Dear Student, March 17, 2021
Congratulations on being accepted into duPont Manual High School and the Youth Performing Arts School! As the Assistant Band Director at YPAS and Director of Bands at duPont Manual High School, I look forward to working with several of you on a daily basis. I too am an alumnus of duPont Manual/YPAS (1994), my son is as well (2016) and my daughter will be going into her junior year (2023).
I am writing you today to let you know that my staff and I would love to have you participate in in the 2021-22 “Crimson Sound” Marching/Pep Band and Color Guard program. If you currently play an instrument or have interest in color guard (flags, rifles, saber, dance) we would love to hear from you.
We will hold a Manual Band and Color Guard Interest Meeting on the following dates:
When: Friday, April 9th from 6-7 pm
Where: Google Meets: https://meet.google.com/sub-xfce-aby
The "Crimson Sound" recently purchased brand new uniforms in 2018 and several new instruments/audio equipment in 2019 and 2020. In addition, the band celebrated our largest membership to date in 2019 with 70 members. The Crimson Sound has been a Class KMEA State Semifinalist "Sweet 16" in the state marching band championships for the last 3 years in row. We will return many members to the Crimson Sound in 2020 and are looking to add on between 30-50 new members. In January of 2022 (with approval), we will be taking our biennial trip to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. Here is a link to our 2019 production entitled Cityscapes. If you ask anyone in our current 70 member band if they regret joining the band, they will tell you “Absolutely not”. They love what we do, they respect our staff and they truly care for each other.
There are many benefits to participating in the marching band program (musically, physically and socially) here at Manual HS. We run a “balanced” rehearsal and performance schedule that works well with the academic rigor and additional extracurricular opportunities offered at duPont Manual High School. The marching band rehearses on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00-5:30 and Fridays from 2:45-4:15. Students receive class credit for participating in the ensemble. The band performs at 5 Friday Night home football games and approximately 4-5 Saturday marching band contests, including the KMEA State Championships. The marching band season usually concludes the first weekend in November (if not before). Attending the summer band camp is vital in order to be successful but the staff and I will potentially work with some small conflicts. I also want to point out that many of our band students are involved in other extracurricular clubs and activities on the Manual campus, including clubs, academic teams, YPAS ensembles, athletics and even outside organizations such as Louisville Youth Orchestra and the Scouts. If you are in a winter or spring sport student, there are no conflicts. Several of the fall sport coaches and myself are also willing to work together when a student has interest in participating in marching band and a fall sport.
The current Manual Band consists of students representing ALL 5 MAGNET programs (YPAS, HSU, J&C, MST, VA). Many of our top YPAS Band students are in the marching band which allows for a very talented musical group. In addition, our color guard program is growing in numbers and quality. COLOR GUARD IS OPEN TO ANY STUDENT ON CAMPUS with interest in dance, flags, rifle and theatrics. The color guard section is the visual story tellers of our show design. Our drum line and front ensemble percussion programs are also open to non-band music students such as choir, orchestra, guitar and piano majors. As long as you can read music, we will help you along the way.
For more information about the band, go to our website at www.dupontmanualbands.weebly.com. There are several drop down links on the marching band tab for you to explore. Especially check out the “FAQ” section and the “2021 Band Camp Dates for All” tabs under the Marching Band Drop Down Menu.
There are many new challenges facing the first-year high school student. Being in the band will help make this process a pleasant one by helping new students become familiar with the campus, buildings, and faculty prior to the first day of school. In addition, it will afford every student the opportunity to enter an advanced level of instruction with a host of talented friends who share a similar interest and a familiar language - MUSIC. Our upperclassmen will serve as a safe and supportive social family in the introduction to this new learning environment.
Ongoing research confirms that music students score higher in academic subjects and are actively sought by colleges and universities not only for their musical talents, but because they often rank at the top of their classes in school. Over the years, the “Crimson Sound” has had many members attend and participate in All-County Band and Orchestra, All-County Percussion Ensemble, All-State Band and Orchestra, All-State Percussion Ensemble, National Honors Ensembles, Governor’s School for the Arts, the Governor’s Scholars Program, the Duke Talent Search Program and various leadership/music camps. We have also had several Eagle Scouts and athletes in the band program. The Manual Band has also produced many National Merit Semi-Finalists and Finalists along with many school Valedictorians.
If your child has interest in participating in the 2021 marching band, please print out the Member Registration Form and mail it in (along with the deposit) to the address listed on the membership form ASAP. I know the date shows June 7th, but I will accept registration forms throughout the summer and prior to band camp.
Should you have any questions about the band, feel free to email me at jason.gregory@jefferson.kyschools.us.
Have a great spring and summer!
Sincerely,
Director of Bands,
duPont Manual High School
Assistant Director of Band/Director of Percussion
Youth Performing Arts School
JCPS All-County Percussion Coordinator
1517 South Second St.
Louisville, KY 40208
502-485-8355 (School)
502-313-4160 (Band Office)
jason.gregory@jefferson.kyschools.us
www.ypasbands.weebly.com
www.dupontmanualbands.weebly.com
Congratulations on being accepted into duPont Manual High School and the Youth Performing Arts School! As the Assistant Band Director at YPAS and Director of Bands at duPont Manual High School, I look forward to working with several of you on a daily basis. I too am an alumnus of duPont Manual/YPAS (1994), my son is as well (2016) and my daughter will be going into her junior year (2023).
