Wildcat Pride 2026 Summary

Wildcat Pride Marching Band 2026 Summary

Important Dates:

February 24 - 6pm Incoming Freshmen Band Student/Parent Meeting @HS Band Room

March 5 - 6pm Upperclassmen Band Student/Parent Meeting @HS Band Room

March 25 - 3:30-5pm Percussion Mini-Camp @HS Band Room

March 26 - $70 Uniform Payments Due

March 26 - 3:30-5:30 Color Guard Auditions @JH Band Room

April 1 - 3:30-5pm Percussion Mini-Camp @HS Band Room

April 2 - 3:30-5:30 Color Guard Auditions @JH Band Room

April 8 - 3:30-5pm Percussion Auditions @HS Band Room

April 9 - 3:30-5:30 Color Guard Auditions @JH Band Room

April 13 - Leadership Applications Due

April 22 - 3:30-6pm Drum Major Auditions/Interviews @HS

May 5 - 3:30-5pm Marching Primer @JH

May 7 - 3:30-5pm Marching Primer @JH

May 12 - 3:30-5pm Marching Primer @JH

June 9 - 5:30-6:30pm FREE PHYSICALS @HS Gym

July 27-30 - Color Guard/Percussion Camp 8am-4pm 

Aug 3 - FRESHMAN CAMP 8:30am-4pm

Aug 4- 7 - FULL BAND CAMP 8:30am-5:30pm

Aug 10-14 - FULL BAND CAMP 7am-5:30pm

Aug 15 - Pride Night/Wildcat Kickoff 6-9pm

Aug 17 - Evening Rehearsal 5:30-7:30pm 

Aug 18 - Evening Rehearsal 5:30-7:30pm

Aug 20 - Evening Rehearsal 5:30-7:30pm

Aug 21 - Parent Preview 6pm @HS Football Field

Sept 3 - Evening Rehearsal 6-8pm

Sept 4 - 7:30am Rehearsal Start time

Sept 4 - Home Football Game 5pm-10pm

Sept 17 - Evening Rehearsal 6-8pm

Sept 18 - 7:30am Rehearsal Start time

Sept 18 - Home Football Game 5pm-10pm

Sept 19 - CJ Marching Festival

Sept 26 - Mt. Vernon Marching Festival

Oct 1 - Evening Rehearsal 6-8pm

Oct 2 - 7:30am Rehearsal Start time

Oct 2 - Home Football Game 5pm-10pm

Oct 3 - Valhalla Marching Festival

Oct 9 - Homecoming Parade/Game (No school)

Oct 10 - Homecoming Dance (hosted by band)

Oct 17 - Maple Leaf Festival & Morning Rehearsal

Oct 20 - Parent Showcase Send-Off Performance 6pm

Oct 23-24 - BOA Super Regional (St. Louis)

TBA - Awards Banquet

TBA - Neosho Holiday Parade 

TBA - Goodman Holiday Parade

Schedule Notes:

When we start camps in July all events will take place at the high school campus unless otherwise specified.   There will be an additional morning performance for one of the staff work days before school starts (Aug 13-15 or 18) .  This is usually a short event that happens outside the PAC, and then a short performance by the band inside to kick off a meeting.  We might not know the official day until summer which will be shared through all our communication methods.  When school starts we have early morning rehearsal EVERY morning beginning at 7am unless otherwise noted.  We also will have two holiday parades that we are expected to participate in (usually the first two Saturday evenings of December).  Any home playoff games the team is in we are expected to participate in which would be any Fridays after the regular season up until state.

Mission 

The mission of the Neosho Wildcat Band is to inspire, educate, and empower students through music, excellence, and the pageantry arts.  We are committed to fostering a community of musicians and performers who exemplify discipline, creativity, and teamwork.  Through rigorous training, diverse musical experiences, and a shared passion for performance, we strive to build not only exceptional musicians and performers, but also confident, respectful individuals.

Attendance Policy 

Students are expected to be at all performances and rehearsals.  Students should be ready with all equipment in their location at the time the event begins.  School conflicts will be excused with proper notification (minimum of 2 weeks advanced documented notice).  Scheduled events should take precedence over extra volunteer time.  Some non-school conflicts may be excused with further advanced notice (2 months) at the discretion of the director.  Illness or emergencies should have communication relayed by parent or guardian.

