More Still Photos!
An astounding 886 new still photos (from Cindy) have been added to the Photo Gallery, featuring Fall Field show trips and performances. They have been placed in a 2008 Fall Field Show Gallery.

Online HD Video!
Youtube is testing a new feature - the ability to display videos in true HD at 1280 x 720 resolution. This feature is not yet public (but whatever ... ) I have re-mastered a few past videos in the new online HD format. Click on the link and then select the "full screen" icon at the lower right of the viewer - the full screen item looks like: And enjoy the latest resolution videos, now vastly higher quality than before.

Requires at least a 1.5 mbps Internet connection.

• San Francisco Trip Summary video in HD
  
• 2007 Fall Field Show Montage/Community Video in HD - Part 1
  
• 2007 Fall Field Show Montage/Community Video in HD - Part 2
  
• 2008 Lilac Festival and Armed Forces Day Parade in HD
  

Please add a comment to this post or send an email to bandboosters "at" wvbands.org and let me know if you like this HD format.

POST FALLS – BOY’S BASKETBALL GAME
When: Thursday, December 11
Time: 4:00 PM
Where: “The Kennel” (Gonzaga University)
Price: $2.00 (Advance Ticket Sales – available in the Band Room)
$5.00 (Purchased at the gate)

Our Pep Band will be playing for the WVHS/Post Falls game and each student will need to purchase a $2.00 ticket to help offset the cost for using the facility. There will be two (non-GU) college games to follow and your ticket will admit you to these games, as well. Please send cash in a sealed envelope with your name and quantity of tickets on the front. Thank you.

Jim Loucks, Band Director

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CONCERT & DESSERT (Firm)
Monday, December 15
WVHS Theatre
7:00 PM

2009 BAND CAMP DATES (Tentative)
Monday, August 17 – West Valley High School (All Day)
Tuesday, August 18 – Camp White (TBA)
Wednesday, August 19 – Camp White (All Day)
Thursday, August 20 – Camp White (All Day)
Friday, August 21 – Camp White (All Day)

Monday, August 24 – WVHS (5-8:00 PM)
Tuesday, August 25 – WVHS (5-8:00 PM)
Wednesday, August 26 – WVHS (5-8:00 PM)
Thursday, August 27 – WVHS (5-8:00 PM)

Just a reminder … these are TENTATIVE dates. Thanks.

WSSDA PERFORMANCE
The WVHS Marching Band will be performing at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Washington State School Director's Association (WSSDA) State Convention this next Thursday, November 20. This is a huge honor to be selected (via audition tape) to perform at this event. We'll be wearing full uniforms. Here's the schedule:

10:00 AM Depart via bus for the Spokane Convention Center
10:30 AM Sound and Logistics Check
12:00 PM Performance (Show Music, America-the Beautiful, Star-Spangled Banner)
12:45 PM Depart via bus for Dick's Restaurant (students need to bring $3.00)
1:30 PM Depart for WVHS
1:45 PM Arrive at WVHS (unload equipment & change clothes)

Your student will be given a Permission Form on Monday and IT MUST BE SIGNED AND RETURNED BY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, in order to be eligible for this performance. I'll discuss academic concerns and suggest solutions to make-up all time missed for this important performance. Please ask you son/daughter for this Permission Form. Thank you.

Jim Loucks, Band Director

West Valley HS (AA Division)



Other Bands

• Kamiakin High School Marching Band (AA)
  
• Bonney Lake High School Marching Band (AA)
  
• Central Kitsap High School Marching Band (AA) *
  
• Ferndale High School Marching Band (AA)
  
• Aloha High School Marching Band (AAA)
  
• Kennewick High School (AAA) *
  
• Shelton High School Marching Band (AAA) *
  
• * Denotes similar musical program to WV. Other schools performing surprisingly similar music to WV's included Auburn, Central Kitsap, Shelton and Kennewick.
  

WV takes 2nd place AA division and 3rd place AA division for parade performance.

Update: WV placed 7th out of 28 29 bands in the competition! (I demanded a recount and the number of competition bands went from 28 to 29!) A total of 30 bands performed (Auburn HS gave an exposition - not competition performance - as the sponsor). Five additional bands participated in the Veteran's Day Parade for a total of 35 high school bands between the two events.

Great performance by WV and great performances by the competition too. Scores will be announced late tonight.

The weather cooperated - the rain stopped and the clouds parted - and the West Valley Eagle Marching Band entered the Auburn Veteran's Day Parade in Auburn, WA at about noon today.

A quickly edited video clip of their noon time march in the parade:


Update: A higher image quality version is now available here.

West Valley will enter the field show competition at 5 pm.

The field show and closing ceremony will be taped but will not be posted online until probably late Sunday. However, scores and other info will be posted here Saturday night.

Cindy also has great still photos and those will be added to our photo gallery some time after we return to Spokane.