2/28/10 UPDATE

We received a thank you note this week from CARA, expressing their gratitude for the donation which was made possible by the JA Band Booster raffle ticket sale during the MAIS Marching Band Festival in the fall. Thank you to Connie Hill and the other parents who organized the event.

The JA Jazz Band will be playing tomorrow, Monday, March 1, at the Features Pageant in the PAC. They will perform as guests enter the PAC, beginning about 6:30, and will also play a few numbers during the event.

Jazz Band members should be seated in the orchestra pit in the PAC ready to play by 6:20 on Monday. Attire for the event is black dress shirts and pants for the guys, black shirts and pants or skirts for the girls.

Saturday, April 10 - The band will also perform at the Township Jazz Festival at the Township at Colony Park in Ridgeland. The JA Jazz Band will play from 12:00 - 1:00. Click on the logo above for more information about this event, spearheaded by prominent local musician Raphael Semmes.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please mark the following dates on your calendars:

Tuesday, March 23 - Full Band evening rehearsal, PAC, 7:00 - 8:30
Tuesday, March 30 - Full Band evening rehearsal, PAC, 7:00 - 8:30
Thursday, April 1 - MAIS Concert Band Festival, PAC, all day

Tuesday, May 4 - JA Band Program Spring Concert, PAC, 7:00
Thursday, May 13 - JA Band Program Banquet

BAND CAMP - July 26-30 and August 2-6, JA campus, 8:30 - 5:00 each day

SECTIONALS

We will follow the usual sectional schedule this week:

MONDAY - tenor saxes & clarinets
TUESDAY - alto saxes & flutes
WEDNESDAY - percussion
THURSDAY - trumpets
FRIDAY - low brass

JACKSON INDEPENDENT WINTERGUARD

Congratulations to the JI Winterguard for extending their undefeated season with a First Place finish at Southaven on Saturday. The guard will be traveling to Ridgeland HS this coming Saturday for the MIA Championships.

This week's JI Winterguard schedule:

TUESDAY - Rehearsal 4:00 - 6:45

SATURDAY -

12:00 - 2:00 - Rehearsal @ JA
2:00 - Snack, Load truck, dress in uniform
3:00 - Depart for Ridgeland HS
3:30 - Arrive Ridgeland, Unload truck
4:00 - 6:00 - Watch groups
6:30 - Move to warmup
7:15 - PERFORMANCE
8:00 - Full Retreat
8:30 - Load truck, Depart
9:00 - (Approximate) Arrive JA

Please send Cammie an email if you can drive some of the guard members to Ridgeland on Saturday.

FLORIDA TRIP

As a reminder, the guard will be traveling to the Patriot Classic, a Gulf Coast Color Guard & Percussion Circuit event at Pace HS, FL. They will depart Saturday morning, March 20, and return to JA at approximately 7 pm on Sunday, March 21.

For family members who wish to accompany the guard on the trip, there will be about four extra free seats available on the bus. Please let Cammie know if you plan to ride the bus or drive separately.

The guard will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Orange Beach Beachfront. To make reservations for family members, please call the hotel at 251.974.1600, or click on the hotel name for a link to make reservations online.

2/21/10 UPDATE

Congrats to the Sixth Grade Band for their fine performance at the Patriotic Day assembly on campus Friday. We are proud of these young musicians, who received many compliments about their performance from those in attendance.

Please mark the following dates on your calendar for Jazz Band performances:

Monday, March 1 - Features Pageant, JA Performing Arts Center, 7:00. Jazz Band participation details TBA

Saturday, April 10 - The Township Jazz Festival at the Township at Colony Park in Ridgeland. Time and other details TBA. Click on the logo above for more information about this event, spearheaded by prominent local musician Raphael Semmes.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please mark the following dates on your calendars:

Tuesday, March 23 - Full Band evening rehearsal, PAC, 7:00 - 8:30
Tuesday, March 30 - Full Band evening rehearsal, PAC, 7:00 - 8:30
Thursday, April 1 - MAIS Concert Band Festival, PAC, all day

Tuesday, May 4 - JA Band Program Spring Concert, PAC, 7:00
Thursday, May 13 - JA Band Program Banquet

BAND CAMP - July 26-30 and August 2-6, JA campus, 8:30 - 5:00 each day

SECTIONALS

We return to the usual sectional schedule this week:

MONDAY - tenor saxes & clarinets
TUESDAY - alto saxes & flutes
WEDNESDAY - percussion
THURSDAY - trumpets
FRIDAY - low brass

JACKSON INDEPENDENT WINTERGUARD

FLORIDA TRIP

The guard will be traveling to the Patriot Classic, a Gulf Coast Color Guard & Percussion Circuit event at Pace HS, FL. They will depart Saturday morning, March 20, and return to JA at approximately 7 pm on Sunday, March 21.

