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I am currently planning for a band and jazz band concert to be held on Monday, May 10 at 7pm in the THS auditorium. Here are the restrictions and plans that I have been working with to make it happen: * there will be around 105 students involved (sports conflicts, full time remote, etc brings the number down to 105) * the event will be live streamed with no audience permitted. THS is currently using MHSAA policy for max number for all events. Sports use a number based on players + max of 100 spectators + coaches/officials/admin. This policy is also being used for Kings Judging in the auditorium which for that event will be approximately 125 which is more than what the band concert would have in the room in total * distancing measures will be in place as students will be spaced out all over the stage, pit, aisles, and other spaces. I will continue to plan using a six foot distance between students. However, while state recommendations have reduced the recommended distance for schools and classrooms to three feet, I will continue to use the six foot rule wherever possible like we do during daily class rehearsal. * PPE will be used like we do during class. Personal masks and procedures as well as specialty masks (flutes) and instrument bell covers will be used. * the event will be 45 minutes in length to reduce contact time * the THS auditorium is one of the best ventilated spaces in the building. That being said, we will leave all doors open and all lights on * planning will be done to reduce the amount of time and movement students will need to get their instruments and settle into their seats. As the day approaches, there may be other considerations that could require further planning to keep things safe and healthy. I am working with THS administration to make this concert - the first since February 2020 - actually take place. If current restrictions and limitations increase due to state ordered mandate changes, the event may be cancelled. No postponement can happen as the seniors last day is the following week. If you do not feel comfortable with your student who is currently part of 1st, 2nd, or 4th period band class or jazz band participating in this concert even with the above health measures in place, please let me know ASAP. I will be required to make a seating chart for contact tracing purposes several days before the concert and will need to know which students will NOT be participating. Live stream information will be provided a few days prior to May 10. Thank you for help and cooperation. It is my plan to give the kids - especially the seniors - this one final opportunity to perform together in the safest and healthiest way possible. If you have any concerns or suggestions, please contact me directly: 734 778 3418 (text) Thank you! Mike Kurilko
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Congratulations to THS Band members Michael Hintzen, Colin Prim, Jacob Cooper, Chance Day, Jenna Bainbridge, and Karlo Catabian for earning spots in the Class of 2021 Academic Top Ten based upon GPA. Well done!
Congratulations to the THS Jazz Band for some awards earned at the 48th Annual Phi Mu Alpha CMU Jazz Festival which was held virtually this year (our submissions are posted below). The group earned Best Rhythm Section (drums, bass, piano) for Class B, the combo earned Best Combo, and Eli Goreta and Noah Schoenherr were both given Best Soloist awards. The THS Jazz Combo is Eli, Noah, Duncan McCardell, and Nick Srabian. Well done.
The April Band Boosters Meeting will be held on Monday April 12 at 630pm in the band room. Please join us, masks are required. Thank You!
For the second consecutive year, the Trenton HS music department has been given the distinction of Best Communities for Music Education SupportMusic Merit Award:
Congratulations to the 80 schools that received the SupportMusic Merit Award (SMMA) from The NAMM Foundation! A SMMA Award is an opportunity for an individual school (public, private, parochial or charter, K-12) to be acknowledged for its commitment to music education. It is a "school-only" distinction awarded as part of the Best Communities for Music Education program. Trenton HS is only one of three schools in Michigan and 80 nationally to receive this distinction. THS also received this honor in 2020. Congratulations to the students, parents, and staff of Trenton HS for making this award possible. All:
After much thinking and assessment, I am announcing that I will be retiring at the end of the current school year. I have taken special care in the planning for next year’s band and events so that the transition to a new director will be as seamless as possible. As the world reopens, I feel that it is the right time to leave the job of maintaining the band and guitar programs - while restarting the chorus and beginning band - to the next director who will lead the music department into the next era as I did when I became band director at Trenton High School in 1987, 34 years ago. I am ready to move on to my next adventure and am confident that with such a great band family in Trenton that the program will continue to flourish. It has been an honor to teach in Trenton Public Schools and to be the high school band director and music instructor for such a fine community. Onward and upward! The THS Jazz Ensemble started up for the first time in over a year last Monday, March 15. Using health protocols, distancing procedures, and PPE, the group put together a couple of songs to enter into the CMU Virtual Jazz Festival which we recorded and submitted last night. Considering the group only had two rehearsals, these selections turned out pretty solid. A special congratulations goes out to junior Eli Goreta, alto sax, who via audition was accepted into the very exclusive University of Michigan Jazz Ambassadors All-Star ensemble. This group is only seven students - one on each of sax, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass guitar, drumset, and guitar - selection from auditioners from around Michigan and nationally. The septet is full scholarship and was created and instructed by Grammy Award jazz artist John Clayton. Congratulations, Eli!
All precamp, camp, and post camp practices from late July through Homecoming on October 8 have now been updated. All football games, Victory Day, and band competition dates have also been updated.
NOTE: The Gibraltar Carlson Invitational has been moved from Oct 2 to Sept 18. There will now be a competition day schedule for Saturday, Sept 18 but NOT for October 2. Note that Oct 2 will also be Queen's Judging day/evening thus NO BAND EVENTS WILL BE SCHEDULED ON THAT DAY. This Carlson change works very well for THS students in 2021 : ) The Band Boosters have set preliminary plans for Band Camp 2021, to be held in August on the Trenton HS Campus. Please download the attached flyer and save the dates in your calendars. ![]()
The January Band Boosters Meeting will be on Monday January 18 at 630pm. Meeting will be held at On Your Side Family Services, 2801 West Jefferson (at West Rd) in Downtown Trenton. Please be sure to bring a mask.
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AuthorMr. Kurilko Archives
April 2021
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