HHS Band Weekly newsletter december 5-9, 2022

Things We Like

We love when our students participate in community wide events. Super low-brass got together at Tuba Christmas, including HHS and HCMS students. Merry Christmas!

Weekly Schedule 
Monday - Symphonic Band Rehearsal 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Tuesday - Winter Concert!!  7:00 pm Auditorium SILENT AUCTION!  FUNDRAISER! 
Wednesday - Off (Auditions During Class)
Thursday -  Wind Ensemble 4:00 - 5:30 (Auditions during class).  
Friday  -  Off (Auditions during class).  MARCHING BAND GROUP PHOTO DURING PANTHER HOUR.  BRING UNIFORM  TO SCHOOL! 7pm - HCMS Concert at HHS! 

Christmas Concert 

Tuesday, December 6th 7:00 pm
Huntsville High Auditorium
Free Admission

Schedule
6:15 pm Call time
6:30 pm Symphonic band on stage, wind ensemble in band room.
7:00 pm Concert Begins - Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Wind Ensemble
~8:30 pm - Concert should conclude.

Dress
Tuxedo/Concert Dresses with holiday accessories.

Other information
We will have old band marching uniforms available at the concert for a $10 donation.  
Seniors will be able to get one as a gift from the HHS Band, but this is your only chance to get it.

If you would like your specific uniform, please email Kelly Parrish in advance of the concert at [email protected].  Otherwise, you will be given a uniform at random. 

Any uniforms not purchased will be properly removed over Christmas Break.  

MARCHING BAND GROUP PHOTO

The best option for our marching band group photo is during panther hour on Friday between 11:30 - 12:00 pm.  You may need to skip a club to do this.  You need to bring your uniform to school on Friday (no shako).  You will need gloves and correct shoes!!!

Wind Ensemble Upcoming Schedule
As we approach our big performance at AMEA on Friday, January 20th I want to make sure everyone in Wind Ensemble knows the schedule leading up to this event.  There have been a couple of additional rehearsals to our normal Tuesday/Thursday rehearsal schedule.

Thursday, December 8 - special rehearsal with Mr. Denton (during class AND after school from 4-5:30)

During Exam week - We will rehearse during the time scheduled for our regular A3 exam on Friday morning.

Monday, January 16th (MLK Day - no school) 6:00 - 9:00 pm (updated 12/1)  Special rehearsal with Gus Arnold, Huntsville HS Alumnus and saxophone soloist.

Tuesday, January 17th - AMEA Preview Concert with UAB Wind Ensemble.  Huntsville High Auditorium 7:00 pm.

Friday, January 20th - AMEA Performance in Birmingham.  We are planning to depart before lunch and return in the evening.

Band Camp / Summer Schedule 2023

Tuesday, May 30 - Friday, June 2  Rookie Camp (new members only), Marching Percussion Camp, and Guard Camp
July 6-8 - Leadership Camp (leadership team only)
July 12-14 Make up rookie camp (new members only) and Marching Percussion Camp.  
July 17 - 21 Band Camp Week 1 - All Marching Band Students + any concert only students going to London that want to march in the parade.
July 24-28  Band Camp Week 2 - All Marching Band Students
July 31 and August 1 - Rehearsals before school starts.
August 2 - 1st day of school

Student involved with marching band are required to attend these dates in full!  Students who miss because of summer activities may be removed from the halftime show.  We have worked hard over the past few years to improve our summer schedule to give a full break and options for camps and vacations.  Our dead time this coming summer is June 3 - July 5 although some students have much longer than this!​​

All State / District Honor Band Auditions

We are hosting this event!!   All students will be required to serve 1 shift on Friday, January 27th and Saturday, January 28th.  We need 30 students present at any 1 time.  It's a big undertaking and a service to our area.  

If you are AUDITIONING, you must have your own personal copy of the book that the music comes from to audition.  This is a copyright issue.  It will be checked at registration on the day of your audition.  If you need help with this, please see Mr. Tankesley

Senior New York Trip
The next payment of $500 per traveler is due to the travel website by December 12th.

Payment #3 of $500 per traveler is due to the travel website by January 23rd.
Our rooming list is due by January 23rd.  Please be thinking about your room mate for this trip.  
Our flight manifest is due by January 27th to Southwest Airlines.  This will include the official names to the airlines for our flight. We will be collecting this information soon.

The remaining balance is due February 1st.  

London Connection!
Next Payment

Thursday, January 5 (as soon as we return from break) - $400

What do I need to do right now?

 1.  Get your passport now!  It should be valid 6 months past our return date!
 2.  Investigate your best option for overseas phone possibilities.  Each phone company has different options.  You will need to have access to phone communication while you are in London!
  3.  Research and investigate your credit card and financial options.  Each bank and card is different.  Make sure your card won't lock you out when you get to London  

FAQ: 
 Can I still sign up?  
Yes - but you must pay for all missed deposits on your first payment or else you can't be locked into the trip.  At some point, there will be price increases, room assignments done, airline flights arranged, and other logistical things related to the trip completed.  After we do those things, anyone added will just be accommodated the best we can.  Our contract is for 150 people so we must be atleast at this number of travelers.  If you have not signed up, the sooner you can do this the better for us because numbers dictate many things!

When do you have to declare if you are doing land only or full trip?  
I don't have an exact date, but my best estimate is early Fall 2023.


Volunteer
We are in search of some parent assistance for London.  We will need some logistical help collecting copies of passports and developing a detailed manifest (for insurance and accountability) of every piece of equipment that will be shipped.  This is not immediate work, but may begin late Spring or early Fall. 

It is our wish that we have as many or ALL students go on this trip regardless of any financial situation.  There are many schools in this country (and at least 1 in Tennessee and North Alabama) that have gone on similar trips and had the backing of local community businesses, leaders, and individuals to have most or all of the student's trip paid for ALL students.  If this is something you feel passion about, we need you on our London Fundraising Committee who will seek 4, 5, and 6 digit donations from our community.

London Fundraising Committee

Seeking a small group of parents (3-5) for the good of all band students.  This committee's primary responsibility will be to seek out corporate donations to help ensure all band students go on this trip and do what we can to defer cost.

Qualifications for this committee:

• Passion for helping the entire group get to London and those that may need financial assistance going to London.  Money generated will be used both for those in financial need and split among all STUDENTS going on the trip.  
•  Motivated to approach community and business leaders by phone, email, or in person meetings asking for 5 digit or more donations.
• Be motivated to search for financial outlets with business leaders and community leaders in our community/area with persistence and patience
• Most of this can be done on your own time.  However, you may have to work around the schedule of those you contact.  An occasional meeting with directors or booster board may be needed.
• Work will begin ASAP and last 1 year.  
• Previous connections to business or community leaders is a plus, but not required.
• Be a positive representative of the band program and be able to articulate the importance of allowing all students to go on this once in a life time trip.

The scope of this committee is not to determine how these funds will be used - a separate committee exists for that purpose.  The money used from this committee will be given to students in need (through a committee selected to address this confidential issue - there will be a process for anyone interested).  The remaining funds will be split among all students going on the trip.  

London information can be found in our google drive. Click here to access google drive

Upcoming Events
Monday, January 16 - MLK Day (No School).  Special Wind Ensemble rehearsal from 6-9 pm.

Tuesday, January 17 - AMEA Preview Concert (wind ensemble and UAB)

Friday, January 20 - Wind Ensemble AMEA Performance
Friday and Saturday, January 17-28.  All State / District honor band auditions - hosted by us!  Students will be required to serve 1 time slot at this event.  We will also need parent volunteers!
February 2-4 - Winter Camp for ALL Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble!