Fall 2013

Yorktown High School

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

We are off to an exciting start to the school year and there is so much to look forward to in the coming months! Big congratulations to all of the members of the Yorktown Marching Band who turned this year’s production of Wild Things into an award-winning show, earning 1st Place in the Northern Virginia Region-al, 3rd Place at the Oakton Classic, straight 1’s in their Superior performance at the VBODA State Assessment, and ranking 4th among 13 competitors while taking the caption for Best Percussion in the Mid-Atlantic State Championships at Navy Stadium. Each year there are so many rewarding experiences that I have the pleasure of sharing with the students in our music program, and it is with great anticipa-tion that I look forward to the following events on our calendar.

On November 15th, Dr. Chad Nicholson, director of the University of Delaware Wind Ensemble, will be traveling to Yorktown with members of the University’s woodwind faculty to host clinics and master classes for the students in the sym-phonic band. Dr. Nicholson will be back again in February with the entire UD wind ensemble to perform and hold a side-by-side rehearsal with band mem-bers in preparation for the State Concert Assessment! We will continue to bring in clinicians to work with each band and provide students with as many oppor-tunities as possible to learn and grow from professional musicians and educa-tors. (continued pg 3)

GET TO KNOW THE STAFF

Chris Sakowski is our arranger for the marching band and indoor drumline. Chris is a

sought-after adjudicator and percussion/wind arranger across the United States and

abroad. He has led workshops as a clinician at The University of Oklahoma, Iowa State

University, Missouri State University and in England at the British Youth Band Associa-

tion Convention. Chris has written music for numerous high schools, colleges, drum

corps and other ensembles, highlighted by the NFL's St. Louis Rams Drumline and the

2005 European Indoor Percussion Champions, The 37th Kingswood from Bristol, United

Kingdom.

Chris's DCI/WGI percussion experience from 1997-2013 includes teaching The Cavaliers,

The Bluecoats, The Crossmen and The Colts.

His drum corps career is highlighted with win-

ning The Fred Sanford Award for Best Percus-

sion at the 2011 DCI World Championships with

The Cavaliers. Chris worked with St. Louis'

Gateway Indoor from 2005-2013. While with

Gateway, he filled several roles including bat-

tery caption head, music coordinator and front

ensemble arranger. (continued page 5)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Band Day ................................. 2

Co-Presidents’ Note ................ 2

Event Updates ......................... 3

Get to Know ............................. 4

Survey Says .............................. 4

Treasurer’s Update .................. 5

IMPORTANT DATES

Poinsettia Sale

Nov 4— Order Packets Distributed

Nov 15— Order Packets DUE

Dec 6— Plant Distribution

Senior Night

Nov 8

Band Banquet

Nov 12—at Yorktown

Barnes & Noble—Fund raiser

Dec 11-13

Winter Concerts

Dec 18—Jazz

Dec 19—Band

Band Camp at Mercerburg

August 10-15, 2014

YORKTOWN BAND NEWS

Dear Band Members, Boosters and Community,

It’s been another fantastic start to the year for our band program and for the Marching Patriots! Our “Wild Things” have created a magical rumpus every time they have performed. And now, they have amazing new uniforms too! Congratulations to Mr. Bersh, his staff, and the marching band on their Superi-or Rating at the VBODA State Marching Assessment on Oct. 26th! If you have a chance, check out the Yorktown Band website and see all of the wonderful comments made by the Adjudicators at the State Assessment. Thank you, mu-sicians, for all of your performances!

There are many exciting things coming up! Check out our Directors note for many of the details! Hope to see you on Friday night, Nov. 8,th when Yorktown plays Washington-Lee and we honor our senior Marching Patriots and their parents on Senior Night. Come out and see the band perform their final per-formance of “Wild Things!”

To our band community, thanks to all of you who have already become Booster members by making a donation to the Yorktown Band Boosters. We would love to see 100% participation. Please consider joining at whatever level works for you. The funds enrich the band program in countless ways at Yorktown. You will find additional information on the website.

We also want to take this opportunity to thank the many dedicated Booster volunteers who have given their time and energy at Band Camp, on Band Day, on Friday nights, working at our recent competitions and getting our band into new uniforms hours after they arrived! Thank you for the support you give to our students and this program. The Band program simply could not do it with-out you!

Lastly, we want to express our continued gratitude to Brian Bersh for his hard work, enthusiasm and dedication to the Yorktown Music Program. And, we send many thanks to his staff: JD Slaughter, Peter Ketcham-Colwill, Chris Ro-land, Jennie Gould, Nancy Hooper, Brad Donoris, and Ryan Tharpe. Thank you for your support and encouragement of our young musicians at Yorktown!

Helen Methvin Payne and Laura St.Pierre, Co-Presidents

BAND DAY 2013

FROM THE BAND BOOSTER CO-PRESIDENTS

FAST FACTS:

$12,476 brought in on Band Day

$ 4,119 came in through the leave behinds

$15,795 is our net take, to date

76 students from concert and marching band participated

25 parent volunteers

3,000 leave behinds were distributed

We would like to thank some of the sponsors who donated food

for breakfast: Starbucks and Chesapeake Bagel at Lee Harri-

son Center, and Dunkin Donuts on Lee Highway. Send your

business their way and tell them thank you! Westover Market

allowed us to perform and raise awareness (and money!)

Thank You to the PAYNES for Coordinating this essential

event!

Now Recruiting Band Day Co-Chairs for 2014!!

WHERE DO THE YHS

BAND MEMBERS THINK

THE WILD THINGS ARE?

FOREST

IN YHS BAND

HIDDEN IN ALL OF US

HELPING JD CHOREOGRAPH

UNDER MY BED

EVERYWHERE

2

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK (CONTINUED)

Our Band Spring Trip to Nashville, Tennessee will afford more opportunities

for students to interact with college faculty. In addition to the many attractions

of the Music City (highlights include being adjudicated and receiving on-stage

clinics by nationally acclaimed adjudicators, attending The Grand Ole Opry,

and visiting Music Row) we’ll be stopping in Blacksburg on our way, where the

Combined Bands, Percussion Ensemble, and Jazz Band will each receive clinics

by faculty from Virginia Tech.

On January 25, Yorktown, in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, will

host an Essentially Ellington Regional High School Jazz Band Festival. This

festival will feature some of the top high school ensembles in the region, and

will include post-performance clinics and section-specific workshops by mem-

bers of the Army Blues, in addition to adjudication from jazz pros, including

Alan Baylock, Bryan Kidd, and Bob Stewart. The evening will be headlined by a

concert by the U.S. Army Blues showcasing the music of Duke Ellington.

On May 21, 2014, Yorktown’s symphonic band will premiere an original compo-

sition by composer Bryce Owen. The composition, being commissioned by the

Yorktown Band through the support of a grant provided by the Wolf Trap

Foundation for the Performing Arts, will commemorate the 10-year anniversary

of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, in remembrance of the seven crew

members who perished during re-entry – including Yorktown alum, U.S. Navy

Captain, and NASA Astronaut, David Brown.

Exciting things are happening here at Yorktown! The time and dedication that

the students devote to the Yorktown bands – the support provided by the fami-

lies and community – you make this band something special be a part of, and I

look forward to celebrating the efforts of another successful year.

3

ANNUAL POINSETTIA SALE IS HERE & NOW!

It’s a tradition for Yorktown Band and Color Guard members and it helps fund essential

program needs. And—our customers love them—to keep or give as gifts!

We need everyone to participate in this effort, both in sales and delivery. We ask that

each student aim for at least $150 worth of plants (about 3 or less hours of time). Contact

your neighbors, friends, and local businesses, church, etc, and you can reach this goal! Last

year the sale was so successful that we were able to reduce each student’s Spring trip cost by

$100!

Important Dates:

Nov 4—Student Order Packets distributed

Nov 15—Due date for return and pre-paid orders

Dec 6—Plants delivered and distributed

Dec 7 or 8— Home delivery of large orders

Parents/Adults — volunteer to help! Sign up at Charms for:

Nov 19/20 - count/compile the orders and money

Dec 6— (early) unload the truck and sorting/arranging orders & (later) deliver to

teachers and staff, and help during student / customer pick up.

Questions or want to sign up early? Please contact:

Nicole Finnegan (703-533-9319 or NicoleRFinnegan@gmail.com

Diane Small (703-533-0612), wee@smallfam.com

BAND BANQUET Our annual Marching Band Ban-quet is just around the corner! DATE: November 12th PLACE: YHS cafeteria PLAN: Each family is asked to bring an appetizer, main dish or dessert to share according to the first letter of their last name as follows: A-H Dessert I-Q Appetizer R-Z Main Dish Last year we had great attendance, lots of food, and lots of fun! Please RSVP by November 8th to Judy Wheat at jwheat@arlingtonva.us or Lois Lisko at loisbrian@earthlink.net

Everyone has worked hard to make this a successful year, so come help us celebrate a job well done!

INDOOR PERCUSSION

Clinics / Auditions

Nov 18, 21, & 25 at YHS

More information is on the

web.

A Welcome Start on the First Day of School

WHAT ARE BAND

ALUMNI DOING?