For family members who wish to accompany the guard on the trip, there will be about four extra free seats available on the bus. Please let Cammie know if you plan to ride the bus or drive separately.

The guard will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Orange Beach Beachfront. To make reservations for family members, please call the hotel at 251.974.1600, or click on the following link to make arrangements online:

This Saturday, February 27, the guard will be competing at SOUTHAVEN HS. This week's JI Winterguard schedule:

TUESDAY - Rehearsal 4:00 - 7:00, Activities Center (old gym)

SATURDAY -

11:00 - 1:00 - Rehearsal @ JA
1:00 - Lunch (provided)
1:30 - Load truck
2:00 - Depart for Southaven HS
5:00 - Arrive Southaven, unload, change
6:15 - Warmup
6:45 - Performance
8:00 - Retreat
8:30 - Depart, fast food dinner stop
12:00 (approximate) - Return to JA

Please send Cammie an email if you can drive some of the guard members to Southaven on Saturday.

2/14/10 UPDATE

JACKSON INDEPENDENT WINTERGUARD

Congratulations to the JI Winterguard for once again earning first place honors at the Warren Central show on Saturday. Their next competition will be February 27 at Southaven.

This week's JI Winterguard schedule:

TUESDAY - Rehearsal 4:00 - 6:00, Weapons 6:00 - 7:00

Please mark the following dates on your calendar for Jazz Band performances:

Monday, March 1 - Features Pageant, JA Performing Arts Center, 7:00. Jazz Band participation details TBA

Saturday, April 10 - The Township Jazz Festival at the Township at Colony Park in Ridgeland. Time and other details TBA. Click on the logo above for more information about this event, spearheaded by prominent local musician Raphael Semmes.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please mark the following dates on your calendars:

Tuesday, March 23 - Full Band evening rehearsal, PAC, 7:00 - 8:30
Tuesday, March 30 - Full Band evening rehearsal, PAC, 7:00 - 8:30
Thursday, April 1 - MAIS Concert Band Festival, PAC, all day

Tuesday, May 4 - JA Band Program Spring Concert, PAC, 7:00
Thursday, May 13 - JA Band Program Banquet

BAND CAMP - July 26-30 and August 2-6, JA campus, 8:30 - 5:00 each day

SECTIONALS

Here is this week's sectional schedule (changes from the usual schedule in green):

TUESDAY - tenor saxes, clarinets, alto saxes, & flutes
WEDNESDAY - percussion, low brass
THURSDAY - trumpets
FRIDAY - none

2/7/10 UPDATE

WHO DAT??

Thanks to everyone who helped make the "Arts in Motion" MIA show on campus Saturday a great success. Special thanks to Jim Lowery for spearheading the effort. Booster parents and JA students served throughout the afternoon and evening as unit guides, concession and hospitality room workers, security at the doors, monitors in the warmup areas in the PAC, parking guides, and in any other roles that were needed. All the guests on the JA campus Saturday seemed to be pleased with how smoothly everything went.

A photo of MSU's Statement winterguard's performance (including JA alumna Hannah McWilliams) which also captures the appreciative crowd:

The Choctaw Central guard intently watching the action from the backfield stands:

JACKSON INDEPENDENT WINTERGUARD

Congratulations to the JI Winterguard for their second consecutive first place performance at the show on Saturday. These girls are working hard and are fine performers who improve and mature every week.

The guard will perform at the Warren Central MIA show in Vicksburg on Saturday, February 13. The schedule for the day is below. Please email Cammie if you are able to drive some of the girls.

