October 26, 2025 Band Notes

Upcoming Events

Monday, October 27

• Full Band: 6-9pm; MHS

Tuesday, October 28

• Full Band: 6-9pm; MHS

Wednesday, October 29

• MilkShake Factory Dine & Donate: 12-10pm; Kings Mills Rd
• Winter Guard Skills Session: 5-6pm; MHS Large Commons
• This is the last WG Skills Session of the season! If you are planning to audition for the CWG team, you should plan to attend the session to learn the audition phrases 
• Color Guard: 6-9pm; MHS

Thursday, October 30

• Brass and Woodwinds: 3-6pm; MHS
• Percussion: 6-9pm; MHS
• General Booster Meeting: 7-8pm; MHS Small Commons

Friday, October 31

• Happy Halloween! No Rehearsal!

Saturday, November 1

• Full Band: 1-9pm; MHS
  • 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

1. Attend the Booster Meeting this Thursday, October 30 at 7pm in the Small Commons.
2. Sign up to volunteer at the MSBA 5A Championships.
3. Optional: Order this year’s memory book by Monday, October 27.
4. Optional: Order additional tour shirts by Tuesday, October 28.
5. Stop by the MilkShake Factory this Wendesday, October 29 for this month's Dine & Donate.
6. Purchase car raffle tickets, and spread the word about this fundraiser.
7. Order poinsettias from our winter flower sale.
8. Senior Parents: Send pictures for the Senior Slideshow at Awards Night.
9. Optional: Start working on any posters you want to provide for Grand Nats hallway decorating.

Miamisburg Congratulations!

Congratulations to the William Mason High School Marching Band on being named Grand Champion and Fan Favorite at the MSBA Miamisburg Competition on Saturday! The band also took first place and all caption awards in Class AAAAA.

Check out pictures on SmugMug.

Grand Nats Booster Meeting this Thursday

Our next General Booster Meeting will be this Thursday, October 30, at 7pm. This is a CRITICAL meeting, as this will be our last parent meeting prior to Grand Nats. This meeting will be held in the Small Commons.

MSBA Class 5A Championships

We’re proud to share that Mason will once again host the Mid-States Band Association (MSBA) AAAAA Championships on Saturday, November 8 — our second and final host event of the season!

This exciting day will run much like our successful Mason Invitational in October, with a full schedule for students and many volunteer opportunities for parents and families. We'll need help staffing a variety of roles, as well as donations for Hospitality and the Bake Sale to help keep our guests and volunteers fueled throughout the day.

However, there’s a big difference this time — Mason will be competing in this event rather than performing in exhibition. That means our band will be judged alongside the others, and we’re thrilled to have drawn the final performance slot of the night — giving all of our volunteers a chance to watch Mason perform!

This year’s Championships will feature five other large bands joining us — so we’re expecting a big crowd and will need extra hands on deck to ensure a smooth and successful event.

🎉 Special Performance Highlight – 9:30 PM
We’re excited to welcome the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Band, performing in exhibition — the first time a college band has performed at the MSBA Championships hosted by Mason!

🚗 Car Raffle Drawing – 9:45 PM
Don’t forget — the drawing for our Car Raffle will take place at 9:45 PM, right after the performances and just before the awards ceremony. Be sure to stick around and see if you're our big winner!

🏆 Full Retreat Awards Ceremony
Just like at BOA Super Regional Finals, this event will conclude with a Full Retreat — a memorable awards ceremony where all student performers are recognized on the field. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to celebrate their hard work and connect with musicians from other schools.

Thank you in advance for your continued support and enthusiasm — we couldn’t do it without you! Let’s make this final home event a fantastic experience for our students and all visiting bands!

Student Schedule (Tentative)

Source: MSBA 5A Championships Guidebook 2025

We Need Our Amazing Parent Volunteers Again!

We received numerous compliments from band directors and guests on how professionally and efficiently the Mason Invitational was run in October — a true testament to the dedication and teamwork of our incredible volunteers and band community!

It’s time to volunteer again!!! We cannot pull off an event of this magnitude without the help of every single band family. This is another important event for our program, community, and most importantly the students who benefit from its success. These are a few of the many reasons we include it as a parent volunteer requirement in our Commitment & Financial Agreement Form.

Volunteer sign-ups are now live in BoosterHub. Job descriptions can be found there as well. Sign-ups are first come, first served, so sign up early! The areas where we need help are the same as last time:

• Bake Sale
• Band Guides & Check-In
• Concessions
• Extra Helpers
• Guest Parking
• Hospitality
• Spirit Booth
• Ticketing
• Ushers
• Volunteer Check-In
• Water Table

We also need donations for:

• Bake Sale (please sign up through BoosterHub)
• Hospitality
• Link for Hospitality monetary donations.
• Link for Hospitality food donations.

