Fletcher High School Band: "The Pride of the Beaches"

All District Band

2009-11-24T08:31:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to our FHS students named to the 2009-2010 ALL DISTRICT BAND!

Katie Bessemer, Andrew Bohn, Michael Dufresne, Logan Fasano, Brooke Hughes, Charis Middleton, Anthony Meyers, Josh Peterson, Cody Wheaton

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Congratulations to Katie Bessemer, Andrew Bohn & Michael Dufresne for being selected to attend the FSU Tri-State Fesitval in December. This event is for outstanding High School Junior & Senior musicians and is by invitation only.

MPA 2009 ....SUPERIOR!

2009-11-10T16:13:00.004-05:00

Congrats to Fletcher High School Marching Band, Mr. Maerkl, and his staff for recieving all " SUPERIOR" marks at MPA on saturday! Your dedication is what makes you "THE PRIDE OF THE BEACHES!" Thanks also to all the volunteers who helped make hosting MPA a success.

"THE PRIDE OF THE BEACHES" WINS BIG IN ST. AUGUSTINE!

2009-10-27T15:12:00.004-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS FHS BAND for your outstanding performance at the ST. AUGUSTINE COMPETITION 10/24/09 !

Fletcher received SUPERIOR ratings, Best in class 5 A

and placed SECOND OVERALL WITH A SCORE OF 79.35!

FHS BAND SENIOR NIGHT

2009-10-18T12:31:00.004-04:00

The Seniors of the FHS Marching Senator Band were recognized at Friday nights halftime show. We wish them ALL THE BEST in their future endeavors!

MIDDLEBURG "ECHOES OF EXCELLENCE" 2009

2009-10-11T12:19:00.003-04:00

Congrats to Fletcher High School Band for surviving hot temps and putting on a scorching performance! You guys are awesome. FHS competed in the Middleburg " Echoes of Excellence" where they earned straight SUPERIOR scores and Best in 2A class!

FLETCHER PLAYED NICE FOR NEASE

2009-09-06T19:16:00.005-04:00

A great season opener against Nease. Fletcher Band was pumping up the Purple pride in the stands with great music and gave a great show for the Home crowd at halftime.
(click link on left side of page to see some Pics)

FLETCHER SENATORS TAKE THE FIELD

2009-08-27T08:56:00.003-04:00

The first football game is here against Jackson and the excitement is mounting as the Fletcher High School Marching Senators take the field for the first time this season! They will be performing their show " CARPE DIEM"... Seize the day ! Come on out and show your support.

2009 ...... another year of awesomeness!

2009-08-05T12:18:00.005-04:00

With our new leaders trained and ready, we have welcomed into our band family a new set of rookies. Everyone please make them feel welcome and show them how great it is to be in the FLETCHER SENATOR MARCHING BAND!...GO PURPLE PRIDE!

Beaches Winter Invitational

2009-03-09T08:56:00.003-04:00

Congratulations go out to IMPACT Percussion for placing FIRST at the Beaches Winter Invitational on Saturday.

Congratulations also to Fletcher Winter Guard for placing FIRST at the Beaches Winter Invitational on Saturday and a big.....

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

to all our Fletcher alumni, students and parents who made this event a success!

Beaches Invitational Saturday March 7th! The Community is invited.

2009-03-06T09:48:00.002-05:00

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

ALL DISTRICT TRY-OUTS

2009-01-16T10:35:00.006-05:00

We are very proud of all our students who took the time to try out for All District.Congratulations go out to these student for making the band: Katie Bessemer - 2nd Chair Flute, Kelitta Anderson - 17th Chair Clarinet, Candace Stewart - 18th Chair Clarinet, Andrew Bohn - 4th Chair Trumpet, Jonlin Bahamon - 6th Chair Horn, Allison Blackwell - 7th Chair Horn, Megan Fitzgerald - 3rd Chair Trombone, Michael Dufresne - 4th Chair Euphonium, Cristin Dobrowolski - 6th Chair Euphonium, Daniel Confiado - 2nd Chair Tuba - Josh peterson.
The only school who had more accepted was DA.Great Job everyone!

