Hello All,

I want to be gin by saying outstanding job to the Blackwater Beats Jazz Band for the their performance at the Jazz MPA at Washington HS this past Friday! We earned an overall Excellent, however, after seeing the standing ovation after we were done and hearing the comments from several band directors and audience members in the room, we know it was a superior performance.  Regardless, these students brought the house down!

Now we enter our third an final week of MPA season with concert MPA this Thursday at Ft. Walton Beach HS.  Students, make sure you have made arrangements to be at your rehearsal for the full time.  Just like in marching season, any absences from these last rehearsals will impede your participation in Thursday's performances.  Parents, if you would like to volunteer to chaperone this Thursday, please CLICK HERE.  The itinerary is below.  Students will need to wear their concert black uniforms and bring money for dinner at the various fast food restaurants at Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach.   Parents and guard, I encourage all of you to come out and listen and support these groups! Admission is FREE and these students have been working hard up to this point!

Both of our winterguards will be in performance this Saturday at the Pace Indoor Competition.  The JV performs at 5:40 and the Varsity performs at 6:09.  Admission is $10.00 at the gate.  If you haven't seen theme yet, come on out! These students have been working extremely hard and have improved so much over these last few months.  

The Crawfish Festival is coming up quickly and we are in desperate need of more vendors.  I have attached the Vendor application for you to use for whomever.   Please get the word out.  This has become a huge event for the BPA which intern supports our students.  You can also direct folks to our website by clicking HERE.  The festival is April, 21st 10am-8pm.  The entertainment lineup so far is the Blackwater Beats Jazz Band, Chasing Fridays and the Rowdies.  We will have a poster soon.  

That is all for now.  I hope you have a Superior week ;-) 

Happy Birthday to the Following Student this week according to charms:
Sydney Moore - Thursday

This Week:
Monday
3:45-6pm - Concert Band Rehearsal
6pm-9pm - IP Rehearsal

Tuesday
4pm-6:30 - Symphonic Band Rehearsal
4pm-9pm - Winterguard Rehearsal

Wednesday
4pm-5:30 - Panther Band

Thursday
FB A Concert MPA
11:30 - Lunch in cafeteria
Noon - Meet in Band Room 
12:30 - Depart for Ft. Walton Beach HS
1:30 - Arrive FWBHS/Con & Sym Bands go to Auditorium
2:05 - Panther Band Warm-up
2:35 - Panther Band Performance
3:15 - Concert Band Meet at Truck/Panther Band return to auditorium
3:45 - Concert Band Warm-up
4:15 - Concert Band Performance
4:40 - Symphonic & Panther Bands leave for dinner (Uptown Station)
5:15 - Concert Band leaves for dinner (Uptown Station)
6:00 - Symphonic Band returns to Ft. Walton Beach HS
6:45 - Panther & Concert Bands return to Ft. Walton Beach HS 
6:45 - Symphonic Band meet at truck
7:15 - Symphonic Band Warm-Up
7:45 - Symphonic Band Performance
8:45 - All Bands return to buses/Depart for MHS
9:45 - Arrive/Unload MHS
10pm - Dismiss

Saturday
Pace Indoor Show (See Ms. Byrd for full itinerary)
- 5:40 - JV Winterguard
- 6:09 - Varsity Winterguard

Looking Ahead to Next  Week:
Mon - IP Rehearsal
Tues - Student Trip Meeting, Adult Trip Meeting
Thurs - Firehouse Subs Spirit Night, IP Rehearsal, Middle School MPA
Fri - Middles School MPA
Sat - Escambia Indoor Show

Together We Are THE MIGHTY BLACK & GOLD!!!

Hello All,

PLEASE GET FAIR SHARES IN NOW! THANK YOU!