Note: Because Mason is the last band to compete this year, all volunteers will be able to watch our band!

***Please remember all marching band families agreed to volunteer one shift of each of our competitions that we host. Please see the marching band handbook for details. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Competitions Co-Chairs at competitions@masonbandboosters.com, Laura Minniear at secretary@masonbandboosters.com, or the area chair listed in the BoosterHub event.

Spectator Information

Times:

• Gates open: 7:00 pm
• National Anthem: 7:45 pm 
• First band performs: 8:00 pm

• Mason performs: 9:15 pm

• UC Bearcat Band: 9:30 pm
• Car Raffle: 9:45 pm
• Awards/Full Retreat: 9:45 pm

Ticket Prices:

• $15 General Admission
• $10 Seniors
• $5 Children Age 5-12
• Children under 5 years of age are free
• Event volunteers are free

Cash and Credit Card are accepted.

Parking:

• Spectator parking is at Mason High School, north of the stadium, as well as at Mason Intermediate across the street.
• Parking is free.
• Disabled parking for properly identified vehicles is available across from the stadium entrance. For those in need of assistance there will be a golf cart transporting guests from disabled parking to the entrance of the stadium.

Other Information:

• Programs and T-Shirts will be available on site for purchase.
• Spirit Shout-Outs and Candygrams will be available.
• Both concession stands will be open.
• Hot beverages available at food truck vendor Tom’s Coffee.

Event information is available here on our website.

MilkShake Factory Dine & Donate - This Wednesday

Don’t miss our next dine and donate opportunity - it will be delicious! Stop by The MilkShake Factory on Kings Mills Rd on Wednesday, October 29, any time from 12-10pm for a yummy treat that also supports the band!

The band will get 25% of the sales during this time on all orders when the fundraiser is mentioned. Here is the full flyer, but it is not required - just mention you are there to support the band!

Poinsettia Sale

It’s time for our annual Mason Bands Poinsettia Sale! Place your order here between now and November 30th. The proceeds of this sale benefit all band students in grades 6-12. 

We have poinsettias available in red, pink, or white this year, in two different sizes::

• 4.5-inch poinsettias - $10
• 6.5-inch poinsettias - $15

We also have $25 Natorp’s gift cards available.

In addition, save time by purchasing an end of semester teacher/staff gift (poinsettia and/or Natorp’s gift card ) that will be delivered directly to the teacher or staff member’s desk. Multiple options are available. This is available for any Mason City Schools Employee and will be delivered to their desk between December 10-12th.

Poinsettia pick-up will be Saturday, December 13th at the Mason Intermediate School building. 

Please reach out to flowersale@masonbandboosters.com with any questions.

Senior Parents: Pictures Needed for Awards Night

We would like to recognize each of the seniors at our Marching Band Awards Ceremony planned for Tuesday, December 2, 2024. If you have attended this celebration in the past, you know that we like to put together a slide show of pictures submitted by each senior’s family. The family keeps the picture choices a secret from their student until the big night. So how can you help us? 

Please start picking out your favorite pictures, usually 3-4 pictures from infancy to now. Please email them to: seniors@masonbandboosters.com.

Be sure to include the name of your student.

****We need pictures NO LATER THAN November 22, 2024****

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to seniors@masonbandboosters.com. 

Grand Nats Decorating and Send-Offs

The week of Grand Nationals we adorn the Music Wing with signs and show themed decorations to celebrate and encourage our students. Families are welcome to make a poster to hang in the hallways to be admired by all staff & students during the school week leading up to our final performance.

Decorating the music wing will take place Sunday Nov. 9th from 3-6 pm.  You may come to the band door to drop off your poster to a Spirit committee member for hanging, come in and use provided supplies to make a poster, or join us to hang decorations.

If you already made signs for the regional send off, those will work for this. If you would like to make a poster, here are some ideas:

>Create and Print a Poster Board via Walgreens Photo 

• Some do 16x20 and others do 11x14
• Create directly in Walgreens Photo or in another app and upload as a single image
• They usually have a photo discount for up to 50% off and same-day pick-up available 

>Print on cardstock at Office Depot or Staples

• A full-color 11x17 cardstock print is fairly inexpensive

>Hand make a poster using printed photos and/or artwork and tape to a poster board

• We will have plenty of poster board, supplies & embellishments laid out at the school during decorating if you’d like to make a poster then.  Bring printed photos or make a poster without photos.