This week's JI Winterguard schedule:

MONDAY - Rehearsal 4:00 - 7:00

SATURDAY:

2:00 - 4:00 - Rehearsal at JA
4:00 - 5:00 - Snack, load truck
5:15 - Depart for Vicksburg, Warren Central HS
6:45 - Move to warmup
7:25 - Performance time
7:50 - Guard Retreat
8:00 - Load truck, depart Vicksburg
9:00 (approximate) - Return to JA

Please continue to ensure that your student attends his or her sectional rehearsal one afternoon each week. If you know in advance that your student has a conflict on a sectional rehearsal day, please let me know so that we can attempt to coordinate a schedule change with the other students, to optimize our limited rehearsal time and best utilize our staff members.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please mark the following dates on your calendars:

Tuesday, March 23 - Full Band evening rehearsal, PAC, 7:00 - 8:30
Tuesday, March 30 - Full Band evening rehearsal, PAC, 7:00 - 8:30
Thursday, April 1 - MAIS Concert Band Festival, PAC, all day

Tuesday, May 4 - JA Band Program Spring Concert, PAC, 7:00
Thursday, May 13 - JA Band Program Banquet

BAND CAMP - July 26-30 and August 2-6, JA campus, 8:30 - 5:00 each day

SECTIONALS

Sectionals this week will be on the usual schedule:

MONDAY - tenor saxes & clarinets
TUESDAY - alto saxes & flutes
WEDNESDAY - percussion
THURSDAY - trumpets
FRIDAY - low brass

1/31/10 UPDATE

Congrats to the JI Winterguard for coming in first place at Pearl show on Saturday. Please see below for important information about the "Arts in Motion" winter guard and indoor percussion show which will be held at JA this Saturday, February 6.

JACKSON INDEPENDENT WINTERGUARD

The Guard excelled at the Pearl show on Saturday. Thank you to the students and parents for persevering through a very long day and late evening. After their performance at the Field Day event in the afternoon, JI was placed in the highest class, Independent A, where they will compete against units composed primarily of college students. They responded with an outstanding performance in the evening show, earning first place honors.

There were several Jackson Academy connections in the Pearl gym Saturday, including Statement winterguard from MSU, which is directed by JA alumna Jessie Stribling, and the Oak Grove HS group, directed by JA alumna Jessica Thompson.

Thanks to Will Commarato, Jonathan Sandlin, & John Humphreys for helping at Pearl.

The Mississippi Indoor Association show here at JA on Saturday will require help from both guard and band students to serve as guides, and parents to help with concessions, parking, admissions, and other roles. With 5 percussion units and 13 guards from all over the state participating, this has the potential to be a strong fundraiser. Student helpers will be notified at school, and parents should attend the Booster meeting on Tuesday night to learn more about how they can help.

The following Percussion units will perform between 5:00 and 5:50:

East Central HS
Holmes Community College
Ridgeland HS
Pearl HS
Northwest Rankin HS

Percussion performances will be followed by the Winter Guard shows, beginning at 5:55 until retreat at 7:45. The following units are scheduled to participate:

Noxapater
Clinton Red
Madison Central
Clinton Black
Florence/Sapphire
Garbato (DSU)
Northwest Rankin
Horn Lake
Choctaw Central
Soliloquy (Pearl)
Statement (MSU)
ICC Independent
Jackson Independent

Please consider helping at the show to make all these units feel welcome on the JA campus.

The JI Winterguard will have rehearsal this week on Monday, from 4:00 - 7:00, and Saturday before the show, from 12:00 - 2:00.

PRESIDENT'S CORNER - Jim Lowery

The quiet of winter around the band hall is about to change. When Brandon High School defaulted for the Mississippi Indoor Association event for February 6th, Jackson Academy was available and the JA Band was asked to host the event. In the years before the MIA was formed, JA sponsored the only local event for indoor color guard and drum lines. The other nearest events were on the coast of Mississippi, Louisiana or Florida. The MIA has brought exciting performances throughout Mississippi. MIA events are preliminary events for qualification to Winter Guard International regionals, which is a performance organization at the level of BOA for Indoor events. We will have the opportunity to show case our facilities, including the PAC, for 18 performance groups from metropolitan Jackson and as far away as Horn Lake, Cleveland and Choctaw. We also have an opportunity to make this a money making venture for the Band Booster budget.

Since this event is this Saturday, it is important that we all attend the booster meeting at 6 PM Tuesday in the band hall. If we all make time available to help this Saturday afternoon, this will not be a difficult day and it will be profitable. We will have all the details to discuss then and I will attempt to keep the meeting short. See you Tuesday. (If you are unable to attend the meeting on Tuesday and are available to help, please contact me.)

See you on February 2 at 6 PM.

