Jazz Band - Longwood Parade Update:
Saturday, December 3rd TIME HAS CHANGED – please read.
I originally thought the parade was in the morning, but have since found out that the event takes place in the afternoon – please let me know if this changes your plans in anyway – I understand how busy you all are, so thank you for helping us make this work!  We are now scheduled to perform at 2pm and be finished at 3pm. Report time at Milwee will be from 12:30pm to 1pm and we will leave at 1:15pm with our equipment.  Set up from 1:30-2pm and if we start a little after 2, no big deal!  

Below is the email that was sent to me from the Longwood Parade organizers:
 
The parade is going south on Ronald Reagan Blvd, towards SR 434.  The parade is turning right onto Church Avenue, Left on Wilma, and Left on Warren.
The Food trucks will be in a parking lot with the food trucks right smack in the middle of the parade route.  I would like for them to perform between two and three o'clock, if that is possible.  That is prior to the parade which will start at three o'clock. 
If you look on the map attached, the band will be located between the U of the parade route, if that makes sense.  
If the parents park near West Bay Street, or near or in the hospital parking lot, they will only be one or two blocks from their destination.  Since the Jazz band will be finished by 3:00, when the parade starts, they can either stay and watch the parade or depart at that time.  I hope this info helps.   COP Lt. Audrey Karwandy
 
Looking forward to all of these performances!  Thank you again for your flexibility as we “charter new territory”.  Best wishes!
 
Joshua Autrey
Director of Bands
Milwee Middle School

Refer to Nov 9th email from Mr.Autrey (or Skyward) for parade map attachment.

11/29/16 UPDATE   *** IMPORTANT INFORMAITON HERE ***
If you missed the email sent out before the holiday, due to a conflict in the Lyman HS auditorium, the concert has been moved to Tuesday, December 6th.  Due to a large number of our amazing band students participating in the Science Fair being held at Milwee on the same night, the school administration and I have agreed to move our concert start time back by a half hour to 7pm to allow all students a chance to participate in both events without choosing.  Thank you again for your flexibility in this small detail as it affords all science fair students the ability to have a “win-win”.

This will change our report time also back by a half an hour, here is a list of report times by ensemble:

• Beginning Band:  6:15pm report time.  Go directly to the stage and find your seat.
• Jazz Band:  6:15pm report time.  Go directly to the front and set up.
• Concert Band:  6:30pm report time.  Find your seat in the back of the auditorium.
• Symphonic Band: 6:30pm report time.  Find your seat in the back of the auditorium.

No other details concerning the concert have changed except for the start time and report time.
Please refer to the email sent out before the Thanksgiving Holiday (see below) if you need more information.  As always, feel free to email me anytime with questions or concerns.
 
Thank you all again for supporting music education and our students.  
 
Best wishes,
 
Joshua Autrey
Director of Bands
Milwee Middle School

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​Greetings Parents and Students,
Thank you for taking the 2 minutes to read this email concerning the WINTER CONCERT!  First, due to another event conflict in Lyman High School’s auditorium, we will be moving our Winter Concert to TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6th at 6:30pm.  I apologize for the change in date coming within a month of the concert, and I thank you for your flexibility and understanding of all the moving parts that have to happen for us to hold a concert at another school.  Due to the change in date happening so late, please email me if you have any conflicts or concerns with the new concert date by November 28th ; I will be very flexible in working with you in case of any conflicts. 
Again, thank you all for understanding, flexibility, and commitment to our wonderful students and band program.  
 
When and where is the concert, what time should I have my student report?
This FREE concert is at 6:30pm in the LYMAN HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM.  Students should report to the auditorium, fully dressed with their instruments and music by:
Beginners and Jazz Band – 5:45pm.
Concert and Symphonic Band – 6:00pm.
The concert will conclude just after 7:45, and we will need some great helpers to stay and help clean up.  Otherwise, students are dismissed after Symphonic Band performs.  All students must stay for the entirety of the concert!
 
What are we wearing for the concert?
All students are to wear the same uniform that was used for the fall concert:
Beginners – Hunter Green T-Shirt, Black Pants, Shoes, Socks, Belt
Concert – White Polo Shirt, Black Pants, Shoes, Socks, Belt
Symphonic – Tuxedo Uniform

Students may also chose to wear some fun holiday headgear such as a Santa Hat, Reindeer Antlers, Yamaka, Grinch Hat, or another holiday festive cap.  Have fun, get creative – school appropriate, of course.  Please refrain from wearing anything that jingles or lights up as it is distracting to other performers!
 
What equipment does my student need to bring?
Lyman High School will provide chair, stands, and many percussion instruments.  Otherwise we will need to bring our own equipment and music, which varies by instrument – here is a quick run-down per instrument group:
Woodwinds:  Instrument (with case) and Music Folder w/ music.  Any students who use a different instrument at school must bring their instrument from home to the concert (Bassoons, Some Saxophones).
Brass:  Instrument (with case) and Music Folder w/ music.  All students must have their own mouthpiece and any students who use a different instrument at school must bring their instrument from home to the concert (Tubas, Baritones, French Horns).
Percussion:  Music Folder w/ music.  We will bring the Milwee Mallet Bag for the non-beginner ensembles, and beginners need to bring their mallet bag from home.  Lyman will have all the percussion equipment there for us to borrow.

Do we need help/volunteers?
ABSOLUTELY!  There will be another email sent out concerning volunteer sign-ups in the coming weeks from Ms. Loerzel, but I can confirm that volunteers can plan on arriving at 5:45pm with the students.
I can also confirm that we will need:
Chaperones: Parents who chaperone will in the audience with the students, assisting them with being an attentive, appreciative, and respectful audience (no talking J).  We will need about 3-4 chaperones per band to help with this!  Parents volunteers will be given a seating chart per group to help mark down students who may be less than respectful to their peers.  Chaperones will also assist with moving each band/student group on and off stage.
Door Ushers:  Parents who will stand at the door, keeping people from entering during the performance of a song.  We will need two teams of 3 parents to assist with this so that every parent can be in the audience for their own student’s performance.

Stage Managers: Parents who can help Move Chairs and stands for each group.  This helps the stage look “clean” for each group – extra chairs often look tacky – nothing but the best for our students!  We will need about 4 parents for this.
T
​hank you all for your help!!!!
Please do not hesitate to contact me for further guidance if you have any questions.
 
Regards,
Joshua Autrey
Director of Bands
Milwee Middle School