Band Notes 4–27–2020
Hello All! Please watch the video above FIRST — then read the rest!
Travel Insurance
Please use this link to purchase “cancel at any time” travel insurance.
Here’s how it works:
As long as you purchase the insurance through the link above for group travel, you can purchase the insurance all the way up until the day you make your last payment.
So, for example, if you make your first payment January 1, and then pay off the trip October 1, then October 2 you’ll be ineligible to purchase travel insurance. But anytime in that window you can do it.
Band Elections
Please click this link to add your name as a nominee for office.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXOIIX3f81tAvFr-hKddzYJzYPBOgjq1gfpYnkiY0Z9dILXg/viewform
Please submit ONE form for EACH Office you wish to be considered (you will only be able to hold ONE office). Drum Major Candidates may be considered for an office, however if they are chosen as a Drum Major, they will be ineligible for one of these offices.
Voting will occur NEXT WEEK, via Google Forms.
Here are the offices:
* Band President — works with the conductors in bringing the students point of view to the Director. Enforces attendance policy. Fund raising leader.
* Vice President — aids the president. Promotes concerts and events. Assists with awards.
* Secretary — all communications and bookkeeping.
* Librarian — attends to the music. Distributes numbered folders. Keeps records.
* Historian — keeps a scrapbook, photos, news articles, etc….
Drum Major Auditions
Please fill out and submit this form if you wish to audition for Drum Major.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScNGU_E4EuWvRYhJANBaNLQ5Lpcm1R863wXa5ja83ELCIr-sg/viewform
Auditions will be Tuesday April 28 at 2pm on Zoom
You will receive an invitation to connect to a Zoom Meeting on your email. (please be sure the email you use is correct & valid — stratk12 emails are capricious at best… gmail emails work the best).
Current Freshman, Sophomores & Juniors are eligible
New Staff
Sadly, Mr. Miner & Mr. Kowalsky will not be returning for next Fall. I am very happy to announce that we have hired Mr. Phil Dolan (BHS Band Class of ’94) to replace Mr. Kowalsky & and Mr. Tim Paproski (BHS Marching Band & UConn Alumni) to replace Mr. Miner.
Here is Mr. Paproski’s bio:
Mr. Timothy Paproski holds a Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum and Instruction (2019), a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education (2018), and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music (2018) from the University of Connecticut. At UConn, Mr. Paproski studied Trumpet with Dr. Louis Hanzlik, and performed with the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Lab Band. Mr. Paproski was also a 5-year member of the UConn Marching Band, including two years as Drum Major. In his final year, he served as Director Intern for UConn’s Athletic Bands, where he assisted with logistical operations for the 300-member marching band and co-directed the Fall and Spring Athletic Pep Bands. A highlight of his Athletic Bands career was serving as Director for the UConn Band at the 2019 NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional Championship (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight) in Albany, NY. He has also performed at the 2017 and 2019 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championships (Final Four), as well as other NCAA and AAC conference games and tournaments. A 2014 graduate of Stratford High School, Mr. Paproski was a 4-year member of the Bunnell-Stratford Marching Band, and a 2-year Trumpet Section Leader.
Mr. Paproski is currently the Band Director at James Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Connecticut, and also serves as the Choir Director of St. John’s Orthodox Church in Stratford, CT. He is an active member of the Connecticut Music Educator’s Association (CMEA), and serves as an adjudicator for trumpet and voice for CMEA’s Regional and All-State Ensembles. He currently resides in Branford, CT.
Here is Mr. Dolan’s bio:
Mr. Philip Dolan
Mr. Dolan holds a Master of Science degree from Full Sail University (2014), a Master of Arts degree from Fairfield University (2005) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University (2001). Mr. Dolan also completed four years of course work at Morehead State University in Morehead, KY. Mr. Dolan is also a graduate of Bunnell High School (1994) and performed as a percussionist in all 4 years of the Bunnell Marching Band.
Mr. Dolan has been a writer and instructor for area marching bands over the last 20 years, working with Masuk High School, Bunnell High School and Westhill High School. Currently Mr. Dolan is the Band Director at Amity High School in Woodbridge, CT where his pit orchestras for musicals have won state championship awards in 2010 (Les Miserable) and 2013 (Sweeney Todd). Mr. Dolan conducts the award winning Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble and has been employed at Amity since 2002.
Mr. Dolan has also performed as a professional with Broadway Method Academy at the Westport Country Playhouse for the shows “Grease”, “Little Shop of Horrors”, “Evita” and most recently “Annie” as well as a performance in the renowned 54 Below in NYC.
Mr. Dolan lives in Stratford with his wife Natalie, their two children, Kendall and Luke and their dog Toby.
Band Trip — URGENT!
We are proceeding as planned, for now.
We sent a deposit for 125 Plane Seats on JetBlue (They are GREAT seats and almost $200 less than all other Airlines).
Points of Interest:
- we have 171 people signed up on the BHS Sign Up Page
- we have 113 ONLY signed up with SHTours and have Paid the $50 deposit
- 130 people responded to my survey, and very few said that they were dropping (9 so far) — here’s the survey if you didn’t respond yet https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdPdNlbPIXuTn6vx_ma9qaaxwGzplp534iYxtjUkiTG3IesiA/viewform
(every traveler MUST submit a form).
- The following is the list of travelers who HAVE started an account with SHTours, but did not complete it:
Aditya Gowd, Alexander Ugarte, Bailey Angeski, Chloe Palomo, Kris Sinise, Ryan Stansberry
- The following travelers HAVE completed their account with SHTours and have a deposit in (see list below)
If you DO NOT see your name below, please visit the following link to register immediately!!!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nHwgeBnoFfRQg5sKXVAqTIfpnQwFnw00/view
We can ADD plane seats, as long as they are available — so please don’t wait!
