This Week In Band
The last few weeks have been pretty full with homecoming and band weekends. This week we have a Monday evening rehearsal at Eagle Stadium, but we are taking Friday off as fall break begins. See details below for the next two weeks.
- Evening Rehearsal (Mon. Oct 2nd): We will have an evening rehearsal with our program coordinator and drill writer from 5:30pm-8pm on Monday, Oct 2nd at Eagle Stadium.
- Required Fall Break Rehearsal/Game/Contest: As you know, we have required events on Friday, Oct 13 and Saturday, Oct 14. On Friday, we have a rehearsal from 10am-12pm and an away game @ McKinney with a 4:00pm Call Time. This is an earlier call time then previously announced so we can rehearse with the drill team before leaving. AWAY GAME ITINERARY. On Saturday, we will have our UIL Region 25 Marching Band Contest. REGION UIL ITINERARY
- Looking Ahead: Thursday, Oct 19 is an AFTERNOON REHEARSAL (4:30-6:30pm) due to PSAT testing at AHS in the morning.
- Absences/Tardies: THERE IS NO EXCUSED ABSENCE REQUEST FORM IN 2023-24. The only way a student can receive an excused absence for a rehearsal or performance is through e-mail communication with the student’s band director from a parent. The reason must follow attendance regulations set forth in the AISD Student Handbook. You may lose your marching status/assignment based on absences/tardies of any kind (excused or unexcused). See Band Handbook for more details.
TWO-WEEK EVENT CALENDAR
- Monday (10/2): Morning rehearsal (7:00am-8:30am); Eagle Stadium Rehearsal (5:30pm-8:00pm)
- Tuesday (10/3): Morning rehearsal (7:00am-8:30am); Wind Ensemble & Musicianship Class 4:30pm-5:45pm (AHS MPR)
- Wednesday (10/4): Morning rehearsal (7:00am-8:30am)
- Thursday (10/5): Morning rehearsal (7:00am-8:30am)
- Friday (10/6): NO MORNING REHEARSAL; NO GAME
- Monday (10/9)-Thursday (10/12): Fall Break - No Band Events
- Friday (10/13): Rehearsal 10am-12pm; Football @ McKinney (4:45pm Call Time)
- Saturday (10/14): Region 25 Marching Contest, 10:30am Call Time. ITINERARY HERE
Allen High School/Lowery Freshman Center Band Staff
- Dr. Philip Obado, Director of Bands, Allen ISD
- Dr. Steven Knight, Associate Director of Bands & Marching Band Director
- Joshua Blankenship, Director of Bands, Lowery Freshman Center
- Miles Locke, Percussion Director & Assistant Band Director
- Andrew Camp, Colorguard Director & Assistant Band Director
- Alex Baczewski, Assistant Band Director & Jazz Studies Director
- Neil Hicks, Assistant Band Director (LFC)
- Jeremy Rohr, Assistant Band Director
- Susan Fulk, Performing Arts Administrative Assistant
Allen Band Booster Association Announcements
Dinner and Silent Auction: Get your tickets now for the Dinner and Silent Auction Event on Oct. 24. You don’t want to miss this wonderful night of amazing music. There will also be some great silent auction items up for bid, such as a two-night stay with breakfast at the Courtyard by Marriott, a luxury one-way ride to the airport from DivaRides, 1 free hour organizing walk-through with Allen Home Organizers, and so much more! Buy your tickets at AllenBand.com/carrabbas TODAY!
Interested in donating to the silent auction or have questions? Contact Tracy Walker at publicrelations@allenband.com.
Volunteering Opportunities:
- UIL Regionals
- Morning Traffic
- Uniform Cleaning Return
Log in and sign up at www.allenband.com/volunteers. Questions, email Cindy at volunteers@allenband.com
Spirit Wear: Spirit wear is currently available for purchase online at www.allenband.com/shop. For spirit wear questions email Debbie at fundraising@alllenband.com
2024 Spring Band Trip: Branson (March 7-11, 2024)
We are excited to (finally) officially announce our spring trip to Branson, Missouri. On the way to Branson, we will rehearse with the band staff at the University of Oklahoma. Once in Branson, we will enjoy the shows, attractions, lakes, and theme parks that make Branson an adventure/vacation destination! This is not a required trip, however we invite everyone to reserve your spot! Our travel package includes the following:
- Four nights at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel
- Dolly Parton's Stampede
- The Haygoods
- Clay Cooper Theater
- Silver Dollar City (depending on 2024 opening schedule - Wonders of Life is the substitute attraction if closed)
- Titanic Museum
- The Track Go-Karts
- Showboat Belle Dinner Cruise
- Clinic: Full band/guard clinic/rehearsal at the University of Oklahoma School of Music with OU band staff.