Welcome to the 2nd week of the MPA season.  We kicked off this season with a bang at FBA Solo & Ensemble this past Friday at Escambia High School.  Congratulations to the following participants:

Adeline Belova - Flute Solo - SUPERIOR

Mesa Fitzgerald - Trombone Ensemble - EXCELLENT
Alyssa Gregg - Trombone Ensemble - EXCELLENT
Alyssa Welch - Trombone Ensemble - EXCELLENT
Alex Salter - Trombone Ensemble - EXCELLENT

Sara Heuer - Clarinet Solo - EXCELLENT

Tiffany Bullard - Clarinet Ensemble - SUPERIOR
Sara Massie - Clarinet Ensemble - SUPERIOR
Amber Burtschell - Clarinet Ensemble - SUPERIOR

Sydney Bates - Oboe Solo - SUPERIOR

Abigaille Flores - Piccolo Solo - EXCELLENT

Abigaille Flores - Flute Solo - SUPERIOR

Raywood Miller - Bari Sax Solo - SUPERIOR

Tory Woodward - Clarinet Solo - SUPERIOR

Jacob Still - Euphonium Solo - SUPERIOR

Garret Allen - Alto Sax Solo

Congratulations again to all of these students!

Now we get ready for round 2 of MPA season with Jazz MPA this Friday at Washington High School.  Our own Blackwater Beats Jazz Band will be in performance at 4:45.  I invite and encourage everyone to attend! Entry is FREE.  Come out and support these students' hard work! The itinerary is below and can also be found by clicking HERE.  

Congratulations to our varsity winterguard for their performance this past Saturday at Robertsdale HS as well! They pushed hard over this week and moved up to ranks in their class.  Good job guard! You can see them as well as the JV winterguard perform again at the Pace indoor show on March 3rd.  

We will be hosting a trip chaperone meeting this Tuesday at 6:30 in the band hall.  All adults going on the trip are chaperones and will need to attend this important meeting.  Firehouse Subs will be providing the meal for the night.

Next week is the last week of MPA season with Concert MPA for all three bands on Thursday, March 1st.  ALL STUDENTS MUST BE IN ATTENDANCE FOR REHEARSALS TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM ON THURSDAY!!! Just like in marching season, if you miss your rehearsal day, you will not perform with us on Thursday.  If an emergency arises, please make sure you communicate that with us. Students, please make sure you communicate with your coaches as well to ensure you are at the rehearsal for the entire time.  Parents, if you would like to help chaperone this event, please CLICK HERE.  The official itinerary will be posted soon.

For anyone that would like to earn volunteer hours or work off the BPA incentive for fair shares, the BPA will be having a volunteer meat sticking Monday (today) at 6pm.  Students and parents alike are welcome to come out.  This will be at Trinity Lutheran across from the old K-Mart building.  Please CLICK HERE to sign up.  

Students, don't forget to wear this year's show shirt and blue jeans or blue jean shorts for the 8th grade showcase Tuesday morning.

Finally, the USM Wind Ensemble will be making a special stop only at Milton HS on their way to Tampa and will be performing for our students and anyone else who would like to stop by and listen.  The BPA is planning to feed the Wind Ensemble and needs your help.  If you would like to sign-up to work in the softball concession stand that morning, please CLICK HERE.

That's all for now.  I hope everyone has a stellar week! 

Happy Birthday to the following students according to charms:
McKenzie Pittman - Sunday
Raywood Miller - Monday
Gabe Nestor - Thursday

This Week:
Monday
Presidents Day (No Classes)
12pm-6pm - IP Rehearsal
6pm - Volunteer Meat Sticking (CLICK HERE to sign up)

Tuesday
9:30am-Noon - 8th Grade Showcase Pep Rally
3:45-5:30 - Concert Tubas/Bari Sax Sectional
4pm-6pm - Symphonic Band Rehearsal
4pm-9pm - Winterguard Rehearsal
6:30 - Trip Cahperone Meeting

Wednesday
11am - USM Wind Ensemble Performance (Concession Volunteers CLICK HERE)
4pm-5:30 - Panther Band Rehearsal

Thursday
3:45-6pm - Concert Band Rehearal
4pm-9pm - Winterguard Rehearsal
6pm-9pm - IP Rehearsal

Friday
JAZZ MPA
- 2:30 
- 3:15 - Arrive Washington/Unload
- 4pm - Warm-up
- 4:45 - Performance
- 5:15 - Load Truck
- 6:15-8:15 - Watch Choctaw, Washington, Escambia, and Tate Perform
- 8:20 - Depart for Cordova Mall
- 9pm - Depart for MHS 
- 9:45 - Arrive & Unload/Go Home

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Mon - Concert Band, IP
Tues - Symphonic Band, Winterguard
Wed - Panther Band
Thurs - CONCERT MPA
Sat - Indoor Show @ Pace HS JV & Varsity Winterguard Performing

Together We Are THE MIGHTY BLACK & GOLD!!!

