The TOP FIVE Reasons to join the World-Traveling Decatur High School Band!

1. Music is an incredible way to USE your brain! It’s proven that students who study music do better in school, better in college, and better on all standardized tests! Music utilizes parts of your brain like no other activity

2. FRIENDSHIPS! You make friends that you keep for the rest of your life! You might even meet the person you marry…ew, right??

3. TRIPS! Next year, Decatur High is planning an amazing trip to New York City! It is not guaranteed yet, but we are hoping to take a HUGE group to NYC!

See below for details:

NYC TRIP – April 2013

Two or Three nights lodging in New Jersey
All meals included except for lunches each day
Two Broadway shows or One Broadway show and the NY Philharmonic.
Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island tour
Empire State Bldg
Broadway clinic by Broadway Orchestra musicians on one tour day
Guided tours of Upper and Lower Manhattan to include-Lincoln Center, Central Park, Rockefeller Center,

Ground Zero Memorial, China Town etc..
Charter Bus transportation

“Ballpark” 2013 cost with transportation $775.00 – $825.00 per person.

And, if you join band now you will be able to go on the 2015 INTERNATIONAL TRIP!

4. HONORS! Decatur High School has sent 17 students to District Honor Band, 3 students to Governor’s Honors, several to music camps, Atlanta Honor ensembles and much much more! And the MARCHING BAND has won SUPERIORS at competitions for the first time in over a decade!

5. PLAY MUSIC! You get to learn music from all over the world, written in different styles by a huge variety of composers.

Questions? E-mail Decatur High School Band Director, Megan Williams at mwilliams@csdecatur.net or visit the band on the web at www.decaturband.org.

If you would like to join the DHS MARCHING BAND, there will be an intent form on the DHS Band website soon.

Please fill out the form and submit $200 made out to DHS-BPA (deposit for band camp and for the season) by April 2.

Chelsea McFarland, 1st chair – Georgia All-State Concert Band

Julianna Eidle, 5th chair – Georgia All-State Concert Band

This is a HUGE accomplishment!! WAY TO GO!

This weekend 28 Decatur High School students auditioned for the District IV Honor Band.  The auditioned with over 600 students from schools in Dekalb, Fulton, Rockdale, Jasper and Newton Counties.  Our students represented themselves VERY well and the ones listed below were named to the two honor bands.  More of our students will continue on to the all state phase of auditions.  Please congratulate these students for their hard work!! It is a very competitive audition process!

Concert Band – 9/10

Lollie Newsome – 3rd chair, Flute
Julianna Eidle – 4th chair, Flute
Grace Kendrick – 13th chair, Flute
Madelyne Watkins – 4th chair, Bassoon
Katherine Davis – 1st chair, clarinet
Windsor Jones – 3rd chair, clarinet
JT Herndon, 2nd chair, alto sax
Ethan Craft – 2nd chair, trumpet
Shaifer Jones – 3rd chair, trumpet
Chelsea McFarland – 1st chair horn
Allen Smith – 2nd chair, horn

Symphonic Band – 11/12

Catherine Wallace – 8th chair, flute
Eron Smith – 3rd chair oboe
Jade Whitman – 2nd chair, bassoon
Dylan Lambeth – 4th chair, horn
Tommy Weigle – 3rd chair, percussion
Oliver Neff – 7th chair percussion

In addition:

Jared Ledoux, Alto Saxophone (passed to All-State)

Natalie Lefton, Oboe (passed to All-State)

After much hard work by Robin Eidle and others, we are finally ready to start selling SCRIP gift cards which are full value cards that help support the band when you shop.  Our initial goal is for each student or family to buy at least one card.  Gift cards are available for places we all shop regularly such as Target, CVS/pharmacy, iTunes, Amazon.com, Home Depot, and more.   Put your shopping dollars to work for the Decatur Band! Check out the current list of retailers at http://www.glscrip.com/shop/Default.aspx.   If you have further questions, contact Robin Eidle at reidle@emory.edu/404-357-2288.

Frequently Asked Questions about SCRIP:

Q:  Do the cards expire?

A:  Most have no expiration date.  Check the individual cards on the web site for the few that do expire.

Q:  What vendors/merchants are available and how much does the band earn?

A:  Find the cards available and the percentage the band will earn at: http://www.shopwithscrip.com/Shop/default.aspx

Q:  How can I order cards?

A:  Orders can be sent in to Ms. Williams.  Include name, address, phone, email, and cards to be ordered with your check, made out to Decatur High School Band Parents Association.  Or e-mail Robin Eidle at reidle@emory.edu for ordering information.  We will be placing orders regularly, and the next oppportunity will be at our December 1 concert.

The DHS Band annual fruit sale is in full swing and continues through Thursday, Nov. 10.  Fruit description forms and order sheets were distributed to band students on October 31 and are due back to the band room on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011.  This year’s offerings include Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangelos in 20-lb and 40-lb boxes, as well as a Citrus Delight with a combination of all three, and a “Triple Charmer” with a dozen each of Grapefruit, Oranges, and Apples.  Customers need to pay at the time of their order. The fruit is scheduled for delivery a week or two after Thanksgiving.  This is a great holiday gift option, and the money each kid earns can be used toward their band account.

If you don’t know of any band kids to order from, you can email decaturband@gmail.com and we can take your order directly.  You can pay at the time of ordering by using the paypal link on our homepage, delivering cash or check to the band room, or other arrangements if worked out in advance.

UPDATE:  Fruit has been ordered.  Thanks for your support!