SmugMug has a whole season’s worth of pictures you can download and use. There is also a gallery for show artwork: 

smug mug shared art

We will also send off our students for both Prelims Nov.13th & Semis/Finals Nov.14th, using these same posters as the buses leave Mason for Indianapolis.  More detail to come on poster pick up from the school for use at send-offs & logistics of the send-offs themselves as we get closer.

Questions?  Contact spirit@masonbandboosters.com

Have You Checked Out SmugMug Lately!?

Check out SmugMug for all the amazing pictures our Photo Corps have taken throughout the season. These are perfect to use for posters!

• Miamisburg Invitational
• Mason Invitational
• BOA Toledo - Prelims and Finals (and misc)
• Football Games
• Homecoming Parade
• October Rehearsals
• September Rehearsals

Marching Band 101 for Parents - 10/26 Edition

New to Marching Band and have questions about what your student is doing or learning? Have you watched rehearsal and wondered how it all works? Each week in Marching Band 101 in Band Notes you’ll learn a little something new. 

November Rehearsals Are Different! 

Just when you thought you had mastered the groove and rhythm of the marching band season November strikes! Starting November 3 rehearsal schedules and location change. Every weekday Monday November 3 - Friday November 7 will be a full band rehearsal at Let’s Play 846 Reading Rd. Mason 45040 (formerly Wall2Wall Soccer and it might still appear in your phone’s maps app as Wall2Wall). Rehearsals will run from 3:30-6:30pm. A reminder that means students will be rehearsing during those times. Your student should arrive at Let’s Play at least 15 minutes before rehearsal begins. Front Ensemble should aim to be at Let’s Play even earlier as set up for these percussionists takes longer than it does for the other instruments. Leadership will also be asked to arrive earlier, to tape the field (put down masking tape to create all the football yard lines and hashes the marchers need for drill reference.)

As always, you are welcome to watch rehearsal. Let’s Play has stands outside the field area where you can sit, as well as some tables and chairs. (It can be quite loud inside, particularly if you are there during sectional warm-ups, so you might want to consider hearing protection.)

Rehearsal will end at 6:30pm. That means students will stop playing at 6:30 but will then pack up, pull up all the tape laid at the start of rehearsal (beware the turf-covered balls of tape some of them will bring home, and know that Let’s Play does actually have trash cans!), and dismiss. This can all take 10-15 minutes if not longer. 

The parking lot at Let’s Play can become crowded during this time so PLEASE PARK YOUR CAR AND WAIT FOR YOUR STUDENT TO COME TO YOUR PARKING SPOT. For the safety of students and staff do NOT form a queue of cars in the parking lot as pit crew will be moving equipment and students will be dismissing into the parking lot.

Rehearsals will continue at Let’s Play Monday November 10 through Wednesday November 12 3:30-6:30pm. Thursday November 13 and Friday November 14 rehearsal will take place at Let’s Play in the morning before the band sets off for Indianapolis. More info on send off celebrations to come!

Website Tip:

As the season goes on you’ll see and hear a lot of acronyms used when discussing competitions. The Mason Bands website contains a helpful Glossary of Acronyms. Check it out! 

Parent Section Ambassadors

Freshmen parents should have received an email introducing your Section Parent Ambassador. They are a great resource for quick questions and an opportunity to meet other parents in your student’s section. If you did not receive an email, please reach out to vp-membership@masonbandboosters.com 

REMINDERS

Spirit Merchandise & Upcoming Activities

Spirit Booth:

• 10/30 after Booster meeting
• 11/8 at MSBA Championships

Invitational shirts, programs, & buttons are still available to purchase. The program contains all the senior spotlights - wonderful souvenirs for Senior families. 

We also have standard Mason band items such as car magnets, yard signs, & stadium bags as well as some new Regency offerings like pins, stickers, & fan flags!

Come see us at one of our next spirit booths or contact Michelle Andre - spirit@masonbandboosters.com if you would like to reserve an item or have questions.

Regency Tour Shirts - Special Second Chance Order

Our Spirit Committee has worked with Friday Threads to arrange a special second-chance order window for the 2025 Regency Tour Shirts. Whether you missed out on the first order, changed your mind about wanting one, or loved it so much you want more - now is your chance! 

Click here to see the options and order. The order window closes on Tuesday, October 28 at 11:59pm. Shirts will be ready in time for Grand Nats.

For any questions, please reach out to spirit@masonbandboosters.com.

