08Sep/25

Ohio Band Directors Conference Honor Band

General

Any student wishing to participate in the Ohio Band Directors Conference Honor Band at the University of Akron, please click here for audition information.  See Mr. Smith with questions!

OBDC – Ohio Band Directors Conference Honor & All-Star Bands – Friday & Saturday, December 5 – 6, 2025

– Students are invited to audition for the OBDC Honor Band, conducted this year by Dr. Terry Austin, Emeritus Director of Bands at Virginia Commonwealth University, OR sign up to be a member of the OBDC All-Star Band (director recommended), conducted this year by Dr. Daniel Neuenschwander, Director of Bands, Kutztown University.  Our guest composer this year is Dr. David Biedenbender, Associate Professor and Chair of Composition in the College of Music at Michigan State University.

 

– OBDC Honor Band: Students submit a recording of a Class A or B OMEA Solo (or a comparable etude) and the scale requested on our website: https://uakron.edu/bands/obdc/honor-band/

– Remember, you do NOT have to record the entire solo; just record two contrasting sections and submit via the google form.  If your solo has accompaniment, you do NOT need to record with an accompanist – just play two contrasting sections.  Students – start the application HERE: 

 

– OBDC All-Star Band: Open to any students without completing an audition (also will be offered to any students not selected for the Honor Band).  Directors will receive an Evaluation Form to complete after the sign-up deadline of October 20th, 2025.  Students – start the application HERE: 

08Sep/25

Lake Football and Cambridge Competition Info

General

•  Friday @ Lake:  Doors open at 5PM Buses roll at 5:45PM

•  Saturday @ Cambridge Competition:  Doors open at 3:30, buses roll at 4:15PM.  PHSMB performs at 7:15PM, followed by Central Crossing HS and Cambridge HS.  Awards are at 8:15PM.  We should arrive back at PHS at approximately 10PM.

•  For parents wishing to support our students by attending:  The stadium is slightly different from the HS address.  You will want to search for McFarland Stadium in Cambridge OH.  Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for kids and senior citizens.  Children 3 and under are free.  The first band begins at 5PM if you’d like to get there early to watch all of the groups.

19Aug/25

Back To School Announcements

General

•  A reminder that rehearsals this week will be Tuesday and Wednesday from 2:45-4:45PM.  Bring water!

•  Our first game is this Thursday at Central Catholic!  Doors open at 5:15PM, we will start the march to CCHS at 6PM.  We will be riding buses home following the game (should arrive at PHS around 9:30-10PM)  Dress for Thursday’s game is full uniform (hats, gloves, all of it)

•  On Friday, we will be marching down to Pfeiffer to perform for the 6th graders.  Please wear your band shirt.

•  Symphonic Winds and Concert Band will begin rehearsals on Monday.  On Thursday, we will have a short marching band rehearsal during mod 17/18

•  Welcome back and let’s have a fantastic school year!

28Jul/25

Meet The Team Night

General

The new PHS football coach wants to include the band in a Meet The Team Night on August 17th at 6PM.  The event should last under an hour, and our band seniors will be recognized during the performance.  We will be performing portions of our pre-game show, followed by team introductions.

I will have more details next week.  Dress for band members will be band tee shirt and shorts with tennis shoes.

28Jul/25

HOF Parade and Pictures

General

It’s 2 a days week!  Please be sure you are drinking plenty of water  as the heat for the next 2 days will be intense.  We will give you plenty of breaks, so make sure you bring plenty of H20.

Marching Band pictures are Friday night.  We will have picture order forms to you as soon as we receive them.

HOF Parade:  Doors open at 6AM, buses roll at 6:30AM.  We should return to PHS well before 11 if all goes well.  The weather for parade day is looking perfect!

Dress for the pictures and parade:  Full uniform, black drillmaster band shoes, black socks (not ankle socks!), black band tee shirt.  No hats or gloves for pictures or the parade.

 

07Jul/25

Clarification

General

 A friendly reminder that marching band rehearsals begin on Monday, July 14, at 7:00 AM.  Please be in your seats and ready to play at 6:55AM.  Do not walk in the door at 6:59 and expect a positive outcome.  Please note that summer rehearsals are not optional.  If you are not there (and haven’t previously emailed Mr. Smith about a vacation), your spot will be given to someone who is there and on time.  Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week are for rookies, leadership, all guard, and all percussion.  we will see the rest of you on Thursday morning.

07Jul/25

It’s time for band!!!!

General

We hope everyone has had an enjoyable and relaxing summer so far! I have had a GREAT summer and will be forcing many of you to look at fish pictures. Here are some upcoming events and items that need your attention:

•  We WILL be performing at the Buckeye Invitational at Ohio Stadium in October!  Yay!  We will share info once we have it.

1.  If you haven’t ordered your black Drillmaster marching band shoes, now is the time to do so.

2.  A friendly reminder that marching band rehearsals begin on Monday, July 14, at 7:00 AM.  Please be in your seats and ready to play at 6:55AM.  Do not walk in the door at 6:59 and expect a positive outcome.  Please note that summer rehearsals are not optional.  If you are not there (and haven’t previously emailed Mr. Smith about a vacation), your spot will be given to someone who is there and on time.  Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week are for rookies, leadership, all guard, and all percussion.  we will see the rest of you on Thursday morning.

3.  If you have lost touch with your instrument, now is a great time to reconnect with it and reintroduce yourself.  The better you sound on July 14th the more pleasant all of our lives (including yours) will be.

4.  Bring all music, instruments, flip folders, and lyres.  We will be outside for most of the first day.  Rookies, check in with your leadership team to make sure your instrument group uses a lyre (most do).  

5.  Wear comfortable shoes.  No flip flops or sandals are permitted.  Rookies:  It’s a good idea to wear your brand new marching band shoes to these rehearsals so you can break them in before the parade. 

6.  We will give you water breaks each hour.  It is YOUR responsibility to bring water jugs, etc.  You will not have time to run inside to use the drinking fountain…bring it to the field with you!  Do not drink energy drinks, coffee, milk, etc to stay hydrated during rehearsals.  H2O is your friend!  Try to wear light colored clothes as this will help with the heat.  Tank tops, etc are definitely allowed…just make sure you don’t wear anything “indecent”

7.  Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!  Marching Band rehearsals are not the place to try getting a suntan for the first time of the year and sunburns are not an excused absence.  If you haven’t ventured outside of your home since June 1st, start spending sometime outside to get acclimated to the heat.

8.  If you haven’t memorized La Pantera and the Fight Song yet, get busy.

9.  Practice!