HHS BAND WEEKLY NEWLETTER APRIL 20-26, 2026

4/19/2026

Things We Like

A huge congratulations to four of our incredible students—Aidan McDavid, Cole Long, Jake Smith, and Shelby O'Linger—who traveled to Mobile this weekend for the Alabama All-State Honor Band festival. Joined by Mr. Tankesley, they performed alongside the state's top musicians in a series of impressive showcase concerts.

We are so proud of the many band students who performed behind the scenes and on the stage in Hadestown. Congratulations on a spectacular show!

Help Wanted: HHS Band Video Coordinator for 2026–27

We’re looking ahead to the 2026–27 school year and have an important HHS Band Parents Board position we need to fill — Video Coordinator.

This role is responsible for capturing and sharing the story of our band throughout the year by filming band events that are meaningful and fun for our students, including:

Marching band competitions
Halftime performances, stand tunes, and rehearsals
Concerts and special events

The Video Coordinator helps record, create, and upload videos to our HHS Band YouTube channel, preserving memories for our students and families while showcasing our program to the community.

This is a great opportunity to get involved, be creative, and document everything our students work so hard to achieve. If you already have video equipment and love capturing moments, we’d love to have you — or think of this as a great excuse to finally get the camera you’ve always wanted. No professional experience required, just a willingness to help and learn.

If you’re interested or have any questions, please reach out to
[email protected]

Schedule Of The Week

Monday: Color Guard recruiting at HCMS. Symphonic Band 4-5:30. Color Guard Auditions 4:30-7
Tuesday: Color Guard Auditions 4:30-7
Wednesday: Color Guard Auditions 4:30-7
Thursday:   Band Spring Concert! Color Guard Auditions 4:30-7
Friday:   No School - Weather Day. Prom.

Spring Concert - Thursday!
Our Spring Concert is this Thursday at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium. As always, it is free and open to the public.

5:00 - 6:20 pm - Concert Band Pictures in the Auditorium Lobby. We are looking for people to come early and do this. If everyone shows up at 6:15 to take a photo then the concert will not start on time!!
6:30 pm - Warm up (Concert Band on Stage, Symphonic Band in the Band room, Wind Ensemble in choir room)
7:00 pm - CONCERT!

Attire for students is our formal concert uniform (Tux/dress)

Graduation!!!
Huntsville High School's graduation is Friday, May 22nd at 5:30 pm in the VBC Arena.  All band students (excluding seniors and color guard) are required to perform. We will also take a limited number of percussion students. This is the day after the last day of school. We will take school buses to the event.

Percussion Ensemble/Chamber Music Concert

Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium
Dress rehearsal for anyone involved in this concert - Monday, April 27th - 4:00-6:00 pm

2026-27 Information

Student Leadership Team 26-27- Students interested in being our leadership team for next year can apply using this form (due April 30th)

2026-27 Football and Tentative Marching Competition Schedule
August 14 - vs. Florence (Milton Frank)
August 21 - vs. Jasper (Milton Frank)
August 27 vs. Mae Jemison (Thursday) (Milton Frank)
September 4 vs. Grissom (Milton Frank)
September 11 at Buckhorn (school buses)
September 18 vs. Sparkman (Homecoming)
September 25 Open
September 26 - Rocket City Invitational Marching Competition
October 2 at Hazel Green (school buses) (Required game right before Fall break)
October 9 vs Gadsden City - Senior Night (REQUIRED FALL BREAK GAME).
October 16 at Bob Jones (Madison City Stadium - school buses)
October 17 - Possible competition
October 23 at James Clemens  (Madison City Stadium - school buses)
October 24 - Possible competition
October 30 at Muscle Shoals (school buses)
October 31 - Possible Competition

Mrs. Flippo wants the band at all of the games including the game before and during Fall break. This is a change from past years as the game during Fall Break has been optional. We plan to do the halftime show at the Fall break game.  We will excuse anyone from this game who has already spent money on a 2026 Fall break trip and let us know prior to April 1st.

Rome New Year's Parade 2028
We are going to Rome for the 2028 New Year's Day Parade! The approximate dates for the trip are December 27, 2027-January 3, 2028.

You can view the presentation from March 23rd, sample itineraries and other information in this google drive.

A survey will be sent out in late May to get an idea of commitment for this trip.

New Event - Trash Pandas Night
Huntsville High School is partnering with the Trash Pandas to have Huntsville High School night on Thursday, April 30th. The band is planning to perform. There is no cost to our students to attend the game and all students will receive a t-shirt. They will also have free time to enjoy the game and grab dinner. Concert only students and 8th grade future band members are invited to join us including performing and riding the bus.

Tentative Schedule
4:00-5:00 pm Spring Training music rehearsal (pep tunes with 8th graders)
5:15 pm Load School buses and depart for Trash Panda game. 8th graders are invited to join us for this game.
5:45 pm - Arrive, unload and play as people enter
6:30 pm - Games Starts
9:00-9:30 pm - End of Game
10:00 pm - Back at School

We will wear the free t-shirt provided. You will need money for dinner at the game.

Marching Band Uniform Return - LATE!!!!
Marching Band Uniforms were due on Friday, April 10th - if you have not returned them, do this ASAP after they are dry-cleaned.

Color Guard
Color Guard Auditions for 26-27 are this week from 4:30-7 pm in the Freshman Cafeteria (Monday - Thursday). There is a $25 audition fee.

Color Guard marching band uniform return should follow the instruction of Mrs. Morales.
Summer Dates and Band Camp 2026
May 26-29 (Tues - Friday) Color Guard Camp (Color Guard Only)
June 29 - July 1 Leadership Camp (leadership team only)
July 13-14 (Mon-Tues) 9th grade marching band students, leadership team, all percussion, all color guard.
Wednesday, July 15 - Monday, August 3 Band Camp - All Marching Band Students (excluding weekends)
**Friday, July 24th Optional DCI Trip to Nashville (afternoon and evening)
Tuesday, August 4th - Parent Preview Performance (evening)

Wednesday, August 5th First Day of School (pending school board approval - this is not official yet).

Upcoming Dates
April 28 - Percussion / Chamber Concert
April 30 - Spring Training Music (all winds and percussion students!) and TRASH PANDA NIGHT
Mon, May 11 - Spring Training for 8th graders and leadership. Marching PERCUSSION PLACEMENTS!
Tues, May 12 - Marching Percussion Placements
Wed, May 13- Spring Training for 8th graders and leadership.
Thu, May 14 - Band Banquet at Roundhouse 6:00pm
Mon, May 18 - Spring Training for 8th graders and leadership
Tues, May 19 - Spring Training for 8th graders and leadership. 8th grade parent meeting 7:00 pm.
May 22 - Graduation

The 25-26 Band Schedule can be found here and on the Cut Time calendar.

Questions/Concerns? Please contact the following:
Grades, missing rehearsals/absences, conflicts, instruments, general band questions - [email protected] or [email protected]
For color guard, contact Annabelle Morales at [email protected]
If you have any of the following issues, please direct your questions to [email protected]. They’ll be able to guide you to the appropriate point of contact.