Dear Grand Ledge High School Band Parents and Students,

I am writing to you tonight to announce that I will not be returning next year as the Grand Ledge High School Band Director, and that I recently accepted the head director position at Winter Park High School, outside of Orlando, Florida.

I will tell you that this decision was filled with many mixed emotions, and I will miss you all greatly!

I do want to assure  everyone that the district will work very hard and very quickly to find my replacement, and that I will assist them in any way possible to make this a smooth transition.

I would like to thank everyone for making these past five years some of the most rewarding years of my teaching career, and I know that the Grand Ledge Bands will continue to do great things on into the future!

Thank you, and all the best.

Chris Blackmer

An update on the 2014 Florida tour. 

First, the tour is still on! To save on costs, we will be taking motor coaches rather than flying, but the itinerary has remained pretty much intact.

The new cost per person will be $1248.00, with the following payment schedule:

August 20 - $150.00
September 15 - $365.00
November 15 - $365.00
January 15 - balance

If you have already made a payment(s), that money will just be moved over to this "new" tour, and nothing else is needed until September.

Here is a brief overview of the new itinerary (some details are subject to modification). You can also download a PDF version which in

Friday, April 4, 2014
7:30 a.m. - depart from Grand Ledge High School

Saturday, April 5
7:30 a.m. - arrival in Orlando
9:00 a.m. - Disney park(s) of your choice
9:00 p.m. - check-in to hotel

Sunday, April 6
7:00 a.m. - breakfast at the hotel
9:00 a.m. - "You're Instrumental" band clinic/workshop at EPCOT Center
11:00 a.m. - Disney park(s) of your choice
9:00 p.m. - rreturn to hotel for free time/swim time

Monday, April 7
8:00 a.m. - breakfast at the hotel
9:00 a.m. - Disney park(s) of your choice
TBD - Band concert performance at one of the Disney park venues
9:00 p.m. - return to hotel for free time/swim time

Tuesday, April 8
7:00 a.m. - breakfast at the hotel
9:00 a.m. - Kennedy Space Center w/tours
1:30 p.m. - Melbourne Beach with beachside BBQ dinner
8:00 p.m. - return to hotel for free time/swim time

Wednesday, April 9
8:00 a.m. - breakfast at the hotel
9:30 a.m. - time in Downtown Disney
10:30 a.m. - depart for Stuart, Florida
2:00 p.m. - rehearsal at Martin County High School
5:00 p.m. - dinner at local restaurant 
7:30 p.m. - Concert with Martin County High School (Simon Holoweiko, director)
9:30 p.m. - return to hotel

Thursday, April 10
8:00 a.m. - breakfast at the hotel
9:00 a.m. - Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios
9:00 p.m. - depart for home

Friday, April 11
9:00 p.m. - Arrive at Grand Ledge High School