Hello All,

PLEASE GET FAIR SHARES IN NOW!!! THANK YOU!

Not too many things to report this week other than what is below.  If you are participating in the FBA Solo & Ensemble, please make sure you read through the packet I gave you.  You will need to be at Escambia HS 45 minutes to an hour before your scheduled performance time.  Make sure you dress nicely.  Do not wear your band uniform but do wear something nice.  

The itineraries for Jazz MPA on the 23rd as well as concert MPA on March 1st are on the calendar.  Just click the event and you will see the itinerary on the details section.  There is a possibility we will be going to the Cordova Mall food court after Jazz MPA for dinner.  I will let you know for certain as we get closer.  Here are the working itineraries for both events so you can start planning:

Jazz MPA Friday, Feb. 23rd at Washington HS
2:30 - Depart for Washington HS
3:15 - Arrive Washington HS/Unload
4pm - Warm-up
4:45 - Performance
5:15 - Load Truck
6:15-8:15 - Watch Choctaw, Washington, Escambia, & Tate Perform
8:20 - Depart for MHS or Mall
9pm - If we go to mall, this is depart for MHS time.  If we do not go to mall, this is arrival time at MHS
9:45 - Arrive Milton/Unload if we go to mall

Concert MPA Thursday, March 1st at Ft. Walton Beach HS
11:30 - Lunch in cafeteria
Noon - Meet in Band Room
12:30 - Depart for Ft. Walton Beach HS
1:30 Arrive FWBHS/Concert & Symphonic Bands go to Auditorium
2:05 - Panther Band Warm-up
2:35 - Panther Band Performance
3:15 - Concert Band Meet at Truck/Panther Band return to auditorium
3:45 - Concert Band Warm-up
4:15 - Concert Band Performance
5pm - Concert Band return to auditorium
6:45 - Symphonic Band Meet at Truck
7:15 - Symphonic Band Meet at Truck
7:45 - Symphonic Band Performance
8:45 - All bands return to buses/depart for MHS
9:45 - Arrive/Unload MHS
10pm - Dismiss

Happy Birthday to the following students this week according to charms:
Sara Heuer - Today (Sunday)
Lauren Buch - Monday
Tristan Byrd - Monday
Lauren Bishop - Tuesday
Tanthalas Kyle - Tuesday

This Week:
Monday
3:45-6pm - Concert Band Rehearsal
6pm-9pm - IP Rehearsal

Tuesday
Mardi Gras
3:45-5:30 - Concert Alto Saxes/Horns Sectionals
4pm-6:30 - Symphonic Band
4pm-9pm - Winterguard Rehearsal
7pm - MHSBPA Monthly Meeting

Wednesday
International Singles Awareness Day
Half-Day Early Release
Career Day

Thursday
4pm-5:30 - Panther Band Rehearsal
4pm-9pm - Winterguard Rehearsal
6pm-9pm - IP Rehearsal

Friday
FBA Solo & Ensemble @ Escambia High School
- CLICK HERE for schedule

Saturday
Indoor Show @ Robertsdale HS (See Ms. Byrd for full itinerary)
- 5:29 - Varsity Winterguard

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Mon - Presidents Day (No Classes), IP Rehearsal, Volunteer Meat Sticking
Tues - Symphonic Band, Trip Chaperone Meeting, 8th Grade Pep Rally, Winterguard Rehearsal
Wed - USM Wind Ensemble Performance, Panther Band
Thurs - Concert Band, IP, Winterguard
Fri - Jazz MPA

Together We Are THE MIGHTY BLACK & GOLD!!!