The 2009/2010 Holiday Fund Raiser was a major success, thanks to the combined efforts of many parents, students, and local business supporters.

The Cascade High School Jazz Band’s trip to the 2010 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival is now assured, as well as the Cascade Kodiak Marching Band’s trip to the 2010 Lilac Festival Parade.

We want to give special recognition to Karen Haire for coordinating the Christmas Carol stage play concessions, and Toni Sauer, Jillana Haight, and the Puckett Family for their work with the Leavenworth Christmas Lighting Festival parking lot concessions.

Our local business support is greatly appreciated! Thanks to Dr. John Schiefelbein, Cashmere Valley Bank, Cascade School District Office, the Rieke Family, and Leavenworth Properties for use of their parking lots for all three Christmas Lighting weekends.

Final recognition goes to the many wonderful parents and students (some new this year) who, with their time and efforts, made our Holiday Fund Raiser happen. Thank you for all you did, and we’ll look forward to the next school year’s fund raising events!

Cascade High School’s Kodiak Marching Band is again looking forward to participating in Leavenworth’s 2009 Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival Grand Parade on Saturday, September 26.

Cascade High School Marching Band at the 2008 Autumn Leaf Parade.

Nothing could be more fitting than the experience of representing one’s hometown in a parade event that attracts widespread visitors and guests.

View the photo gallery showing the Kodiaks at last year’s parade.

Autumn Leaf Festival- a Leavenworth Tradition

The Grand Parade is part of Leavenworth’s three-day Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival. Visit the festival website for more information.

Support Our Band!

Our band students’ hard work and preparation is exhibited during this premier event. Contact us if you wish to support this and similar band activities, so we may continue representing our community in the best way possible!

Note to those (parents, friends, etc.) who plan to watch the parade:
The actual parade starts at 12:00 noon, so come early to get a good vantage point.

• Christmas Lighting Festival, at the Gazebo
• Cascade Jazz “Band Nite” Fundraiser (around the Holidays?)

Please keep these events in mind (they are important activities). As soon as details are known, you’ll see them here. In the meantime, please contact Mr. Garcia if you have any questions. Thanks!

• Band Calendar of Events- Listings of all scheduled band concerts, appearances, and band-related activities.
• Cascade Kodiak Band Boosters- Upcoming meetings and events. The first meeting is planned for Sept., date and time TBA.

Lastly, contact the webmaster if you have anything you wish to be included!

A video of 2-28-09’s performance medley is displayed on the Media page.

Chelsea Gorrow| Leavenworth Echo Staff Writer-
The Cascade High School band is strumming right along through the school year and on to some upcoming competitions, with new director Skylar Garcia leading the way.

Photo by Chelsea Gorrow. The Cascade High School band is gearing up for some pretty big competitions in the next few months. Connor Ashcraft, a sixth grader at Icicle River Middle School, says he is happy to be a part of it.

“We’re having a lot of fun in band. Pep-band has grown. Right now, we have 38 students,” said Band director Skylar Garcia, noting more students may be coming in at semester.

The pep-band performs at all home sporting events, playing favorites like “Louie Louie” and “Tequila.” But the students who participate are strictly volunteers, as playing at games is not a requirement, but students show up just the same.

“The students come to play some music just because they like it,” said Garcia. “And when you sign up for band, you are signing up for pep-band, marching band, and concert band so it’s a pretty big time commitment but we have a great group of students.”

Senior Taylor Knapp is one of Garcia’s students at Cascade High School that played the bass during the Kodiak vs. Chelan basketball game Jan. 21.

“It’s always been really exciting for me to play at the games and it’s always been my favorite part about concert band. It’s enjoyable, it’s loud and it’s awesome,” said Knapp.

The Pep-band also allows the Icicle River Middle School band students an opportunity to perform at home games with their peers.

“I’m learning some things on the drum set but I am playing the bass drum right now and the cowbell,” said sixth grader Carson Rieke, who has been playing with the pep-band at Cascade High School since the beginning of the basketball season. “Sometimes you get to play really soft songs and other times you get to play really hard songs so it’s a lot of fun.”

Bass-player Knapp has participated for the past six years when he was in middle school and now is helping the incoming band mates to continue.

“It’s really cool to work with the high schoolers because when you do well and you play it right, the high schoolers give you a lot of encouragement,” said Connor Ashcraft, sixth grader who plays a variety of instruments for the pep-band, including bass and cowbell. “What’s really cool is when you break something like a drumstick and you think you’re going to get in trouble, they tell you how awesome it is.”

Playing at the basketball games also has some other important benefits,”You get a really good seat and don’t have anyone blocking you when you watch the game,” joked Rieke.

No matter the reason for joining, the students all express a desire to continue performing at games, which is music to the ears of band director Garcia.

“People at the games come up to me and say ‘Hey! You’re doing wonderful job!’ or ‘Hey! Your pep-band sounds amazing! They’re doing great!’ That’s such an honor because the kids are doing great and I’m excited for what’s to come,” Garcia said.

Upcoming band competitions include Cascade’s participation in the High School Band Festival at Wenatchee High School on March 11 and the State Solo-Ensemble in Ellensburg April 25.

The Cascade High School Jazz Band is also working their way towards competition, going to Moscow, Idaho for the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the end of next month.

“Other than the occasional parts that are a little trickier, I am comfortable with all of my parts and ready for jazz fest,” said Bo Davis, senior and bass trombone player for jazz band. “I wish it was a month sooner than it is.”

The competition will be held Feb. 26.

“It’s a huge competition. The kids stay over night for five nights and they compete against schools from all over the U.S., so we’re really excited to do that,” Garcia said, excited for all his band students and for this job, his first after graduating from Washington State University. “I have the most amazing job in the world. I wake up every morning and I’m excited to go to work. I get to work with these kids who share my passion for music. They take the music, they run with it and they make it their own. To see the smiles on their faces when they finally get something, it’s so rewarding. There is nothing better.”

Knapp said his time in the high school band, although coming to an end at graduation, has been very rewarding as well and he encourages others to join.

“I urge parents to keep their kids in band, if they are in band, because I’m graduating in a semester and I’ve had so many cool experiences,” Knapp said. “Plus there are all the statistics out there that kids in band are less likely to do drugs and more likely to succeed. So it’s got a lot of benefits and it really is a lot of fun.”

Chelsea Gorrow can be reached at 509-548-5286 or reporter@leavenworthecho.com

Band Director Skylar Garcia and four Cascade High School students attended, and it was a good experience for all. Congratulations to Tessa Morris, Nikki Evans, Rosie Bergmark, and Sam Fields.

This event occurs every two years, so we’ll look forward to Sarge Huber 2010! 

Select participants are from the top ten percent of regional band students. It’s truly a privilege for Cascade Kodiak Band (Cascade High School and Icicle River Middle School) to be represented.

medical-release-and-syllabus-chs

2008-2009-chs-band-handbook

2008-2009-irms-band-handbook

2008-2009-6th-grade-band-handbook

Above are digital copies of the band handbook, medical release forms, and statement of acknowledgement

Those of you who have not turned this in should do so in a timely manner!  Remember, this is your ticket to get on the bus for band trips!!

Also, here is a copy of the practice sheets, just in case you ‘NEED’ one.

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-Mr. Garcia