HHS BAND WEEKLY NEWSLETTER oCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2025

Things We Like

Plenty of smiles, good friends, and a big win at the HHS vs. BJHS game. There’s one more game and show left. Let’s keep the fun going! More HHS vs BJHS photos here.

​Poinsettia Fundraiser

Poinsettia Sale – Red, White, or Pink
Add holiday cheer to your home or office!
Sizes & Prices: 6” – $12 | 8” – $20 | 10” – $25
Orders due: Oct. 31
Delivery: Week before Thanksgiving through 2nd week of December
Payment: Venmo @HuntsvilleHS-BandParentAssoc

Spread the word to help support the band!
Share on Facebook | Share on Instagram
Print Order Form

Thank you for supporting the HHS Band!

​VBS Wristbanding

With the Havoc season underway, now is a great time to sign up for VBC training and wristband sales. If you’re interested or have any questions, please contact Brenda Tapia.
To register for VBC training, sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EADAB2AA2FCC70-59897221-rvptraining/28034669#

---

Schedule of the Week

Monday:  Off
Tuesday: Fall Concert!! Call Time 6:15pm, Concert Time 7:00pm
Wednesday:  Off
Thursday: Last football game vs. Lee (Milton Frank - visiting side)
Friday:  Half Day.  Off.  Happy Halloween!


Football Game vs. Lee (visitors) - Thursday, October 30th at Milton Frank Stadium
​
Gameday Information
Schedule
5:30 pm - Unload trucks - South side of stadium (where we were for Grissom)
6:00 pm - Warm ups outside stadium
6:30 pm - Move inside stadium 
7:00 pm - Game Starts.    
~9:30 pm - Approximate end of game.  Pack and load Trucks!  Instruments (and cases) either go home with you or back on the truck/trailer.  

Transportation
All students meet at Milton Frank.  We do not provide transportation for games at Joe Davis or Milton Frank. 

Uniform
Full Band Uniform.
Hair should be pulled back off of your face.  No jewelry.

Things you need
Instrument or equipment (larger instruments loaded on trailer and brough to stadium - you are responsible for making sure YOUR instrument/equipment gets loaded or placed in the proper location to get loaded)
Flip Folder (winds)
Water jug
All accessories (sticks, guard poms, mouthpieces, reeds, etc)

Things everyone should know

• Only band students and approved chaperones should be in the band section.  Students are not allowed to leave band section without permission.  
• No food or drinks (other than water) permitted in the stands.  It is recommended students eat food before arriving.  Students are not allowed to go to the concession stand during the game.
• All students stay the whole game unless they have received permission in advance to leave early.
• Instruments should always be in a student's hands in the stands (to avoid any accidents/damage that could occur).  Students who are using the restroom can leave their instrument at the front of the band in a safe location.
• Students are expected to have good sportsmanship and use appropriate language while in the stands.  
• We hope all of our students and parents will not only support us, but all the other bands we see this season

Spring Trip - Important Update 10/26

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.

This week we have enough travelers to add a third bus.  Thank you for those who have agreed to add to our trip!!!  If you are on the wait list, you should have received an invitation and should make a payment.

There are some families who are behind in payments.  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

Colorguard Information!

Football season is wrapping up and we are beginning to set up for our winter guard season.  
Color Guard will have a required practice/winter guard placements November 5, 6 and 7 from 4-6 pm with our color guard staff.

Fall Concert - October 28th

Our Fall Concert is coming up Tuesday at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium.  All 3 ensembles (Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble) will perform.  Call time for students is 6:15 pm and dress for students is formal concert dress (your band tux or band concert dress).  All students are required to both perform and stay the full length of the concert to listen to the other ensembles perform as well!

The concert is free and open to the public

Clarinets and Saxophone - Reed Day on Wednesday, November 5th

Dr. Melissa Koprowski is a VanDoren performing artist who lives here in town.  Although from Alabama, she has taught all over the US including being a clarinet professor at the University of Wisconsin.  She "retired" to be a full time mom to her 6 kids.    Every few years, she comes and does a special reed presentation during class to our clarinets and saxophones that's really helpful to them.  She will have free reeds for them to try and give away as part of the presentation. Unfortunately, she is only available during our B day 1st period band class, but if there is a concert only student who wants to join us, please see Mr. Tankesley and we can ask your teacher for permission to come.  

Courtyard by Marriott Performance - November 13th

Courtyard by Marriott on University Dr is doing a grand re-opening on Thursday, November 13th after school from 4-6.  Our leadership team will be performing.  Any other marching band students that want to join us are welcome!    Courtyard by Marriott is giving us a donation and allowing us some free hotel rooms for our clinicians.

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).  

• UAH Rocket City Reed Day:  Saturday, November 8th (oboes, clarinet, bass clarinets, saxophone, bassoon) in grades 6-12 are invited.  FREE event that includes masterclasses on instruments, performances, vendors,  free food, and a free t-shirt.  This is a full day event but you are welcome to attend in part if you would like but you must register. Registration: https://www.uah.edu/ahs/departments/music/events/rocket-city-reed-day  Questions?  [email protected]  

• UAB Honor Band December 11-13th  UAB High School Honor Band Festival - UAB Bands
• University of Alabama Honor Band Feb 5-7   High School Honor Band – The University of Alabama Bands (application coming soon)
• Auburn Marching Honor Band November 22nd Marching Honor Band - Honor Bands - Events - Auburn University Bands
• Auburn University Honor Band Dates TBA Auburn University High School Symphonic Honor Band
• University of Tennessee Chattanooga Band Day - UTC Band Day | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
• Tri-State Honor Band (University of Tennessee Chattanooga) - UTC Tri-States Honor Band | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
• UNA Honor Band:  Dates for 2026 not announced yet.... UNA Invitational Honor Band
• Mississippi State Honor Band 2026 MSU Honor Band Clinic Audition Information | The Famous Maroon Band

​​

Upcoming Dates

November 5 - Reed Day for Clarinets and Saxophones during 1st block
November 11  Veterans Day Parade 
November 13th - Leadership performance at reopening of Courtyard by Marriott Huntsville.
December 8 - Winter Concert

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 Rizzardi 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.

• 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)  
• Percussion 
• General Band Boosters Questions 

Thank You To Our 2025 Sponsors!