I am writing you today to let you know that my staff and I would love to have you participate in in the 2021-22 “Crimson Sound” Marching/Pep Band and Color Guard program. If you currently play an instrument or have interest in color guard (flags, rifles, saber, dance) we would love to hear from you.
We will hold a Manual Band and Color Guard Interest Meeting on the following dates:
When: Friday, April 9th from 6-7 pm
Where: Google Meets: https://meet.google.com/sub-xfce-aby
The "Crimson Sound" recently purchased brand new uniforms in 2018 and several new instruments/audio equipment in 2019 and 2020. In addition, the band celebrated our largest membership to date in 2019 with 70 members. The Crimson Sound has been a Class KMEA State Semifinalist "Sweet 16" in the state marching band championships for the last 3 years in row. We will return many members to the Crimson Sound in 2020 and are looking to add on between 30-50 new members. In January of 2022 (with approval), we will be taking our biennial trip to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. Here is a link to our 2019 production entitled Cityscapes. If you ask anyone in our current 70 member band if they regret joining the band, they will tell you “Absolutely not”. They love what we do, they respect our staff and they truly care for each other.
There are many benefits to participating in the marching band program (musically, physically and socially) here at Manual HS. We run a “balanced” rehearsal and performance schedule that works well with the academic rigor and additional extracurricular opportunities offered at duPont Manual High School. The marching band rehearses on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00-5:30 and Fridays from 2:45-4:15. Students receive class credit for participating in the ensemble. The band performs at 5 Friday Night home football games and approximately 4-5 Saturday marching band contests, including the KMEA State Championships. The marching band season usually concludes the first weekend in November (if not before). Attending the summer band camp is vital in order to be successful but the staff and I will potentially work with some small conflicts. I also want to point out that many of our band students are involved in other extracurricular clubs and activities on the Manual campus, including clubs, academic teams, YPAS ensembles, athletics and even outside organizations such as Louisville Youth Orchestra and the Scouts. If you are in a winter or spring sport student, there are no conflicts. Several of the fall sport coaches and myself are also willing to work together when a student has interest in participating in marching band and a fall sport.
The current Manual Band consists of students representing ALL 5 MAGNET programs (YPAS, HSU, J&C, MST, VA). Many of our top YPAS Band students are in the marching band which allows for a very talented musical group. In addition, our color guard program is growing in numbers and quality. COLOR GUARD IS OPEN TO ANY STUDENT ON CAMPUS with interest in dance, flags, rifle and theatrics. The color guard section is the visual story tellers of our show design. Our drum line and front ensemble percussion programs are also open to non-band music students such as choir, orchestra, guitar and piano majors. As long as you can read music, we will help you along the way.
For more information about the band, go to our website at www.dupontmanualbands.weebly.com. There are several drop down links on the marching band tab for you to explore. Especially check out the “FAQ” section and the “2021 Band Camp Dates for All” tabs under the Marching Band Drop Down Menu.
There are many new challenges facing the first-year high school student. Being in the band will help make this process a pleasant one by helping new students become familiar with the campus, buildings, and faculty prior to the first day of school. In addition, it will afford every student the opportunity to enter an advanced level of instruction with a host of talented friends who share a similar interest and a familiar language - MUSIC. Our upperclassmen will serve as a safe and supportive social family in the introduction to this new learning environment.
Ongoing research confirms that music students score higher in academic subjects and are actively sought by colleges and universities not only for their musical talents, but because they often rank at the top of their classes in school. Over the years, the “Crimson Sound” has had many members attend and participate in All-County Band and Orchestra, All-County Percussion Ensemble, All-State Band and Orchestra, All-State Percussion Ensemble, National Honors Ensembles, Governor’s School for the Arts, the Governor’s Scholars Program, the Duke Talent Search Program and various leadership/music camps. We have also had several Eagle Scouts and athletes in the band program. The Manual Band has also produced many National Merit Semi-Finalists and Finalists along with many school Valedictorians.
If your child has interest in participating in the 2021 marching band, please print out the Member Registration Form and mail it in (along with the deposit) to the address listed on the membership form ASAP. I know the date shows June 7th, but I will accept registration forms throughout the summer and prior to band camp.
Should you have any questions about the band, feel free to email me at jason.gregory@jefferson.kyschools.us.
Have a great spring and summer!
Sincerely,
Director of Bands,
duPont Manual High School
Assistant Director of Band/Director of Percussion
Youth Performing Arts School
JCPS All-County Percussion Coordinator
1517 South Second St.
Louisville, KY 40208
502-485-8355 (School)
502-313-4160 (Band Office)
jason.gregory@jefferson.kyschools.us
www.ypasbands.weebly.com
www.dupontmanualbands.weebly.com