Mmm…Cake

If you attended our last Booster Meeting, you heard about our exciting new fundraising opportunity partnering with Nothing bundt Cakes, targeted for January/February.

We are in need of two enthusiastic individuals to help chair this event. Please contact Jennifer Rodway at fundraising@masonbandboosters.com for more information.

Competitive Winter Guard

We are just one month out from the end of this competitive season... which means that winter guard is just around the corner. 

See here for the CWG Announcement! This document should be a one stop of information as you begin planning for the upcoming audition, but if questions should arise - send them our way! 

Medical Secretary Updates

The remaining Medication Drop off are listed below. Please make sure you have an uploaded DMS sheet on file prior to dropping off the medications. Also ONLY bring the amount of medications we need.  Thank you for helping us support your students’ needs. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Sally McDonald by email: medicalsecretary@masonbandboosters.com. 

Remaining Medication Drop Off Dates for Travel:

Grand Nationals Medication drop offs listed below.  Booster Hub Sign Ups coming soon!

• 11/10 4:30-6:30 at Let’s Play practice
• 11/12 4:30-6:30 at Let’s Play practice

Order Your Memory Book by October 27!

Every year, the Photo Corps puts together a memory book to celebrate the season, covering  band camps, rehearsals, games, competitions, and behind-the-scenes moments. This year’s memory book will be a soft cover book with approximately 70 pages. If you order by October 27, you have the option to create your own custom pages to make sure your students have their favorite pictures featured!

Books are $50 if ordered by October 27, 2025. After that, the price increases to $55.

memory book

The 2025 Car Raffle is Here!

This gorgeous 2025 Audi Q3 S line 45 TFSI quattro could be yours! 

Mason Band Boosters is thrilled to once again be partnering with Audi Cincinnati East for our 2025 Car Raffle. A HUGE thank you to them for the donation! We are very excited! 

This fundraiser is a very important one for our organization as it helps provide some much needed funds to help with the expenses of our program as well as allows us to reach outside of our band family and community to help raise funds!

We Need Each And Every Family To Help Reach Our Goal Of Selling 4,000 Tickets And To Give Away This Fabulous Vehicle Or A Cash Prize!  

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW

Raffle Period - Raffle runs NOW until November 7th at 5pm OR until 4,000 tickets are sold...whichever comes first!

Drawing - Saturday, November 8th, 2025 at the MSBA AAAAA Championships, hosted at Mason. Need not be present to win!

Prizes - 

• Grand Prize -  2025 Audi Q3 S line 45 TFSI quattro or a cash prize!
• 2nd Place Prize - $1000 cash  
• 3rd Place Prize - $500 Cash

Car Raffle Rules And Regulations - Please Click Here for complete Car Raffle rules and regulations. Must be 18 years of age or older and a Resident of Ohio to purchase or be named on the ticket.

Ticket Prices - 1 ticket-$25 or 5 for $100 (to same individual)

• Note: If purchasing a bundle, all tickets in the bundle must have the same name, address and phone number with them.      

Ticket Purchases - Tickets can be purchased two ways:

1. Online via the 2025 Car Raffle Ticket Order Form
2. In person at home football games and the Mason Invitational

Band Family Sales - We are NOT distributing paper tickets to band families this year, but we are still asking each family to sell (or buy) at least 9 tickets to help make this a successful fundraiser.

• Please share the link and QR code with family and friends. Feel free to share it via social media as well.

Information regarding the Car Raffle can be found on our website Here. 

Questions? - Please direct those to carraffle@masonbandboosters.com.

Secret Buddy Reminder

We are glad so many students chose to participate in Secret Buddy this year!  Here are the remaining dates during band season to bring secret buddy items.  Please make sure everyone takes good care of their buddy! 

• MSBA Championship Saturday, November 8th
• BOA Grand Nationals Friday, November 14th  

Any questions, please reach out to vp-studentexperience@masonbandboosters.com

2025 Marching Band Next Steps

Marching Band Registration Next Steps:

• Registration Guide is now live.
• PAST DUE: 
• All payments for the 2025 MB Season are now PAST DUE.

Other Marching Band Documents: 

• 2025 Marching Band Drop Form
• 2025 Marching Band Handbook
• Color Guard Handbook Extension

IMPORTANT: For all payments by check - please include the student’s name and student ID and the fee you are paying on the memo line of the check. Example: “Jane Doe 987654 Band Fee 1”

Members of Our Band Family Need Us

Thank you to those that donated so far. Fuz and the Burton family have greatly appreciated your support. You can still donate to the GoFundMe.