HHS BAND WEEKLY NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2-8, 2026

2/1/2026

Things We Like

It was great to welcome 8th grade band students from Hampton Cove Middle and Huntsville Junior High to Huntsville High. They spent the morning learning about our band program, hearing performances, meeting students, and experiencing what high school band is all about.

Congratulations to sophomore percussionist Joey Colavita, who performed last weekend with the 2026 Alabama All-State Gold Jazz Band. Joey was chosen as the drum set player for the top band after a highly competitive audition.

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]

Order Optional Spring Shirt by Sunday, February 15, 2026

Shirt Order form link: https://forms.gle/upSG7W4NQujEm23k6

Schedule Of The Week

Monday: Symphonic Band 4-5:30. JV Winter Guard 4-6. Varsity Winter Guard 6-8:30 pm.
Tuesday: Wind Ensemble 4-5:30.
Wednesday: JV Winter Guard 4-6. Varsity Winter Guard 6-8:30 pm
Thursday: Wind Ensemble 4-5:30 pm
Friday: Off
Saturday: Winter Guard Competition - Hoover HS.

All State and District Honor Band Wrap Up
Thank you!!!!!! We had so many helpful adult and student volunteers. You made a huge difference for the hundreds of students who came through and auditioned this weekend. Thank you for volunteering your time to be a part of this event!

For those who auditioned, we are proud of you for putting yourself out there and going for it. You are better because you went through the process.

The results should be posted soon at this website.
https://alaband.org/district-pages/district-1/

Music Performance Assessment (MPA)
Based on the feedback we have received regarding conflicts, we have requested to perform at MPA on Wednesday, February 25th at James Clemens High School. This will be a full day event that may go into the evening. All students (excluding color guard) are required to play as this is the most important concert performance of the year for us.

Spring Trip
Disney has informed us that they have put us in the Epcot parade. This may change our itinerary and parks. We should have more information in the next week... So sorry for the last minute itinerary change, but this is beyond our control.

Our hotel is Drury Inn  (7301 West Sand Lake Road).

Students who do not have parents on the trip, must follow the following procedures and deadlines regarding medication:
Orlando Trip - Nurse parent letter
School Medication Prescriber/ Parent Authorization Form

We have officially been approved for the Orlando trip departing Wednesday evening March 11th and returning Monday morning, March 16th. Full information on this trip is found in Cut Time in an announcement/email message from August 19th.

Make sure you are making your scheduled payment directly to the travel company using the link below. If you miss 2 payments in a row, it is the policy of the travel company to remove your name from the trip. If you are waiting to pay due to fundraising credits, please make sure you let us know [email protected]

HUNTSVILLE HS BAND in Orlando, FL, USA

Winter Camp
Our annual concert band camp will take place Thursday evening, February 12th; all day on Friday, February 13th; and Saturday morning, February 14th. It will conclude with a "work in progress" concert at noon on Saturday that we invite parents to come to! Detailed information will be sent out as we get closer.

It is a required event for all band students (excluding color guard).

Camp Schedule:

Thursday, February 12
4:00 - 6:00 pm - Large Ensemble Rehearsal 1 (Dr. Nguyen with Wind Ensemble on Stage, Dr. Aarhus with Symphonic Band in Band Room, Mr. Dailey with Concert Band in Choir Room)
6:00-7:00 pm Dinner provided
7:00-9:00 pm Large Ensemble Rehearsal 2 (same locations)

Friday, February 13 (1/2 day of school)
8:45 am - 12:00 pm Large Ensemble Rehearsal 3 - Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band ONLY. Concert band goes to class. (same locations)
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Lunch (you can bring your own lunch or get a sack lunch from school)
1:00 pm - 3:30 pm Large Ensemble Rehearsal 4 (all ensembles - same locations)
4:00 - 6:00 pm Masterclass 1 from instrumental faculty from UNA.

Saturday, February 14th
8:30 am - 10:00 am Masterclass 2 from instrumental faculty from UNA
10:15 am - 12:00 Large Ensemble rehearsal 5 (Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble swap locations). We will have a few students taking the ACT this morning and may miss this rehearsal, but should make it back for the concert.
12:15 pm - "Work in progress" concert (typically conducted by our clinicians)
1:30 pm - Head home.

