January 4, 2026 Band Notes
Table of Contents
Parent To Do Checklist For This Week
MHS Winter Percussion Information
Marching Band 2026 - Initial Dates
2026-2027 Concert Band Audition Information
OMEA Honor Band: Registration Fee
Volunteers Needed To Feed Honor Band Participants
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, January 6
- CWG Rehearsal: 6-9pm; MECC Gym
Thursday, January 8
- CWG Rehearsal: 6-9pm; MECC Gym
Friday, January 9
- CWG Rehearsal: 6-9pm; MECC Gym
- Winter Percussion Sign-Ups Due
Saturday, January 10
- Memory book porch pick up (see below for sign up)
- CWG Show Camp: 1-9pm; MMS Aux Gym/Arena
- On-campus dinner break: 4:30-5:30pm
Future planned events can be found on the updated band calendar: Mason Band Calendar.
Parent To Do Checklist For This Week
- OMEA Honor Band:
- Pay Registration Fee by January 7.
- Volunteer to help serve lunch on Saturday, January 17.
- CWG:
- Order Consumables by January 11.
- Pay Fee 2 by January 15.
- Purchase all items needed for Look Book by January 18.
NEW INFORMATION
Jazz Band Auditions
Jazz Band Signup/Audition Information: CLICK HERE
The link above has all the information about Jazz Band for this year! Jazz band begins in January after break. Mason High School has two jazz bands: Jazz I and Jazz II. For woodwind and brass students, an audition is required for Jazz I, but not for Jazz II (fill out the commitment form and you’re all set!). For all students interested in playing a rhythm section instrument, an audition is required. See above for audition info, schedules, commitment form and more!
MHS Winter Percussion Information
Winter Percussion begins later in January! See info document below for the schedule, signup form and all details. All of these dates are also on the band calendar. Signup by January 9th to participate (see below)
2026 WINTER PERCUSSION INFO DOCUMENT
Email Mr. Cato with any questions: mhspercussion@masonohioschools.com
Peer Mentoring Band Program
One of our band seniors, Koby Carson, is starting a peer mentoring program for band students. He will be matching up students who’d like help from an older student who plays their instrument.
CLICK HERE to watch a video with more information
CLICK HERE to sign up as a mentor or to get help from a mentor.
Memory Book Pick Up
If you ordered this year’s memory book, check your email for the pick up options, January 10 and January 15. You need to sign up so that your book is available to pick up on the date that you choose. If you have not signed up for a date yet, your most recent email will be dated 1/4/2026, with the subject line: Please use the FIRST link to let me know how you are picking up memory books. It contains a personalized link to a pre-filled form, so all you have to do is click the correct option.
If you have trouble finding the email, you can go directly to the form below. Please be very careful to enter your student’s ID number correctly and your email. If the student ID is wrong or doesn’t match how you signed up for the book, your book may not be available when you come to pick it up.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSezdf77ebvZNrlgefrezeqP1Uis8hm4q7PZS02SNzoWO7IJNw/viewform
If you didn’t order the memory book and are now catching heat from your student, we do have a limited number on hand to sell. In addition, if you realized that you are one book from completing your collection, I also have one Odyssey and one Enchanted Promises book available to sell. All books are $55. If you want one of the older books, use the order form and email photo@masonbandboosters.com to let me know to substitute the older book. I’ll leave the order form open until January 11 or until the books sell out.
City Barbeque Dine & Donate
Our January Dine & Donate will be at the City Barbecue in West Chester on Wednesday, January 28, from open to close (10:30am-8pm). This flyer must be shown at time of order (either on a phone or printed), or use the code GIVE for online ordering.
The band will receive 20% of sales.
City Barbeque is located at 7706 Voice of America Centre Dr, in West Chester.
