Welcome to Music
We're gearing up for another year of great music and performances at Amador! Our state- and nationally-recognized ensembles include concert bands, string orchestras, jazz bands, choirs, winter guard and percussion groups and approximately 300 member marching band and color guard. Some groups practice during the school day as scheduled classes while others such as marching band require attendance after school on weeknights and weekends.
We look forward to sharing the fruits of our hard work as you support your students at concerts, practices and competitions.
We also need your financial and volunteer support. The success of the music program depends upon an ongoing partnership between the directors and Amador Friends of Music (AFM), a nonprofit organization of families and friends dedicated to supporting our music program.
In a typical year, your donations to AFM are needed to fund over two dozen additional staff members and music coaches who assist the directors, music, instruments repairs and replacement instruments, classroom supplies, out-of-town competitions, and more. Some years we have additional expenses when ensembles are invited to perform out-of-state, including at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and the Fiesta Bowl Parade in Arizona.
Each year we calculate costs for each ensemble, divide by students participating, and determine a suggested tax-deductible donation. Precise amounts for these "asks" are determined in the spring, when budgets are finalized. To help with budgeting and meeting expenses, a portion of the amount is requested in the Spring before the school year starts and the remaining amount is requested during the school year, starting at Fall registration.
As a public school, all students may participate in the music program, regardless of financial contribution. This model only works if most of our families donate.
Parent volunteers also help to plan, budget, raise funds, and staff events such as the Campana Jazz Festival, CMEA festival and the BandCake Breakfast (our annual fundraiser). Throughout the year, we need ushers for concerts, chaperones for competitions, cooks to prepare and serve food, builders to create and move props... and leaders to help organize our efforts!
To keep our community strong, please do your part to support your student's participation. We ask three things of each family:
STAY INFORMED
Read director emails & AFM newsletters
Mark your calendars!
Sign up for Remind text updates
DONATE
Your giving funds ~90% of our operations
Support our fundraisers
Ask about employer matching
VOLUNTEER
Fill out PUSD clearance form
Express intrested during registration
Opportunities listed in AFM newsletter
You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram and learn more by attending AFM meetings. AFM is an amazing, inclusive community with a legacy of generous support. We look forward to welcoming you!
Got questions or ideas? Please get in touch!
Jonathan Grantham
DIRECTOR OF BANDS
Matt Fell
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BANDS
Shelley Durbin
DIRECTOR OF CHOIRS & ORCHESTRAS
Soojin Hwang
PRESIDENT, AMADOR FRIENDS OF MUSIC