. The crowd responded enthusiastically, and the show garnered the following responses on social media:

From Jerry Palm (@jppalmCBS): "Jackson Academy, MS plays Radiohead w/ 5...saxes, 2 trumpets, a trombone, and 6 in the pit. Unreal. And awesome."

From commenters on the live blog about the event on the BOA website:

"I guess 8 wind players is all you need. Jackson Academy sounded amazing."

"Jackson Academy never fails to entertain you."

"These kids are multi-dimensional. They can do it all."

"Check out the feet movement to the multi-meters of the music. Now the groove settles in."

"The talent of these kids is always on display in every regard."

"Excellent work by the bassist also. It was a pleasure to watch this band today."

"A stellar alto sax soloist takes center stage. Well done. Nice work from the 4 rifles also."

In addition to the outstanding performance, thanks to the students for their exemplary behavior. They were great representatives of Jackson Academy.

Thank you to all the parents on the trip. In addition to chaperoning, they stepped up in a big way to help move equipment into the stadium, to and from warmup, and on and off the field.

Overall, the trip was a great experience for our students.

JA BAND SCHEDULE 11/11-16

MONDAY-THURSDAY, 11/11-14 - Class 2:10 - 3:00

FRIDAY, 11/15 - Class 2:10 - 3:00 - Home Football Playoff Game
5:30 - Report in half uniform for warmup on lot
7:00 - Kickoff
Halftime - Show performance - Parent help needed

SATURDAY, 11/16 - Good luck to the students auditioning for Lions Band

PHOTO GALLERY

Many more photos posted on the JA Band Facebook page and the Photo Gallery. A few from the trip:

11/3/13 UPDATE

BAND BLOG BULLETS

BOOSTER MEETING TUESDAY - 7:00 - Booster updates and Indy trip briefing from trip planner Sue Guindon.

After the meeting, at the end of rehearsal, PARENT MAT & BOX CREW PRACTICE on the field. We ask that all parents who are coming on the Indy trip attend this practice. Field set up and tear down are closely timed at BOA events, and failure to accomplish either in a timely manner will result in a penalty against the band's score. We do not want to leave any aspect of this to chance.

DONATIONS REQUESTED - Donations of individually packaged snacks and drinks (water, Gatorade, soft drinks) for the trip are being accepted. Please bring them to the band hall labeled INDY.

EXCUSED ABSENCES THURSDAY & FRIDAY - Students should discuss with their teachers any school work they will miss these two days, and come up with a plan to make up the work and/or accomplish it ahead of time. There will be homework time on the bus, which will have power outlets and wifi.

MILLSAPS HOMECOMING GAME

The JA Band had fun and contributed to the spirited atmosphere at the Millsaps College Homecoming game on Saturday, which was won by the undefeated Millsaps Majors 38-3.

JA BAND SCHEDULE 11/4-10

MONDAY, 11/4 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 4:00

TUESDAY, 11/5 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 3:00
COLOR GUARD - 5:00 - 6:00 on the field
HORNS & PERCUSSION - 6:00 for warmup and equipment movement
FULL BAND - 6:30 - 8:00 on the field
BOOSTER MEETING - 7:00 in the band hall
PARENT MAT & BOX CREW PRACTICE - 7:50 on the field

WEDNESDAY, 11/6 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 4:00
Students prep percussion equipment for loading at the end of rehearsal
6:00 - Trucks will be loaded by loading crew

THURSDAY, 11/7 - INDIANAPOLIS BOA TRIP
6:30 - Report time at Band Hall, load bus
Fast Food Lunch stop in Missouri
Dinner stop at Cracker Barrel
9:00 - Arrive at Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Airport

FRIDAY, 11/8
10:00 -  Rehearsal at SportZone
1:00 - Lunch & Fun at Dave & Busters
3:00 -  Castleton Square Mall
6:00 - Watch preliminary performances at Lucas Oil Stadium

SATURDAY, 11/9
11:30 - PERFORMANCE TIME for the JA BAND
1:00 - Lunch at Buca di Beppo
2:30 - Circle Centre Mall or Lucas Oil Stadium
3:30 - All to Stadium, Prelim Awards
BOA Championship Finals

SUNDAY, 11/10
9:00 - Depart Hotel
1:00 - Lunch stop at Lambert's Cafe
8:30 (approx.) - Arrival at JA

Students will need approximately $60 for the meals that are not included (breakfasts, Dave & Busters, and Buca di Beppo are included in the trip fee).

For families not traveling with the band, a live stream of the performance is available for purchase ($19 for one event) at the following link: BOA Live Webcast

PHOTO GALLERY

A few more photos from the Millsaps game: