Welcome to Stepinac Band for the 2009-2010 year,

            I hope everyone’s summer went well. This year is already shaping up to be a busy year. The band has grown a lot over the last year. The band is currently made up of nearly 70 members at the time of writing this letter. That firmly places the band as one of the largest student groups in the school. Last year several members of the band were invited to perform in the school’s musical as members of the orchestra for the show in addition to their regular performances with the band. This is a great example of how practicing your instrument can open up some great opportunities.

            We have our five (5) parades for the year scheduled. The parades are on a Saturday or Sunday and are mandatory, so please make a note of the dates and make yourself available for the parade. The parades are on the following dates.

White Plains Columbus Day parade: Sunday, October 4, 2009

Harrison Columbus Day parade: TBA

Yonkers St. Patrick’s Day parade: Sunday, March 7, 2010

White Plains St. Patrick’s Day parade: Saturday March 13, 2010

Throgs Neck St. Patrick’s Day parade: TBA

            Participation in the parades is a mandatory requirement of the band. The annual concerts are also mandatory events. These count as the final exam and mid term exam for the members of the band. The concert dates are the following.

Christmas Concert: Friday December 11, 2009

Spring Concert: Friday May 7, 2010

            The School has purchased new uniforms for the band to use in parades. They are very nice and again….NEW. The uniforms will be assigned to members of the band in the next few weeks and the uniforms will be stored here at Stepinac. The uniforms will not go home. As a result, no member of the band will be dismissed from a parade until they have returned with the entire band to Stepinac to properly hang up the uniform. 

            The band fee for this year is $75.00. This is due to Mr. Moran in class by Friday, September 25, 2009. This is payable by either cash or a check made out to Archbishop Stepinac High School. Please remember that this fee goes towards the maintenance of all the equipment in the band as well as new music for the group to play. If there are any concerns please feel free to contact me via email JMoran@stepinac.org at any time.  

Let’s have a great year,

Mr. Moran