St. Leo's Band Program

Mr. Barry Ward, director

If you have any questions, please see the Frequently Asked Questions.

The St. Leo's Band has been in existence since 1974, and Mr. Barry Ward has been the director since 1977. The band at St. Leo's operates within the curriculum of classes as a pull-out system and was developed with the concept of educating the well -rounded child with comprehensive music education. A student's spiritual, acadmic and artistic development act together to form a complete mondern day approach.

The St. Leo's Band has numbered up to 145 student musicians from grades 4th - 8th. Grade 4, the youngest, form the major portion of the beginner band. However, beginners can come from any grade level and are highly encouraged to join. Our advanced band portion of the program consist generally of student with at least one year of experience and mainly from 5th - 8th grade. The beginner and the advanced programs are seperated on two days of the weeks; Mondays are beginner lessons and full rehearsals and Wednesdays are advanced lessons and full rehearsals. Concerts at school are given by both groups on the same date and the advanced band is asked to play at the Arlington Diocese Band Festival and the Music in the Parks, Spring Trip.

Each year Mr. Ward anticipates openings in both bands. Our advanced band has all the usual instrument but tries to expand the instrumentation with larger instruments such as tuba, baritone, french horn, bass clarinet, trombone or tenor sax. These and other instruments are available from the band via the school fund raiser program and may be obtained through Mr. Ward. The beginner program introduces 5 basic instruments for the first year student. They are as follows: flute, clarinet, alto sax, trumpet, trombone/baritone and drum (bell kit). These instruments are usually rented through a local store at the beginning of the school year. Beginners, because of age and size, are asked to stay with one of these instruments in the first year of band and will be allowed to consider other instruments after that with the recommendation of the director. You may contact Mr. Ward at The3wardsdad@aol.com.

Contests and Competitions - The St. Leo's Band History

• 1977 - 2010 - Arlington Diocese Band Festival (Bishop Ireton High School)
  Outstanding Band in the Diocese 4 times. Superior ratings all 32 years.
• 1982 and 1983 - National Tape Festival: Notre Dame University
• 1980 and 1990 - The Kings Dominion Band Festival
  Superior and Excellent ratings

Muisc in the Parks Festivals (Spring Trips)

• Kings Dominion - 1982,85,92
• Hershey Park - 1985,86,88,91,95,96,02,04,06,08,10
  Grand Champion in 1999, 2002
• Busch Gardens, Williamsburg - 1981,83,89,90,93,98,01,03,05,07,09
  Esprit de Corps Award in 2003
• Dorney Park, Pa - 1994,97,2000
  Grande Champion all 3 years.
• Great Adventure in N.J. - 1988

Special Concerts and trips.

• Concert at the Ellipse of the White House - 1978,1979
• Fairfax City Festival of the Arts - 1987

Band Director: Barry Ward
the3wardsdad@aol.com
703-764-2823

Band Coordinator: Joanne Khavari
jskmed@gmail.com
703-868-6395 (cell)
703-830-7674

Instrument Loan Program from the Band

St. Leo's Band 2011 - 2012 Band Schedule

Start of Band
Aug. 31st (Wed) - Instrument Demonstrations and Meeting
8:30 - 11:00 Instruments Introduced to the 4th grade classes - Band room
11:00 - 12:00 Newly interested from 5th - 8th grade - Band room
12:00 (noon) Returning Band Members 5th - 8th Grade Meeting in Band room

Sept. 7th (Wed) - Parents' Night Meeting (registration 4th - 8th students/parent)
6:45 P.M. - Open Registration
7:30 P.M. - Beginner Parents / Student Meeting and Instrument rental

Sept. 12th (Monday) - Beginners Start Lessons 9:30 - 12:30 P.M.
Sept. 14th - Advanced (mostly 5th - 8th Grade) 9:30 - 3:00 P.M. Full rehearsal for 7th and 8th Grade after school

Concert Dates
December 11th Sun. - 1st Parents' Concert at 3:00 P.M.
March 31st - Arlington Diocese Band Festival at Ireton - afternoon time performance
May 8th (Tues) Honor Band Concert at Ireton
May 16th School Concert (afternoon)
May 16th Final Parents' Concert at 7:30 P.M.
May 18th - Spring Trip and Performance at Kings Dominion or Hershey Park (all day)

Fund Raisers:
September - Cherrydale Brochure
January / February - Hershey Candy Bars
5.00 Paper Fee for all band students at registration

Trip Costs:
Trip costs are estimated at around $110. per student. This includes bus, park ticket, festival fees and (possible lunch). Fund raisers are provided to help defray the cost of the trip. Participation is left up to both parents and students. It does help the band to participate in the fund raisers for the purchase of extra equipment and music stands and other.

Start of Lessons:
Beginners start on Monday, Sept. 12th (with or without instruments, hopefully with)
Advanced start on Wednesday, Sept 14th (with or without instruments, hopefully with)

Full Band Rehearsal (Advanced only)
7th and 8th grade - Starting Sept. 14th 2:50 - 3:45 P.M.
6th,7th,8th grade - on September 21st 2:50 - 3:45 P.M.
5th,6th,7th and 8th grade - (all) on September 28th 2:50 - 3:45 P.M.

All students / parent please be sure to register or attend the meeting at the beginning of the year held at school on Wednesday, Sept. 7th. Beginner Parents meeting at 7:30 P.M. in band room.