MSU HONOR BAND CLINIC

Almost simultaneously with the guard's afternoon performance at Pearl, JA senior band members Will Commarato, Jonathan Sandlin, & John Humphreys performed at the final concert Saturday for the Mississippi State University Honor Band Clinic. As an MSU alumnus, I was extremely proud to see our students on the stage at Lee Hall, where all three had earned spots in the first band at the clinic.

As I was leaving the campus Saturday afternoon, I had the privilege of visiting the new Band Hall on campus, which was designed by architect and JA Band parent Eric Commarato. It is an incredible facility, spacious and both visually and acoustically outstanding.

Here are a few photos from Saturday's concert in Starkville:

The clinician for the weekend was Mark Camphouse of George Mason University.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please mark the following dates on your calendars:

Tuesday, February 2 - JA Band Booster meeting, 6:00

Tuesday, March 23 - Full Band evening rehearsal, PAC, 7:00 - 8:30
Tuesday, March 30 - Full Band evening rehearsal, PAC, 7:00 - 8:30
Thursday, April 1 - MAIS Concert Band Festival, PAC, all day

Tuesday, May 4 - JA Band Program Spring Concert, PAC, 7:00
Thursday, May 13 - JA Band Program Banquet

BAND CAMP - July 26-30 and August 2-6, JA campus, 8:30 - 5:00 each day

SECTIONALS

Sectionals this week will be on the usual schedule:

MONDAY - tenor saxes & clarinets
TUESDAY - alto saxes & flutes
WEDNESDAY - percussion
THURSDAY - trumpets
FRIDAY - low brass

JAZZ CAMP - June 7-11

We encourage all interested students to consider participating in this new camp to be held at JA this summer:

1/24/10 UPDATE

Thanks to the Jazz Band members who played at the ribbon cutting of the PAC on Tuesday. The performance was very well received, and the venue is outstanding. See the photo gallery below for some pics from the event.

Here are a couple photos from the Jazz Band's performance at the PAC reception on January 10:

Thanks to JA Band alumni Corey Carter (current member of the USM Jazz Band), Derrick Marchant, & Adam Ray (current members of the Ole Miss Jazz Band) for participating:

JACKSON INDEPENDENT WINTERGUARD

The JI Winterguard will have rehearsal this week on Tuesday, January 26, from 4:00 - 7:00.

Thanks to Annie Campbell, Samantha Hill, & Abbi Thomas for helping to paint the mat at the fairgrounds this weekend.

The group's first performance event will be the MIA Field Day on Saturday, January 30, at Pearl High School. The schedule for the day:

9:45 - 12:00 - Practice at JA (wear guard t-shirt and black pants)
12:00 - 12:30 - Load truck

12:30 - 1:00 - Snack

1:15 - 1:45 - Drive to Pearl

1:45 - 2:15 - Unload truck

2:30 - Move to warmup

3:00 - PERFORMANCE

Evening Schedule

7:30 - Change into purple dresses

8:00 - Unload truck

8:45 - Move to warmup

9:30 - PERFORMANCE

10:30 - Retreat

We need four parents to help drive the students to Pearl. Please send Cammie an email at crc38@aol.com if you are available to help.

PRESIDENT'S CORNER - Jim Lowery

All Band Booster members should have received the following information in a email earlier this week. As a reminder:

Now that we have all had a rest from the work of marching season, we now have some opportunities ahead that need to be met. For that reason, we need to have a booster meeting on February 2 at 6 PM. The list of activities that follow make it very important that you attend.

1. The Mississippi Indoor Association (MIA) is the organization that sponsors indoor drum line and color guard competitions. Since the organization of the association, JA has not had an opportunity to host one of these events. The reasons for this has been a concern that our gym was too small for the crowds at these events and the logistics of moving equipment past the concession stand. Brandon High School was to have hosted the MIA event on February 6 and has declined that opportunity. JA has been asked to host the event on that date. After talking with the Carters and board members, we have accepted hosting this event. When I last talked with Mr. Carter, 5 drum lines and 13 guard groups were on the program. The event has the promise of good exposure for the school since most of the groups are within 60 miles and will bring many spectators to our campus. There is some cost to hosting, but the opportunity for fund raising is great. There are many details that must be discussed prior to February 6, so at this time I am asking that you save the date and be available to help. The day event will take all afternoon and into the evening, we need people to make this work. The details will be discussed at the meeting.

