2023 Allen Eagle Escadrille TWIB Notes December 11 - December 17

This Week In Band

Congratulations on a terrific performance last week at our Winter Concerts. It was so much fun learning and hanging out with our guest composer Randall Standridge! We are so proud of everyone's performance and grateful for having the opportunity to work with world-class composers every year! This week, we have our wind auditions for 2024-2025 ensemble placement - see information below.

BRANSON PAYMENT #3 DUE MONDAY (12.11): The 3rd payment of $335 is due on Monday, December 11th. Please see the CONTRACT you signed for payment dates, online payment links, cancellation process, and more.

PHASE 2 REGION AUDITIONS: Congratulations to the 58 students advancing to the Phase 2 Region Auditions (or advancing past Phase 1 for one audition instruments). This is the largest amount of students from one school in the region advancing to Phase 2! Region 25 Phase 2 Auditions are on Monday evening at Wylie High School. Here are the following links you will need if you are auditioning: INFORMATION, SCHEDULE.

MARCHING INSTRUMENT RETURN: We will be returning marching instruments this week in the Allen High School Inventory Room, which is right next to the Ensemble Room. For the instrument return, you will need to playtest the instrument. Make sure you have the proper equipment to play the instrument or you will not be able to complete the return. If you have a conflict with your return time, please email alexander.baczewski@allenisd.org as soon as possible. All marching instruments not returned by Friday, December 15th will be charged to the student’s account.

Here is the schedule for when you need to bring in your marching instrument:

• LFC Concert Band: Mon, Dec 11, 7:30-8:15am (enter Door 29)
• AHS Symphonic 3: Mon, Dec 11 during class 1st period
• AHS Wind Symphony: Mon, Dec 11 during 5th period
• AHS Concert Band: Mon, Dec 11 during 8th period
• LFC Symphonic Band: Tues, Dec 12, 7:30-8:15am (enter door 29)
• LFC Wind Ensemble: Tues, Dec 12, 7:30-8:15am (enter door 29)
• AHS Wind Ensemble: Thurs, Dec 14 during 2nd period
• AHS Symphonic 1: Thurs, Dec 14 during 3rd period
• AHS Sympnonic 2: Fri, Dec 15 during 6th period

UIL SOLO & ENSEMBLE CONTEST: The UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest will be held on Saturday, February 17 at Plano East Senior High School. Students wishing to participate in the contest should fill out this GOOGLE FORM and pay the entry fee ($15/solo or $15/member of an ensemble) to the safe outside Mrs. Fulk's office before the Friday, January 12 entry deadline. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. It is highly recommended that you contact an accompanist immediately if you plan to enter an accompanied solo at the contest. A list of piano accompanists for the contest may be found HERE. You must be logged into your Allen ISD account to access the accompanist list and Google form.

2024-2025 Wind Auditions

Auditions for placement in AHS band classes for the 2024-2025 school year will be December 12-15 during band classes at AHS/LFC. Please note that class placement is for the entire school year. This will be the only placement audition, and students will not change band classes in the middle of the school year. Please see links below - start practicing now.

• Audition Information/Instructions
• Audition Excerpts
• Two-Octave Major Scales
• Folder With All Materials

AUDITION SCHEDULE

• AHS Wind Ensemble: Tuesday, December 12
• AHS Wind Symphony: Wednesday, December 13
• AHS Symphonic I: Tuesday, December 12
• AHS Symphonic II: Wednesday, December 13
• AHS Symphonic III: Woodwinds (except low saxophones) - Tuesday, December 12. Brass (plus low saxophones) - Wednesday, December 13
• AHS Concert Band: Woodwinds (except low saxophones) - Tuesday, December 12. Brass (plus low saxophones) - Wednesday, December 13
• LFC Wind Ensemble: Woodwinds (except low saxophones) - Thursday, December 14. Brass (plus low saxophones) - Friday, December 15
• LFC Symphonic Band: Woodwinds (except low saxophones) - Thursday, December 14. Brass (plus low saxophones) - Friday, December 15
• LFC Concert Band: Flutes, Oboes, All Saxophones - Tuesday, December 12. Clarinets, Bass Clarinets - Thursday, December 14. All Brass - Friday, December 15

EVENTS THIS WEEK

The TWIB Notes will not publish morning concert band rehearsals. The directors of each ensemble will communicate their morning rehearsal schedules from this point on.

• Mon, Dec 11: Phase 2 HS Region Band Auditions, Marching Instrument Return, Branson Payment #3 due.
• Tues, Dec 12: 24-25 Wind Auditions in classes, Marching Instrument Return
• Wed, Dec 13: 24-25 Wind Auditions in classes
• Thurs, Dec 14: 24-25 Wind Auditions in classes, Marching Instrument Return
• Fri, Dec 15: 24-25 Wind Auditions in classes, Marching Instrument Return

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