Parent Check-Out Policy 

Students are expected to ride the bus to and from all events.  Parents are able to check out their student with a band director in person, at the conclusion of the event (typically when loading to depart).  Some exceptions can apply with additional paperwork and communication needed before the day of the event.  Safety and responsibility of the students is our prime concern.

Performance Eligibility 

Students are expected to maintain passing grades.  Periodic grade checks will be conducted throughout the school year.  Per Wildcat Standards, if a student is failing any class during a grade check, then that student will need to participate in 2 tutoring sessions for the following week to participate in any activity.  After school if their only activity is band.  One before and one after school if that student is in multiple activities.  This could have ramifications if they fail to learn material to properly perform for the week.  If that student is failing any class at the conclusion of that week, then they need to repeat that process each week until all classes are passing.  If a student fails 2 or more classes for the semester, then the student is ineligible to participate in all activities for the next semester and might be dropped from band at the discretion of the director.

Drill Spots  

Drill (the pictures created on the field, as well as the roadmap created for each individual) take a great deal of planning and preparation in the design and staging.  Demand, accountability, and safety is paramount to the success of our program.  The directors will decide the instrumentation and number of performer spots for each section.  Some students may double a spot due to demand, their accountability, and safety.  This sometimes takes the stress off less experienced students, and allows them to learn and execute certain skills.  However, oftentimes students are able to learn the spot.  If that is the case, then we still have performance opportunities for each student doubling as a varsity, versus non varsity scenario.  At games, all students perform, but the varsity member may be moving on the field, and the non-varsity member would be performing along the sideline.  At contests, a student may perform prelims, and the other may perform during finals.  Those decisions will be made by directors weekly based on how the students are doing.

Professionalism  

Success in the program comes through maintaining professionalism both in and out of the program.  Personal responsibility of student actions with behaviors in other classes, the community, and even social media should reflect the ideals of the program.  During performance season students will maintain grooming of hair and not have any bright non-traditional colors to stand out as individuals.  Students will treat each other, staff, volunteers, peers from other programs, and all equipment with respect.

Field Crew / Color Guard  

Two non-instrumental roles in the marching band are both our field crew and our color guard.  Our field crew are students who assist in field prep moving props and equipment, as well as assisting boosters with band needs.  The color guard is a performance ensemble that combines dance, choreography, and equipment work with flags, rifles, or sabres to visually interpret the music of a marching band.  They are part of the dynamic storytelling of the show.

Final Forms

ALL high school band students need to get registered for FinalForms.  This is our district's system to manage online forms, physicals, and paperwork paperwork for activities and athletics participation.  Register at: https://neoshosd-mo.finalforms.com

Follow the prompts to create your account, add your student(s), and complete all required forms.

Be sure to select “Band” as one of your student’s activities.

Remember that ALL pre-participation forms and pre-participation physicals need to be completed and turned in by the beginning of band camp.

Financial Responsibilities

There are some financial considerations in regards to band.  Each contest the band will be fed at least one meal, we have both a formal competition top as well as an alternate performance top, we have nights of hotel stays, and some students need additional items like shoes, socks, gloves, water bottles, reeds, color guard equipment, school-owned instruments etc.  The band provides a number of additional expenses like contest fees, cleaning costs, props, show design, instrument repair costs, additional staff instructors, and more.  Payments can be made, but should follow this schedule.

Band Fee $185 – ($70 due by March 26^th for the student’s performance top)

$25 due May 1

$25 due Aug 1

$25 due Sept 1

$25 due Oct 1

$25 (AND all remaining fees) due Nov 1

Participation in band should not be limited for financial reasons.  Fundraising opportunities will exist throughout the school year to pay and build a student account.  If you have any concerns please discuss with us privately to discuss other options.

Band Directors 

Mr. Duffield, Director of Instrumental Music  

Mr. Brown, Associate Director of Bands / Jazz / Woodwinds

Ms. Gorman, Assistant Director / Junior High / Woodwinds

Mr. Robertson, Assistant Director / Middle School / Brass