Yorktown Band alum are partici-

pating in their college music

programs across the country

(including Duke, UVA, JMU,

VCU, William & Mary, UCONN,

University of Rochester and

Northwestern).

A handful of band alumni re-

sponded to our survey. Here’s

what we asked and what they

had to say:

How is your first semester go-

ing?

“Good, a different experience

being so much more independ-

ent.”

“I’m enjoying my first semes-

ter.” and “Great!”

“Terrifying, absolutely terrify-

ing. That being said, I’m having

tons of fun and learning a lot.”

What are you doing with music

in college?

“At UVA, I am currently a mem-

ber of the Cavalier Marching

Band. It’s different, so it is

tough to compare to the YHS

marching band, but it has been

loads of fun.”

“It (Music) is my entire college

experience as a music major, I

have met a lot of great people

that are music majors and in the

marching band.”

SURVEY SAYS...

“Chocolate milk.” This was the most pop-

ular answer to the question, “What was

your favorite thing about Band Camp?”

The second most common response relat-

ed to the new friends and bonds that were

started and cemented during the long

days of rehearsing.

Band camp activities that were on the

favorites list—skit night, practicing for skit

night and just about everything after re-

hearsing was done for the day. The overall

feeling - band camp was some of the

most productive days spent and going

home was pretty great too!

THE SENIORS

4

Thanks to the YHS Band

Booster Leadership!

To learn more about them and

how to get involved,

visit the YHS Band website

GET TO KNOW BRAD DONORIS

Brad is the drill writer for the marching band and indoor percus-

sion. Brad has been an educator of the marching arts for almost

20 years. While receiving his Bachelor's degree in Music from

Rutgers University, Brad began his drum corps career as a mem-

ber of the Crossmen in 1993 & 1994; after which he aged out as a

member of the Santa Clara Vanguard in 1995. Some of Brad's

teaching experience includes visual instruction with the Jersey

Surf, Teal Sound Drum & Bugle Corps, The Magic Drum & Bugle

Corps, The Academy Drum Bugle Corps, United Percussion,

Lehigh Valley Knights Drum & Bugle Corps (2003 DCI Div 3 Fi-

nalist), The Crossmen in 2011 & 2012, where they regained finalist

status for the first time in 8 years, and Q Independent Perfor-

mance Ensemble,(WGI 2013 IA Finalist). Currently, he is on the

2014 visual staff of the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps.

Brad has instructed and designed for many outdoor and indoor

ensembles on the east coast & midwest, most recently, WGI PSA

finalist, (2009), Timber Creek H.S.,(NJ), Quakertown Community

High School Marching Band, Harrisonville High School Marching

Band, Hatboro Horsham High School Indoor Percussion, and

2009 & 2010 USSBA Group 3 Open National Champion Rancocas

Valley Regional High School.

FUND RAISERS

RESTAURANTS:

Date: Nov 11th

Place: District Taco

Time: 8 am– 10 pm

Monday Menu Special —

Shrimp Tacos

Date: Nov 25th

Place: Taqueria Poblano

Time: 5—10 pm

Band Receives 10% of

Eligible Sales

Remember to Men-

tion Yorktown Band

when you order!

THANKS for paying your fees: marching

band, concert band uniform, jazz band,

and spring trip deposits!

Yorktown Band Boosters (YBB) takes in

and spends close to $200,000 a year.

The majority of the income is in the form

of fees we collect for expenses like band

camp and the spring trip.

Here are examples of some of the expens-

es: band camp costs $29,000 – with

about $25,000 paid to Mercersburg

Academy and $4000 spent on the bus

rental, insurance, and supplies. We

spend about $20,000 on staff, other than

the director, each year. This includes

payments for the staff who came to band

camp and those who help throughout the

season, including clinicians for our con-

cert ensembles. This year we have al-

ready spent $5730 on the marching band

show arrangement – the drill – and com-

position and music. We have spent over

$15,000 on instruments and instrument

repair over the last two years.

It is our goal to provide support for uni-

forms; music; equipment; repair and

replacement of instruments; transporta-

tion, special instruction, and financial

aid. We believe that no student should be

prohibited from participating in the band

or any of the band activities because of

the expense.

Last year we raised over $42,000 in fund

raising efforts, with $14,000 in expenses

mostly for poinsettias. Band day is our

largest fund raiser!

The success of our fundraisers allows us

to run an exceptional program with terrif-

ic staff and students. All money raised by

students goes to support the program(s)

in which they are currently involved.

Yorktown Band Boosters is a 501(c)3 tax

exempt organization. We file tax returns

and issue 1099s to staff paid by YBB and

we are subject to audit.