Our guest clinicians this year are:
Dr. Albert Nyugen, Director of Bands University of Memphis
Dr. Craig Aarhus, Assistant Director of Bands, Mississippi State University
Mr. Patrick Dailey, Director of Bands at Arab High School
The University of North Alabama Instrumental Music Faculty.

Class Registration 26-27
All band students should register for 2 band classes for the upcoming year, regardless if they are concert only, color guard, or marching band.

Please ignore the title of the class as they have little meaning.(Concert only students should still register for marching band class even though they are not in marching band). It helps our counselors out.

Upcoming 9th grade: Marching Band 1 and Concert Band 1
Upcoming 10th Grade: Marching Band 2 and Concert Band 2
Upcoming 11th Grade: Marching Band 3 and Concert Band 3
Upcoming 12th Grade: Marching Band 4 and Concert Band 4

Winter Guard
Please look at the winter guard schedule here.

Hoover Competition Schedule and Information
6:45 am Arrive at School
7 am Load Buses
Depart for Hoover on school bus.
9:15 am Arrive/unload/check in
10:51 am - JV Winter Guard Warm up
11:12 am - JV Guard PERFORMANCE!!!
2:25 pm - JV Guard Awards
3:55 pm - Varsity Guard Warm up!
4:19 pm - Varsity Guard PERFORMANCE!!
5:25 pm - Varsity Awards
6:15 pm - Depart Hoover HS after awards
8:30 pm - Back at School!

Girls must bring uniforms, all accessories, and makeup. Makeup will be done on bus if needed. Leggings and blue color guard jacket are required to change into after performing. We will load the tarp, props, and flag bags on buses.
Bring money for meals at the concessions!
Parents can stay up to date on return time and other info on the Color Guard Band app.
Admission Prices: $15 per ticket (no charge for children ages 5 and under). Online purchase only through GOFAN.CO (link will be available closer to the event)
Food trucks will be located outside in the parking lot. Concessions will also be available as indicated with signage at event.

Competition Schedule
January 31 - Mortimer Jordan HS (Bham area)
Feb 7 - Hoover HS
February 21 - Bob Jones HS
March 7 - Columbia Central - Columbia, Tennessee
March 28 and 29 - Western Kentucky University. Bowling Green Kentucky.

Summer Dates and Band Camp 2026
May 26-29 (Tues - Friday) Color Guard Camp (Color Guard Only)
June 30 - July 2 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).

Spring Training / Audition Dates for Spring 2026
Wednesday, January 28th - 8th grade band student day at Huntsville High (all 8th grade band students from HJHS and HCMS will come over during the morning.
Tuesday, February 17 6:00 pm - Parent and Student Informational Meeting for 8th grade students/parents
April 7-9 - Concert Band Auditions for 26-27 during class (8th grade after school).
Monday, April 20 - April 24 Color Guard Auditions
THURSDAY, April 30 Spring Training - 4:00- 6:00 pm. Music! (all winds and percussion)
Monday, May 11th Spring Training 4:00-7:00 pm. Marching Fundamentals (leadership and 8th graders) and Percussion Placements (all marching percussion)
Tuesday, May 12th Percussion Placements 4-7 (all marching percussion)
Wednesday, May 13 Spring Training 4:00-7:00 pm Marching Fundamental (leadership and 8th graders)
Monday, May 18th Spring Training 4:00-7:00 pm. Marching Fundamentals (leadership and 8th graders

College Corner
Universities often offer marching band days, instrument days, and honor bands as a way to give high school students additional opportunities and recruit for their university. If you are interested in doing one of these events, they are generally marked as an administrative absence or field trip (excused by the school). I would be happy to do a form or recommendation to get anyone involved if you are interested. I will attempt to post SOME of the events offered in our state and area, but there are many so not everything will get posted on here! It's a great chance to meet new people, experience college music, and see a university you may be interested in attending in the future. The vast majority of events are open to all high school students (grades 9-12).

University of Alabama Honor Band Feb 5-7 High School Honor Band – The University of Alabama Bands
Auburn University Honor Band Feb 27-March 1 Auburn University High School Symphonic Honor Band
UNA Honor Band: April 24-26.... UNA Invitational Honor Band
Mississippi State Honor Band Jan 29-31

Upcoming Dates
February 12-14 Winter Camp (all band students required excluding color guard)
Feb 20-21 District Honor Band at Lee HS (for those that make it)
Feb 21 - Winter Guard Competition at Bob Jones
Feb 25 - Music Performance Assessment (MPA) for Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble.

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.