Marching Band 2026 - Initial Dates
It's hard to believe we are already looking toward next season! We've had a few inquiries about 2026 Summer Dates for marching band rehearsals. These are now all on the Mason Bands website calendar. We also have our 5 varsity home football games, MSBA Mason Invitational, and MSBA Championships on the calendar as well. Everything else is currently a work in progress!
FYI: SUMMER 2026 MARCHING BAND DATES
For families who like to plan ahead, below are all summer dates for the 2026 Marching Band season. These dates should be avoided when scheduling vacations or other summer activities.
- Mini Camp: May 26, 27, 28, 29
- Percussion & Color Guard Camp: June 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
- Band Camp Week 1: July 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
- Band Camp Week 2: July 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
- Band Camp Week 3: Aug 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- Home Football Games: Sep 4, 18, 25; Oct 9, 23
- MSBA Mason Invitational: Oct 10
- MSBA 5A Championships: Nov 7
- BOA Grand Nationals: Nov 12-14 (returning Nov 15)
We will be sharing much more information in January, but wanted to get these first dates on your calendars!
REMINDERS
2026-2027 Concert Band Audition Information
Please see the information in the link above about concert band auditions for next school year. Audition Videos are due on January 21st, so now is the time to start preparing at home and with your lessons teacher. Paper copies of all music are in the organizer in the front of the band room.The band directors are happy to look over your audition videos, offer advice about which audition to do, or answer any questions you have!
OMEA Honor Band: Registration Fee
OMEA HONOR BAND - REGISTRATION STEPS
- $40 Fee due, January 7th : CLICK HERE
- Rehearsal Schedule: CLICK HERE
For students accepted into OMEA Honor Band, there is a 40 dollar registration fee for the weekend. The Band Boosters pay one check on behalf of all of our students. You can either pay via jotform link above or by bringing a $40 check made out to “Mason Band Boosters” to a band director.
Here are the results for OMEA Honor Band (Mason HS Only results)
Volunteers Needed To Feed Honor Band Participants
We are in need of a few volunteers to help feed Middle School and 9th grade students who are participating in honor band. We will be serving a simple meal of pizza, snacks, and a drink.
If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up: HERE
DETAILS
- Date: Saturday, January 17th
- Location: MMS Large Commons and MHS Small Commons
- Time: Volunteers needed from 11:30-1:30 pm at both locations (bigger group at MMS)
Please contact secretary@masonbandboosters.com with any difficulties with signing up.
Competitive Winter Guard Information
- CWG Consumables: It is now time to order our consumables for the CWG season! See the CWG Consumables Document for all of the information. Please order any needed items by next Sunday, January 11th.
- CWG Season Lookbook: We are one month away from our first competition! See the CWG Season Lookbook for information on hair, makeup, and undergarments. Please have all items purchased by Sunday, January 18th.
- Safety Rule for CWG Season: Glasses should not be worn during rehearsal run throughs or performances. Our choreography includes high level body under tosses and fast equipment exchanges, which create a high risk of glasses being hit, broken, or causing injury. Please use contacts or secure alternatives to help keep everyone safe. If you have any questions or need help coming up with a solution, let us know! We are happy to work with you.
- Fees: PaySchools is live! Review the CWG Fees Overview for important deadlines and information on your two ways to pay.
- Fee 1 PAST DUE: $400.00 | via PaySchools or check
- Fee 2 Due Jan 15, 2026: $600.00 | via PaySchools or check
- Fee 3 Due Feb 15, 2026: $600.00 | via PaySchools or check
- Previous Forms:
- Season Calendar: CWG Season Calendar
Pep Band Information
We are excited to get our Pep Band season started! Pep band is a great way to play some fun music with your friends, while supporting our school and community.
CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE, BAND LISTS, AND MORE INFO!
This year, each member of Concert Winds, Symphonic Band, and Wind Symphony will again be responsible for three basketball games as part of their grade for the Spring Semester.
For all students in Concert White, Silver and Green pep band is not required but students are welcome and encouraged to attend if they want to visit with their friends and perform to support our school and community!