Questions? Contact Judy Rudman, York-

town Band Booster Treasurer

SHOW ME THE MONEY

5

NEW UNIFORMS— “SUPERIOR” AT VBODA

MORE ABOUT CHRIS SAKOWSKI

Chris Sakowski grew up in Michigan. He received his bachelor of Music Education from

The University of Memphis. As a marimbist at Memphis, Chris won the U of M Concerto

Competition. He also was the section leader of the "Best Bass Line" at PASIC in 2001.

Before graduating, he went on to be the caption head/arranger for The University of

Memphis Drumline.

Chris currently lives in the St. Louis, MO area with his wife Lauren and daughter Eliza-

beth Daisy. He has taught string orchestra and band in the Rockwood School District the

since 2007 and is currently pursuing a master's degree of conducting from The American

Band College of Sam Houston State University in Ashland, Oregon. Chris is proud to be

an Innovative Percussion Artist.

Save the Dates:

Barnes & Noble

Fundraiser

2800 Clarendon Blvd

December 11—13

Evening Performances:

Dec 11: Orchestra

Dec 12: Jazz

Dec 13: Guitar/Choir

Order in store with the attached

voucher or online at BN.com/

bookfairs using School Code:

11088507

Percentage of purchases made

in store or online will go toward

YHS Music Program!

Q: DURING THE MARCHING BAND PRODUCTION, SOME OF THE COLOR-

GUARD PERFORMERS SPIN RIFLES AND SABRES, WHAT’S THE DEAL

WITH THAT?

A. It's tied to the history of the activity in the same way that ex-

plains why marching bands wear paramilitary-style uniforms with

tall hats and big feathers (shakos), or why we field battery percus-

sion, or why we step off with our left foot and march in step. It's

because corps-style marching bands (like the one we field at York-

town) can trace their roots to returning World War I (WWI) vets

and the American Legion and VFW Posts they joined.

Following WWI, it was very popular for veterans to join their local

AL or VFW posts. Many of them sponsored drum and bugle corps

similar to the ones in which they used to participate during their

time in service. These drum and bugle corps began with parade

routines which eventually evolved into field shows. The AL and the

VFW soon held drum corps contests at their annual conventions.

From here evolved the notion of competitive drum corps. Soon, the

AL and VFW posts began inviting non-veterans into their drum

corps. Over time as these competitive drum corps began to comprise

a majority of non-veteran members, these formerly military-based

drum corps separated from the AL and VFW to form their own

competitive drum corps circuits like Drum Corps International or

Drum Corps Associates and began presenting more artistic perfor-

mances. Unshackled by the AL and VFW rules, drum corps began

exploring a wider array of music and began incorporating more

varied body movements and more athletic drill demands. Over time,

drum and bugle corps became considered the premier, most profes-

sional marching music idiom (in contrast to college-style marching

bands or high-stepping show bands). This style became very popu-

lar among high school bands as former drum corps members be-

came band directors, drumline instructors, and colorguard instruc-

tors.

Now that we've done a brief history of corps-style marching bands,

let's step back to figure out why these marching bands have color-

guards. Back in the AL and VFW days, all corps were required to

carry the American colors. Flag code dictates that the American flag

be escorted by weapons, usually rifles or sabres. Eventually these

corps began to incorporate more flags in addition to the American

flag, but demilitarized weapons were still used to guard the Ameri-

can flag. After drum corps began to separate from the AL and VFW

and the requirement to present the American flag in every single

show was dropped, the corps still fielded flags and weapons as they

had done in the past. And as drum corps began presenting more

artistic productions, flags and weapons alongside a more liberal

approach to body that included lyrical, ballet, modern, and jazz

dance were incorporated to present the themes and ideas of said

productions. And instead of just holding the flags, rifles, and sabres

in place, colorguards began spinning them to accompany the music.

Eventually, colorguards began to develop a rich vocabulary of dance,

flag, and weapons choreography, and judges and instructors were

expected to have a strong understanding of the equipment. This

seeped its way into the high school marching band world and is as

tied to the activity today as tall plumes and snare drums.

So in short, colorguards spin rifles and sabres in part because of

tradition dating back almost 100 years; but also because as the

activity has evolved over time, a unique and expressive vocabulary

has developed in spinning the equipment.

If you'd ever like to learn how to spin a rifle or a sabre, don't hesitate

to ask. Christopher Roland, Instructor, Yorktown HS Colorguard

-Christopher Roland, Instructor, Yorktown HS Colorguard

Winter Colorguard

Open house: Wed, Nov 6 at 3:30—

4:00PM in the band room.

First Open Rehearsal: Fri, Nov 15th at

6- 9PM meeting in the band room.

December 11—13

Evening Performances:

Orchestra (11th) Jazz (12th), &

Guitar/Choir (13th)