Color Guard

The Blue Devil Marching Band is composed of instrumental and Color Guard performers, and is open to students of all proficiency levels who have successfully completed a Middle School band program (grades 6 - 7 - 8) or, at the discretion of the Band Director and Color Guard coach, have successfully auditioned for a part. Students work throughout the summer, preparing music and drill in required sectionals, full band rehearsals, mini camp days, pre-camp and the annual week-long Band Camp held at GLHS, all leading up to the fall marching season. Color Guard members are part of the Marching Band graded class, meeting daily during the first trimester, as well as required after school, evening and weekend rehearsals; Friday home varsity football games; and weekend competitions. Student athletes who wish to participate on both a fall sports team and with the Color Guard should see Mr. Burris. 

Color Guard members are selected based on audition results during the prior Spring. Both girls and boys are eligible to participate. Auditions for the 2019-2020 Color Guard squad will be held at Gull Lake High School on Saturday, March 9 from
9:00 - 12:00; and Saturday, March 23 from 9:00 - 2:00 (approximately). Please bring a lunch on March 23; all other equipment will be supplied. 

Based on interest, Winter Guard is an optional extra-curricular team that competes during the second trimester. Participation fees vary from year to year and are not included in the Marching Band registration fee. Winter Guard will be cancelled if there is insufficient interest.

Uniforms, performance equipment and flags are supplied by the school. Members are expected to purchase their own shoes, gloves, leotard/unitard and other personal supplies as determined by the coaching staff. Color Guard members submit the same paperwork and fees as instrumental Marching Band students, and parents and students should attend the March 1 meeting noted below.

​New forms are required annually for all students participating in Marching Band, including Color Guard, as well as parents who wish to volunteer with the band program. Mark your calendar for the Band Camp meeting on March 1 at 7:00 in the GLHS Cafeteria for all of the details of next year's program. Online registration (required for all students) and required paperwork packet links are located on the "Marching Band" tab if you are unable to attend the meeting or would like to print your own copies.
​Freshman parents are encouraged to join us for a Question and Answer Meeting on Thursday, May 30 at 7:00. Any parents of returning students who have questions or need assistance with any of the forms are also welcome to attend.
***Please note that the Ford Field Waiver form and Release of Claims forms posted in the required paperwork packet are the 2018 edition. We are waiting to hear if the form will change for 2019; until then, please use the 2018 form.***

ALL 2019 PAPERWORK and ONLINE REGISTRATION is due FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2019. 
PAYMENT in full is due MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019, the first day of Band Camp. Please note that no payments will be accepted by the High School, but should be either made through the online link below or by mail to the GLBPA.
​
For your convenience, you will once again be able to pay the Marching Band fee and for some uniform orders online. Follow this link for online payment; the link is also included in the packet. Checks made out to the GLBPA should be mailed to the GLBPA, P.O. Box 374, Richland Michigan, 49083. No payments will be accepted by the High School this year. The Marching Band fee covers expenses for the entire marching season, including instructional staff; lunches and dinners during Band Camp; Feed the Band meals on competition days where indicated; uniform cleaning; and one show shirt per student. New members will also need to purchase personal uniform items such as marching shoes, performance shirt and shorts, and gloves; a detailed list will be provided at the March 1 meeting. The GLBPA also makes available scholarship funding for students with demonstrated financial need to help offset participation costs; the scholarship application is included in the packet. 

The Marching Band has traditionally traveled to Orlando, Florida every four years to perform in a Disney World parade and student workshop. Details regarding the 2020 Spring Break trip will be announced at the two informational meetings:  Thursday, April 18 at 7:00 PM, primarily for 10th-11th-12th grade families and 8:15 PM, primarily for incoming 9th grade families following Freshman Orientation. Feel free to attend whichever meeting best fits your schedule, however. The Disney trip is an optional event, and Marching Band fees do not cover the cost of participation. Students and parents may earn credits toward their trip account by volunteering in the GLBPA-run fall sports concession stand dates. Color Guard members wishing to participate in the 2020 Disney trip are required to meet additional proficiency and behavior expectations, including enrollment in either fall Marching Band (Color Guard) plus Winter Guard or fall Marching Band (Color Guard) plus both winter and spring trimesters in the Gull Lake Band program. Students who are unsure about signing up for Winter Guard, Concert Band or Symphonic Band should keep this in mind.

​***Our Disney trip proposal has received approval from the Gull Lake School Board! Check out the new Disney Trip page for all of the details!***

The tentative 2019 rehearsal schedule, competition schedule and home varsity football game schedule is posted on the "Marching Band" tab. Call times will be confirmed prior to each performance. Events marked as Optional are highly recommended if students are available. Additional required evening and weekend rehearsals may be added at the Band Director's discretion. Individual sectional rehearsals may be scheduled by the student leaders and may not be updated here.
Participation in competitions and football games is mandatory; unexcused absences will affect the student's grade. Attendance expectations will be discussed at the March 1 meeting; parents and students must sign and follow an Attendance Agreement form.