HHS Band Weekly Newsletter december 16-22, 2024

This week has been very challenging for us as we've mourned the unexpected passing of the Huntsville Junior High School Band Director, Dr. Stan Torain.  When Dr. Torain joined us a few years ago, he faced the daunting task of revitalizing a band that had experienced instability with three directors in less than a year. His belief in the students, coupled with his patience and infectious personality, transformed the HJHS band into something truly special. His passion and love for his students will be deeply missed.

Dr. Torain was also passionate about worship, serving as a worship leader at multiple churches. His incredible energy and talent as a musician were evident in everything he did. I encourage you to visit his Facebook or Instagram pages to see his inspiring vocal performances. We had even discussed having him sing with one of our groups this year.  He had recently received his doctorate in theology in Biblical studies.

I got to know him and his family over the past few years.  Among our busy schedules, we always made time to go grab lunch on many occasions.  We often shared stories about our families, especially our kids. My son and his twin boys were only eight months apart. Please keep Dr. Torain's wife, who is also the principal of Lee High School, and their six-year-old twins, Aidan and Allen, in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. You can find his obituary and information about services at this link: Obituary | Dr. Stanley Allen Torain, II | Royal Funeral Home, Inc.  The Huntsville High Band is planning to send a flower arrangement.
​
Stuart Tankesley

​Weekly Schedule

Monday:   Off
Tuesday:  Off
Wednesday: Off
Thursday:   Off
Friday:  Off

**You are not required to attend your winter band exam period during exam week unless you have not completed your band audition.  We encourage you to stay home and use this time to study for your other exams.  Your band final grade is a combination of your winter concert and your audition. Please note that if you are on campus during your assigned band exam time, you are still required to be in the band room for the full length of the exam time - you can't roam around campus or be in the hallway.   This is school policy. **

Help the Color Guard!
Our color guard is on a mission to raise money to purchase a new custom floor mat and custom flags for their 2025 winter guard show "Life in a Lava Lamp."  They are selling a variety of delicious popcorn and cookies (preorder) through January 10th.  Find a color guard member or check their social media pages to purchase these items!


All State / District Honor Band Auditions Registration 
The following students have told me they are auditioning for district honor band and/or all state band. I need to know by Monday at noon if there are any changes and all payments must be made!!  The easiest way to pay is to the Huntsville High Band Parents Association Venmo, but you can also turn in money to the band box or use credits by emailing Mrs. Tapia.

If you are auditioning you must be able to go to the audition on Friday, January 31st (all instruments except high clarinets and flutes) or Saturday, February 1st (flutes and clarinets).  All auditions are here at Huntsville High.  

If you are auditioning for District honor band, you must be able to attend district honor band IN FULL (every rehearsal and the concert) February 21-22 at Grissom.
If you are auditioning for All State, you must be able to attend all state band IN FULL (every rehearsal and the concert) April 10-12 at the conference center in Mobile, Alabama.

Abriel Acray(paid)
John Arriaga (paid)
Lila Boyd (paid)
Joey Calavita (paid)
Emma Coburn
Jasmine Courtier (contra) (paid)
Madison Ennix (paid)
Savannah Flores 
Roxie Foster (paid)
Qloe Foster (paid)
Gray Gaba (bari sax) (paid)
Jayne Hansberger (paid)
Josh Hutcherson (paid)
Tucker Lambert
Cole Long (paid)
Calen Miller 
Aidan McDavid (paid)
Layla Mumper (paid)
Shelby OLinger (paid)
Anna Osborne (paid)
Carsten Pass (paid)
Sarah Schultz
Charlier Schuyler (paid)
Oliver Sieja (paid)
Tori Smith (paid)
Mackenzie Webster
Tulli Williams (paid)
Makayla Wood (paid)

Summer Schedule and April/May adjustments
We are making some adjustments to our April/May schedule that will hopefully be beneficial to our families and program.  The most impactful change is we are eliminating Rookie Camp after Memorial Day and replacing it with "Spring Training" sessions held in April and May after school.  We will have all of the percussion and winds in marching band attend a couple of these sessions.  This will allow us to plan better for the Fall while giving leadership team students and upcoming 9th grade students an extra week of off time in the summer.  

