BMS Band Students Take Front Page!

Region Band Results

We are extremely pleased to announce that 22 of our BMS band students made the Region 12 ATSSB All-Region Band! We believe this is a school record!!!

Blanco Middle School students that made the Symphonic Band are:

·         Ananda Flores (7) – 4^th Chair Flute

·         April Bucklin (7) – 7^th Chair Flute

·         Lori Lewis (7) – 6^th Chair Clarinet

·         Harley Hensley (8) – 1^st Chair Alto Saxophone *Best in the Region!*

·         Emily Windham (7) – 1^st Chair Tenor Saxophone *Best in the Region!*

·         Caleb Meyer (7) – 2^nd Chair Tenor Saxophone

·         Trayton Preiss (7) – 12^th Chair Trumpet

·         Juan Olmedo-Barraco (7) – 8^th Chair Trombone

·         Julian Pesina (8) – 2^nd Chair Tuba

·         Buddy Hunt (7) – 4^th Chair Percussion

Blanco Middle School students that made the Concert Band are:

·         Alexia Lopez (8) – 6^th Chair Clarinet

·         Jaley Brown (7) – 15^th Chair Clarinet

·         John Handley-Kainer (8) – 3^rd Chair Tenor Saxophone

·         Ty Adkinson (8) – 3^rd Chair Trumpet

·         Natalia Hernandez (8) – 10^th Chair Trumpet

·         Lauren Anderson (7) – 13^th Chair Trumpet

·         Kathryn Hull (8) – 14^th Chair Trumpet

·         Wyatt Richnow (7) – 2^nd Chair Trombone

·         Brylon Crenshaw (8) – 2^nd Chair Euphonium

·         Preston Guinn (6) – 3^rd Chair Euphonium *Only 6th grader in the Region!*

·         Cadence Drum (8) – 4^th Chair Percussion

·         Bruno Lopez (8) – 5^th Chair Percussion

Alternates include:

·         Casey Eskew (8) – 1^st Alternate Flute

·         Katie Reno (7) – 2^nd Alternate Flute

·         Avery Nance (7) – 1^st Alternate Alto Saxophone

·         Duke Eskew (7) – 2^nd Alternate Tenor Saxophone

·         Joseph Hernandez (7) – 2^nd Alternate Trumpet

Students that placed in the All-Region Band will participate in a clinic and band concert on Tuesday, January 24. The concert begins at 7:00pm and will take place at LaVernia HS Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public. Way to go, band!

Region Band Letter Was Sent Home

If you have not seen the letter about Region Band tryouts, here is the scoop.

What? Middle School All-Region Band Auditions

When? Tuesday, January 17 at LaVernia HS. Students will be dismissed at 12:30pm. Auditions start at 4pm and usually go until at least 9pm. We expect to return to the school between 10:30-11:30pm.

Who? If you are reading this, your child is signed up to participate.

How are we getting there? We will take a bus from school. Parents wishing to meet at LaVernia HS and take their child home may do so (there will be a sign-out sheet). Please notify a band director if you are planning to pick up your child from LaVernia.

What happens when my child makes the Region Band? Any student that makes the band will miss school all day Tuesday, January 24 for a required rehearsal and concert with the All-Region Band. The concert will begin at 7:00pm at LaVernia HS and is open to the public. More information will be in their Region Band folder.

What do I need to bring? Instrument (in good playing condition), audition music (including any handouts or fingering charts you use), accessories (reeds, valve oil, sticks/mallets), a pencil (to mark the cuts in the music), a cell phone (not allowed in the audition rooms, but needed to call home when finished), money (there will be a concession stand for snacks, and we will stop at a convenience store on the way there), and books/homework.

What do I need to wear? Casual, comfortable clothes. Nobody will see you during the auditions, but you are representing Blanco MS and need to dress appropriately.

Region band info/music can be found online at http://atssb.org/Region12/middle_school_region.htm.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Conard or any of the band directors.