ALL DISTRICT CONCERT IS SUNDAY, JANUARY 25th, 3:00PM AT MANDARIN HIGH SCHOOL

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK

2008-12-04T16:17:00.002-05:00

Come join in the fun with Beaches residents Friday night, 6:30-7:30 pm December 5th, at Jarboe Park. Fletcher High School Jazz band will be playing some festive tunes and Santa will be stopping by for anyone who needs to talk with Him.

2008-11-15T11:47:00.002-05:00

Congratulations! to our Marching Band seniors and their parents, who were recognized at Friday nights football game. We will miss all your smiling faces next year. Best of Luck to you All.(Pictures taken are on link on left side of page)

2008-11-10T14:30:00.000-05:00

MPA
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! FHS MARCHING SENATORS for earning SUPERIOR ratings in music, marching, general effect, Guard & Percussion at the " Marching Band Performance Assessment" hosted saturday at FHS!Congratualtions also to Mr. Maerkl and our clinicians: Wes Peters, Rob VanEck, Mike Rippstein, Jason Geiger, Brandon Lesando, Rick Krystofiak, Stacy Sullivan, Thomas Baker, Chris Coates & Jordan Peterson. The FHS MArching Senators were one of two( out of 17) bands to recieve SUPERIOR ratings in all categories!

Thanks go out to Cindy and Mayan ,the Band Boosters Board and chairpersons, all the parents , volunteers and students who worked tirelessly to make this event run smoothly.

ANCIENT CITY PRESENTATION OF BANDS

2008-10-28T07:55:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to the FHS Band for their SUPERIOR ratings in Music, General Effect, Guard, Percussion and SUPERIOR WITH DISTINCTION for our drum major awarded during the Ancient City Presentation of Bands held October 25th.

The Pride of the Beaches placed BEST IN CLASS AAA in Music, General Effect, Guard, Percussion and Drum Major and won BEST IN CLASS AAA overall!

FHS Marching Senator Band place 5th overall with a final performance rating of 76.5!

" Hydrodynamics" Video (Middleburg competition)

2008-10-25T12:46:00.010-04:00

"ECHOES OF EXCELLENCE"

2008-10-19T13:40:00.000-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FHS BAND FOR THEIR SUPERIOR RATINGS IN BRASS, WOODWINDS, AUXILLARY, PERCUSSION AND SUPERIOR WITH DISTINCTION FOR OUR DRUM MAJOR AWARDED DURING THE ECHOES OF EXCELLENCE COMPETITION HELD AT MIDDLEBURG HIGH SCHOOL OCTOBER 11TH.

First Home field performance of '08

2008-09-09T10:20:00.003-04:00

The first football home game was played friday against Sandalwood. The kids spent time before the game socializing & catching up with old friends from Sandalwood. At Halftime all socializing was put aside as they gave a great performance in front of the Home crowd!

"Sneak Peak"

2008-08-18T15:21:00.003-04:00

Band Camp has ended and The FHS Marching Band put on an awesome show on Friday Night's preview of the 2008-2009 show " Hydrodynamics". The Band & Color Guard Members, Clinicians and Mr. Maerkl all put in alot of sweat and time and it definately showed as this Year's show looks to be one of their best!

BAND CAMP '08

2008-08-05T08:56:00.001-04:00

Check link on left side of page for pictures of band camp and share in the fun!

The '08-'09 Marching Season has Officially Begun with Band Camp!

2008-08-04T19:47:00.003-04:00

The excitement was in the air this am as the students and instructors gathered to begin a new season and the promise of another great show. Band camp will continue as scheduled on schoolnotes until we get our " Sneak Peak" On Friday August 15th. The students put a lot of hard work and sweat into making a great show so, come on out and see what the excitement of FHS Band is all about!

TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD - FHS BAND

2008-05-01T23:11:00.003-04:00

What a great story! Many thanks to First Coast News and Jeannie Blaylock for highlighting the incredible turn around the FHS Band has done in the past 3 years. Click on the link below to see the story and video.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/goodnews/news-article.aspx?storyid=108361

WHY WE ARE THE PRIDE OF THE BEACHES!

2008-04-24T22:49:00.009-04:00

***** Florida Bandmasters Association *****

CONCERT MUSIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT State Concert MPA

2008 Fletcher High School Band*** The Pride of the Beaches

WIND ENSEMBLE rated Excellent, Excellent,Superior

For overall grade of Excellent!

