Here are answers for some of the questions at Tuesday evening’s meeting, for those of you who might have missed them.

Click HERE to access an online, printer-friendly version of the China Tour Purple Book. The usual tour password is in effect.

Water Update: Two bottles of water a day will be provided on tour, and drinks - coke, sprite, tea, cold & hot water (and milk, juice, soy milk with breakfast) - will be available with meals. You may need to purchase some water while away from the buses, so plan on $1 or $2 a day.

Cash and Credit Cards: Do not bring traveler’s checks. Credit cards can be used for purchases in big stores. Everyone will need some Chinese currency for other purchases. Cash can be exchanged at the airport or at the hotel. Keep your receipt for exchanging back any Chinese currency at the end of the trip. The Asiana group will have more time for exchanging currency at the beginning of the trip. The United Airlines group may wish to exchange for some Chinese currency before we leave. Lisa McKarns has offered to get some ahead of time: LMcKarns@comcast.net.

Food: Lunch on April 2nd in China for the Asiana group will be on their own, as the first meal is the Peking Duck Welcome Dinner. (The United group will be in the air during lunch.) The rest of the lunches are included.

Click here for luggage information and packing list suggestions.

District XII Band Festival

Members of the Pioneer High School Concert and Symphony Bands (David A. Leach, Director) received straight First Division ratings at the District Band and Orchestra Festivals held at Pioneer High School on Saturday, March 6, 2010. There were twelve District XII ensembles competing in this state qualifying event.

U of Michigan Jazz Festival

The Pioneer High School Jazz Band participated in the University of Michigan Jazz Festival on Saturday, February 13, 2010. Nominated for “outstanding soloist” honors on their respective instruments were Max Hully (trombone) and Spencer Johnson (baritone saxophone).

Michigan Music Conference

The following Pioneer Band students were selected to perform as members of the MSBOA All-State Band at the 5th Annual Michigan Music Conference (January 21-23, 2010) in Grand Rapids: Skye Huerta (flute), Karen Matsuo (flute), Julia Pekela (clarinet), Gina Son (clarinet) and Michael Sullivant (bass clarinet).

Congratulations to these outstanding, young musicians!

http://aapioneerbands.org/?page_id=348

Or, be a part of the 2010 Symphony and Jazz Band China Tour! Get something special for your sons or daughters to take with them on the trip, or just wear what the kids are wearing. A China Tour Apparel order form is available at the following URL:

http://aapioneerbands.org/wp-content/2010_china_apparel.pdf

Pioneer’s performance slot is first thing in the morning!

Warm-up is at 8:05AM on stage at the Stamps Auditorium which is at the east end of the Walgreen Drama Center.
Performance is 8:35 to 9:05AM.

See the following 2010 Jazz Festival Timetable for the rest of the Jazz Festival Activities available.

I’ve got a lot to tell you so this will be a long post!

Make sure you have our China Tour Meeting on your calendar. It’s coming up on Tuesday, January 26 at 7:30pm for participants and parents. Our tour director Qiu Min Ji will be attending.

On or before the January 26 meeting, from each participant, I need a medical release form, a CACBC waiver form, and your passport. See details below.

You’ll be happy to know we now have flights for all of us to China! Look on the China Tour page of our website for Flight Lists.

Flight 1 – United Airlines
» 8:30am Apr 1 Det to Chicago, Chicago to Beijing - 47 people

Flight 2 – Asiana Airlines
5pm March 31 Board bus from Pioneer to Chicago O’Hare,
» 1am Apr 1 Chicago to Seoul to Beijing - 71 people

Forms:

There are two medical release forms: one for Students and one for Adults. Please turn them in ahead of time or bring them to the meeting. The student form must be signed by at least one parent/guardian in front of a notary public. The form for adults must be signed by the participant, also in front of a notary public. I’m looking into notaries public who would be willing to provide services before the meeting on the 26th. I’ll send out another email if I get a volunteer.

Each participant (or a parent if the participant is 17 & under) must sign the attached Chinese American Cultural Bridge Center Waiver & Release.

Passports!

It turns out I will be taking your passports to the Chinese Consulate in Chicago as early in February as humanly possible. The whole process for obtaining visas takes a couple of weeks. Therefore, I need to collect your passports on or before the January 26th meeting. That way even if we get some bad weather in February, I’ll still have them back by Feb 19 for folks who need them over the February Mid-Winter Break.

Thanks

Gloria Wilson, President
Pioneer Band Association

A sign-up sheet is posted in the band room. Once a sufficient number of musicians have signed up, a sign-up for the munchies will also be posted.

The band will receive a monetary payout for the level of participation. Please sign up to play and support your band program. Thank You!

Questions? Contact our PTO Thrift Shop Representative, Mary Topham

Thanks for your patience.

-Gloria Wilson