ATSSB All-Region Band General Info

What: Middle School All-Region Band Auditions are just around the corner. Region Band is the highest honor a middle school band student can attain. The competition’s goal is to find the best young musicians in this region of Texas. The music to prepare for the auditions is very challenging, and students have already been given the music. Students that make the All-Region Band will participate in an all-day clinic which leads to a concert performance in the evening. It is an exciting day. They will get to be among other students that share their same interest in music, and they will get to work with a well-respected band director throughout the day.

When: Deadline to sign-up to audition is Friday, December 16th. Auditions will be held on Tuesday, January 17 at LaVernia HS. We will take a bus from school. Auditions start at 4pm and usually go until at least 9pm. It will be a late evening. Some instruments are finished earlier than others. Parents wishing to meet at LaVernia HS and take their child home early may do so (there will be a sign-out sheet). Any student that makes the band will miss school all day Tuesday, January 24 for a required rehearsal and concert with the All-Region Band. The concert will begin at 7:00pm at LaVernia HS and is open to the public.

Who: Typically, only 7^th and 8^th graders audition, but 6^th graders that can prepare the audition music may be allowed to audition.  The band directors decide which students are ready to represent Blanco at this contest. Any students wishing to audition are required to play their music and scales for one of the band directors by Monday, December 19^th. Students must be passing all their classes in order to participate.

Practice: No after school practices are required, but Mrs. Conard will be available every day after school January 9^th-13^th from 3:30-4:30pm. Students are required to practice during tutorials and should be taking their instruments home daily! Students that need other practice times may arrange that with Mrs. Conard.

Awards: Every student that auditions has gone above and beyond what is required of them and will receive extra participation points and a “free day” pass in band. Students that make the All-Region Band will receive a patch and will have the option of purchasing a t-shirt, plaque, and CD/DVD recording of the concert. Any student that makes the region band will receive an additional treat. If a student gets 1^st chair in the Symphonic Band, their name will be added to the “Wall of Fame” in the MS Band Hall.

More info: Region band info/music can be found online here.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Conard or any of the band directors. We are always happy to help. 

Christmas Concert is only two weeks away!

(A letter has been sent home about our upcoming Christmas Concert. If you did not receive it, please continue reading.)

We are excited to be preparing for our annual Band Christmas Concert. This year’s concert will be

held on Tuesday, December 13^th at 7PM in the High School Cafeteria. The concert will be approximately one hour long and is free and open to the public.

·         5^th Grade Band:  Be in the HS Cafeteria ready to play at 6:30PM

·         6^th Grade Band:  Be in the HS Gym ready to play at 6:20PM

·         7^th/8^th Grade Band:  Be in the HS Band Hall ready to play at 6:40PM

For musical performances, it is important to dress for success. Boys should wear, at minimum, a collared polo or button-up shirt with khakis or slacks. Suits/Ties are optional. Girls may wear dresses or a nice blouse with a skirt or dress pants. Pay special attention to skirt lengths; knees should be covered when sitting! 

For all students' attire: Please, no t-shirts, shorts, athletic shoes, or fitness type clothing. School dress code applies. Fun Santa hats and Reindeer antlers are acceptable and encouraged!

This concert is an extension of our band class. All of our hard work in class culminates with this one performance. Every student is important to the success of the bands. All band students are required to attend and stay for the entire performance. As a reminder, all band performances are counted as test grades. Band directors must be contacted in writing, in advance, if there is a known conflict.

If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Conard, Mr. H, or Mr. Aly. You may also leave a comment or ask a question in this blog.

❄Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!🎄

Band Calendar

Updates have been made to the band calendar. Check it out!

8th Grade Invited to Play with the BHS Band this Friday!

8^th Grade Band Members – You’re Invited!

All 8^th Grade Band Members are invited to join the High School Band in the stands at the last Varsity Home Football Game. The last game is vs. Rogers on November 4^th. The High School Band will perform at halftime, and all band students will have 3^rd Quarter off to take a break and go to the concession stand. 8^th Grade Band Members should report to the stadium at 7PM. The game will be over by 10PM. Students are required to stay until the very end. 

Please bring your instrument, bring money for the concession stand, bring a water bottle, wear your MS Band Shirt (with jeans or shorts), and remember to HAVE FUN!