- Meals: Four breakfasts at hotel, box meal on arrival, Pickin Porch Grill Lunch, The Track lunch voucher, 2 travel lunches @ $15, Showboat Belle Dinner Cruise, Dolly Parton's Stampede Dinner show, 1 additional dinner TBD, 1 additional lunch TBD
- Transportation: Charter Buses
Details: The cost is $1,205 per student based on quad occupancy (four students to a room). To reserve a spot on the trip, we require a $200 non-refundable deposit and a signed trip contract by October 17, 2023. There will be three additional payments of $335 due on November 13, December 11, and January 12. We will also announce a required trip meeting for parents and students approximately one week before we leave. Specific details are on the student trip contract. Note that you must be up-to-date with all of you band payments and obligations to reserve a spot on the Spring Trip.
How to Reserve Your Trip Reservation
- Submit the student contract: Print, sign, and abide by the two-page trip contract. Contracts (page 1 & 2) must be deposited in the AHS Band Safe by October 17. CLICK HERE FOR CONTRACT.
- Pay the $200 Non-Refundable Deposit: The deadline to deposit the $200 non-refundable deposit is October 17. You can submit a check in the AHS Band safe or pay online via SchoolPay. See below for SchoolPay links.
SchoolPay Links for Online Payments
- SchoolPay Deposit link ($200) HERE
- SchoolPay Installment link ($335) HERE
- SchoolPay Open Payment Amount HERE
You can also eventually access all of this information at www.allenband.com. Look for the "Spring Trip 2024" link.
The Next Four Weeks
- Mon, Oct 2: Rehearsal 7am-8:30am; Evening Rehearsal (Eagle Stadium) 5:30pm-8pm
- Tues, Oct 3: Rehearsal 7am-8:30am; AHS Wind Ensemble Rehearsal & Musicianship Class 4:30-5:45pm (AHS MPR)
- Wed, Oct 4: Rehearsal 7am-8:30am; No musicianship class
- Thurs, Oct 5: Rehearsal 7am-8:30am
- Fri, Oct 6: NO MORNING REHEARSAL; NO GAME
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- Mon, Oct 9: Fall Break
- Tues, Oct 10: Fall Break
- Wed, Oct 11: Fall Break
- Thurs, Oct 12: Fall Break
- Fri, Oct 13: Required Rehearsal 10am-12pm; Away Game @ McKinney - 4:00pm Call Time (this is an earlier time than previously announced). ITINERARY
- Sat, Oct 14: UIL Region 25 Marching Contest; 10:30am Call Time. ITINERARY
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- Mon, Oct 16: Rehearsal 7am-8:30am
- Tues, Oct 17: Rehearsal 7am-8:30am
- Wed, Oct 18: Rehearsal 7am-8:30am; 4:30pm-5:30pm Musicianship Class
- Thurs, Oct 19 (PSAT @ AHS): Rehearsal 4:30pm-6:30pm (AFTERNOON REHEARSAL)
- Fri, Oct 20: Rehearsal 7am-8:30am; Home Game vs. Denton Guyer - 5:15pm Call Time
- Sat, Oct 21: UIL Area C Marching Contest (Schedule TBA)
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- Mon, Oct 23: Rehearsal 7-8:30am
- Tues, Oct 24: Rehearsal 7-8:30am; Pasta Dinner & Silent Auction Dinner Concert
- Wed, Oct 25: Rehearsal 7-8:30am; Reserve afternoon rehearsal 4:30pm-6pm
- Thurs, Oct 26: Rehearsal 7-8:30am
- Fri, Oct 27: Rehearsal 7-8:30am; Boo Bowl Game @ Prosper, 4:40 Call Time