There are a few other additional changes that will mostly impact in class activities or leadership selection.  You can view the whole schedule and a more detailed explanation here.   We are updating our CutTime calendar to reflect these changes.  

Summer Schedule 2025June 30 - July 2 Leadership Camp (Leadership team only - mornings and afternoons)
July 9-11 Marching Percussion Camp (required for all marching band percussion)
July 14-18 Band Camp Week 1 - All Day (required for all marching band students)
July 21-25 Band Camp Week 2 - All day (required for all marching band students)
Friday, July 25th  Optional DCI Trip to MTSU (afternoon and evening)
Tuesday, July 29 Rehearsal  6-9 pm (required for all marching band students)
Thursday, July 31 Rehearsal 6-9 pm (required for all marching band students)
Monday, August 4th First Day of School

Winter Guard 

The schedule can be viewed here.  
Color Guard Auditions for next year have been set for April 21- April 25 from 4-6 in the Freshman Cafeteria. Color Guard Camp has been set for Tuesday, May 27 - Friday, May 30 (morning and afternoon).

After some requests from families and a need to provide more guard equipment, we are going to do a color guard specific fundraiser where 100% of the profit will go towards our winter guard needs.   This will be an item fundraiser consisting of a variety of flavors of popcorn (gallon size) and cookies.  We will kick off later in December and it will run over the holiday to January 10th.   We will give information in class on December 10th.  All of this money will be used exclusively to benefit our color guard.  

St. Louis Trip Update! Thursday May 1 - Saturday, May 3.

Cardinals update:  We received an email from them before Thanksgiving:

"We have not started our outreach for the 2025 season just yet.  We have had some internal restructuring that has caused some delays.  We hope to have all of our information out to you to complete by the end of the month."

So sorry for the delay - we are working as fast as the Cardinals let us!

To sign up and make a deposit, please click on this link to make an account - https://urtoursandevents.wetravel.com/trips/huntsville-high-school-band-trip-ur-tours-and-events-84984574  All payments for the trip will be made through this portal, directly to our travel company, UR Tours. There is also an option to mail a check directly to them.

UR Tours offers OPTIONAL "cancel for any reason" travel insurance through a 3rd party provider.  Information on travel insurance can be found in the portal or by going to this link: https://www.travelinsured.com/group.signup?group=158894&guid=06909dd1c24a4008bc2d21d72663716e

Payment Schedule
$150.00 PER PERSON ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 31ST TO CONFIRM TRIP DETAILS
$200.00 PER PERSON ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 15, 2024
$250.00 PER PERSON ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 3, 2025
BALANCE DUE ON OR BEFORE MARCH 14, 2025

Upcoming Dates
January 2-3  - Winter Guard Camp at HJHS
January 25 - Winter Guard Competition at Mortimer Jordan HS 
January 31-February 1   All State/District Honor Band Auditions at Huntsville HS - Optional
February 13-15   Winter Camp!! (Required for all Symphonic band and wind ensemble students)
February 15 - Winter Guard Competition at Bob Jones HS
February 22 - Mattress Sale!

Questions/Concerns?  Please contact the following:
Grades, missing rehearsals/absences, conflicts, instruments, general band questions - [email protected] or [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.

• Band Student Account Balances, band fees
• Business or Individual Sponsorships
• Fundraising Questions 
• Volunteering/Chaperones 
• Cut Time, Band App, or Social Media Questions 
• Senior Night 
• Uniforms (except color guard uniforms)  
• Color Guard including uniforms (except for absences, conflicts, or grades) 
• Percussion 
• General Band Boosters Questions 

Thank you to our sponsor: The Biscuit Express