2. The MAIS Concert Band Festival will be hosted by JA in the Performing Arts Center on April 1. The event will be entirely held in the PAC. If you did not hear the jazz band perform on Tuesday at the ribbon cutting, you will enjoy the sound. Mr. Carter will fill us in on what details are available when we meet.

3. The concert has been moved to May 4th. Change your calendars.

4. The banquet is scheduled for May 13. Please be available to help with preparation for this.

See you on February 2 at 6 PM.

MSU HONOR BAND CLINIC

Congratulations to JA senior band members Will Commarato, Jonathan Sandlin, & John Humphreys for being selected for the the Mississippi State University Honor Band first band, as well as the Honor Jazz Ensemble. Will is first chair trombone, Jonathan fourth chair trumpet, and John eighth chair trumpet. These students will participate in the Honor Band clinic from Thursday to Saturday.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please mark the following dates on your calendars:

Tuesday, February 2 - JA Band Booster meeting, 6:00

Tuesday, March 23 - Full Band evening rehearsal, PAC, 7:00 - 8:30
Tuesday, March 30 - Full Band evening rehearsal, PAC, 7:00 - 8:30
Thursday, April 1 - MAIS Concert Band Festival, PAC, all day

Tuesday, May 4 - JA Band Program Spring Concert, PAC, 7:00
Thursday, May 13 - JA Band Program Banquet

BAND CAMP - July 26-30 and August 2-6, JA campus, 8:30 - 5:00 each day

SECTIONALS

The only change to the usual sectional schedule this week is that all brass will be added to the Monday sectional, due to several students attending the MSU Honor Band clinic Thursday and Friday:

MONDAY - tenor saxes, clarinets, trumpets, & low brass
TUESDAY - alto saxes & flutes
WEDNESDAY - percussion
THURSDAY - none
FRIDAY - none

PHOTO GALLERY - Wendy Hutchins

See these photos from the PAC Dedication Ceremony and more at the JA Band Photo Gallery

JAZZ CAMP - June 7-11

We encourange all interested students to consider participating in this new camp to be held at JA this summer:

1/17/10 UPDATE

The latest JA Band "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS" flyer was emailed to all parents this week. Please let us know if you need another copy. The flyer contains general program information as well as specific dates and details for the 2010 season. Hopefully both Sixth Grade and current JA Band families will find it useful.

JACKSON ACADEMY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER NEWS

The Jazz Band will perform at the PAC Ribbon Cutting, which has been rescheduled for this Tuesday. Here is the information about the event from the JA website:

"The Jackson Academy Board of Trustees is pleased to announce a ribbon-cutting for the school’s newly constructed Performing Arts Center, which is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19 at 4:00 pm. Following the ceremony, an open house will be held for the public. A brief program will follow with Jackson Academy faculty and staff presenting key features of the new center that will enhance students’ opportunities in the performing arts. Please join us as we celebrate the grand opening of this new addition to JA. For additional information, the official press release is viewable at the link below."

Performing Arts Center Press Release

Jazz Band members should bring concert black attire to change into after school on Tuesday. Please join us for this milestone event on the JA campus.

SECTIONALS

Due to the Monday holiday, this week's revised sectional schedule is as follows:

TUESDAY - all saxes, clarinets, and flutes - 2:45 - 3:45
WEDNESDAY - percussion
THURSDAY - trumpets
FRIDAY - low brass

JACKSON INDEPENDENT WINTERGUARD

The JI Winterguard will have rehearsal this week on Tuesday, January 19, from 4:00 - 6:00.

The group's first performance event will be the MIA Field Day on Saturday, January 30. All guard members need to have black knit dance pants before Field Day.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please mark the following dates on your calendars:

Tuesday, March 23 - Full Band evening rehearsal, 7:00 - 8:30
Tuesday, March 30 - Full Band evening rehearsal, 7:00 - 8:30
Thursday, April 1 - MAIS Concert Band Festival, JA Performing Arts Center, all day

Spring Concert and Band Banquet - TBA, pending administration approval and PAC availability.

BAND CAMP - July 26-30 and August 2-6

CHRISTMAS CONCERT RECORDINGS

Donald Thomas still has Christmas Concert CDs available for $5 each. If you are interested, please send me an email at jaband@aol.com indicating which CD(s) you would like, and send payment with your student to the band hall.