NOW you can LISTEN to the performance!

Click the attachments above for Wind Ensemble MPA Performance.

CONCERT MUSIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

2008 Fletcher High School Band*** The Pride of the Beaches

SYMPHONIC BAND rated EXCELLENT!

Jordan Peterson earned a SUPERIOR for student conductor!

WIND ENSEMBLE rated SUPERIOR!

Anna Forest earned a SUPERIOR for student conductor!

MARCHING BAND MUSIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

2007 Fletcher High School Marching Band*** The Pride of the Beaches

Rated SUPERIOR !!!

Another SUPERIOR - EXCELLENT DAY!

2008-03-08T22:18:00.003-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS to the Fletcher High School Wind Ensemble on earning a SUPERIOR rating and to the Symphonic Band on earning a rating of EXCELLENT at the District 17 Florida Bandmasters Association Performance Assessment today.

Just one more reason why WE ARE THE PRIDE OF THE BEACHES!

No such thing as a free trip!

2008-02-21T10:56:00.000-05:00

February 20, 2008

To the editor:

Thank you to the Beaches Leader and Liza Mitchell for their coverage of our fundraising efforts on the road to Washington, D.C. With the pledge from the Jacksonville Beach City Council, we are one step closer to our goal of $50,000. However, in reading the article “JB antes up for Fletcher Band Trip” in the February 20th edition, there are a couple of misconceptions that need to be corrected.

First, none of the chaperones are accompanying the band students at a reduced price or free of charge. Each chaperone has paid the same out-of- pocket financial contribution as the students have paid of $110. Further, each of these chaperones has volunteered countless hours during Friday night football in the stands with the students; in the concession stands at home games; during marching competitions riding buses that leave on a Saturday morning at 8:00 am (after being in the concession stand until 11:00pm the night before) and not arriving home until early Sunday morning; selling Krispy Kreme donuts at 6:30am before school starts to raise money; marching parade routes during Homecoming and Opening of the Beaches parades and being there during any other activity at which one of the FHS band ensembles may appear. Having said this, none of this volunteer time even comes close to the amount of time that our band students and Jonathan Maerkl, band director, commit towards making the Fletcher High School Band the superior program that it is today. A program that was deemed worthy of being chosen as the official State of Florida representative at the National Independence Day Parade after being nominated by Mayor John Peyton.

While it is true that the band has received 4 complimentary chaperone trips as part of the tour package, the savings associated with these “free” trips has been spread among all of the students and chaperones attending the parade. Each person traveling to Washington, DC has the same cost per trip. Should our fundraising goal not be reached, each attendee whether a student or a chaperone will be responsible for paying the difference in order to be able to attend. Unfortunately, this may mean that some students who cannot afford to pay any extra will be left out of the trip if this indeed becomes the case. The Band Boosters Association is working extremely hard to make this sure that this does not happen.

Second, Councilman Knight’s concerns of funding students who live outside the Beaches city limits are not valid. Funding has been requested from all of the cities in which our students reside. Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach have already responded positively. Atlantic Beach and the City of Jacksonville (via the Children’s Commission) have been approached and we fully expect funds from these cities to be forthcoming. In addition, the athletic department and the PTSA of Fletcher High School have already made pledges of funds towards the cost of getting our band to D.C. The Holiday Extravaganza held in December, 2007 with performances by the entire fine arts department of Fletcher benefitted the band’s fundraising efforts. The Fletcher High School Marching Senator Band is representing not only the three Beaches Communities and Jacksonville, but also all FHS students, current and alumni, at the National Independence Day parade. Isn’t it only fair that all share in the cost of this opportunity?

In today’s times of news about students who are getting into trouble or failing school, isn’t it refreshing to hear about a group of young people who are doing something good? Our students are spending hours in rehearsals in addition to keeping up with their schoolwork to represent themselves and our community in a positive manner. As Jean Furst so eloquently put it at the meeting on Monday night, the FHS band students will be in Washington, D.C. for you. Will you be there for them?

To find out more about the Fletcher High School Band and our fundraising efforts for the 2008 National Independence Day Parade, please visit our website www.fletcherhighschoolband.org.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Bohn
FHS Band Boosters
DC Fundraising Chairperson
(904) 241-8176