HHS BanD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER September 15-21, 2025

Things We Like

Monday night was a special one — we had the privilege of attending the Hampton Cove Middle School vs. Huntsville Junior High School football game! This rivalry game is always a highlight of our marching season. Our students love performing for the future members of the HHS Band, and after halftime they join their middle school bands in the stands to make music together. It’s an incredible night of fun, spirit, and community — and one we look forward to every year! Check out more photos from the event here, stand tunes here, and halftime show here.

Boston Butt Fundraiser

​The wait is over — the HHS Band Boston Butt Fundraiser is back!
ChuckWagon BBQ is slow-cooking their famous Boston Butts, and you don’t want to miss out.
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$60 for an 8–10 lb. Boston Butt
Order deadline: October 15, 2025
Pickup: Saturday, October 25, 12–2 PM @ HHS (Billie Watkins entrance)    

​Boston Butt Order Form Here
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HHS vs James Clemens Photos

HHS vs JCHS photo gallery link here

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​A Note From Our Directors

Parents,

This is our first travel week of the season - both on Friday and Saturday.  Our #1 priority is safety of our students. There are two big things we ask of you to ensure safety of everyone in our band on trips:

1.  All students should ride the bus to the game/competitions/performances unless you have advanced permission from a director.  If you are in a situation that would require you to take your student after the game, the student must be checked out at the buses by that student's parent with our volunteer coordinator, Mrs. Courter.  We cannot let a student ride with any other person other than their own parent/guardian unless we have direct permission for them to go with someone else.  We do this to ensure all students are accounted for in the chaos of the end of a high school football game.   Truck crew must ride back to the school to unload the truck in some cases.

2.  When we return to the school, we need everyone to park in a parking spot in the parking lot.  Have your student come to you or get out of your car and meet them. It is very dangerous late at night to pick up students on the side of Billie Watkins Street.  We have very little street lighting, teenage drivers, students getting in/out of cars and people crossing the road. We want to keep everyone safe.  

I know both of these may be slightly inconvenient, but we need both of these followed to ensure we account for all students and all students are safe.   Thank you for helping with this!

Stuart Tankesley and Andrew Kirk

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Schedule for the Week

Monday:  Off.  Leadership special performance right after school.
Tuesday:   Marching Band 4-6  Color Guard Sectional 6-7
Wednesday: Off.   
Thursday:  Marching Band 4-6 , Percussion Sectional 6-6:30
Friday:  Away Game @Sparkman HS - School buses  
Saturday:  Rocket City Marching Invitational Competition at Madison City Stadium

Spring Trip - Students enroll now - ADULTS/FAMILY START MONDAY MORNING!

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.
We have 90 students signed up right now - so there are only 10 additional spots available for students or adults.  HOWEVER, our goal is to take everyone that wants to go without significantly changing the cost of the trip.  It is very important that if you are not able to register for the trip to get on the wait list so we can make plans to get everyone there.
Families may enroll STUDENTS ONLY by paying your initial deposit until September 15th by using the following link:   HUNTSVILLE HS BAND in Orlando, FL, USA
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Adults and family members will be available to sign up Monday morning!!!     Note all adults may have some responsibilities for the band on the trip as a chaperone.

Friday Gameday Information

Schedule
8:30 am    School Starts.  Come to school as normal - make sure you have all your uniform parts in your garment bag and hang up in band room.
3:40 pm  School gets out.  Go grab some food off campus, have parents bring you food, or pack extra food to have after school.  
4:50 pm  Back at School - get in uniform.  We travel with full uniform on except jackets, which stay hung up until we arrive.  
5:00 pm  Load Buses and depart for Sparkman.
5:45 pm  Arrive at Sparkman.  Unload.  Unless you are truck crew, get into uniform when we arrive.  Leave clarinet/ flute cases and garment bags on bus unless given other instructions due to weather.
6:00 pm Warm ups / finish unloading
6:30 pm March into Sparkman Stadium.  We sit on the far end of the bleachers.
7:00 pm - Game Starts.   We will perform to the home side at halftime.  
~9:30 pm - Approximate end of game.  Pack and unload truck.
10:15 pm - Depart Sparkman High School
10:45 pm -  Estimated Return to Huntsville High (when we depart from Sparkman we will send out a BAND message with our ETA)

Transportation
School Buses. 

Uniform
FULL BAND UNIFORM!!!!!
Please make sure you have everything in your garment bag!!

Winds and Percussion:
Black full length (not short ankle) socks
Black Marching Shoes
Shako (except Tubas and front ensemble)
Gauntlets
Gloves (except percussion)
Jacket/Bibbers
Wear your dry fit polo under your uniform.
Hair should be pulled back off of your face.  No jewelry

Color Guard show uniform with black jazz shoes, tan gloves, gold clip on earrings.
Hair should be pulled back off of your face.  No jewelry
 (unless it's part of your uniform).

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!

Saturday Competition Information - Madison City Stadium

Schedule
Truck will remain loaded from Friday night's game.
10:30 am Band Room Open. Eat a big breakfast/brunch before you come!  Color Guard should have hair and make up done prior to arriving.
11:15 am   All students in bandroom.  Get in uniform
11:30 am   Meet and load buses.  Guard uniforms should be on.  Wind and percussion will travel in uniform (no jacket).  Truck crew may adjust as needed.
11:45 pm  Depart for Madison City Stadium
12:15 pm Arrive/Unload
1:30 pm Line up for Warm up
1:45 pm Warm up for Prelims performance
2:15 pm Transition to Gate
2:30 pm  PRELIMS PERFORMANCE!!
3:00 pm  After performance you will head to the performance viewing room and receive a clinic on the performance.
3:30 pm   Line up instruments, you may get out of uniform and go watch other bands / eat some food at concessions.
4:15 pm   University of North Alabama Exhibition performance!
4:45 pm   Everyone needs to be in the stadium in our assigned area for prelims awards

After awards we will know our warm up time and performance time for Finals.  We will mostly likely meet back at the buses and be ready to warm up by 6:00 pm, but an exact schedule will be communicated after awards.  

Finalist 1 5:45 (B) 6:30
Finalist 2 6:05 (A)  6:50
Finalist 3 6:25 (B)  7:10
BREAK 7:30-7:40
Finalist 4 6:55 (A)  7:40
Finalist 5 7:15 (B)  8:00
Finalist 6 7:35 (A) 8:20
BJHS Exhibition 7:55 (B) 9:00 pm

9:00 pm - Finals Awards
9:45 pm - Load Buses and Depart
10:15 pm - Estimated Arrival back at Huntsville High School (We will send out a Band message when we depart Madison City Stadium)

Location
The competition is at Madison City Stadium/Journey Middle School.  211 Celtic Dr.  in Madison.

Transportation
School Buses. 

Uniform
FULL BAND UNIFORM!!!!!
Please make sure you have everything in your garment bag!!

Winds and Percussion:
Black full length (not short ankle) socks
Black Marching Shoes
Shako (except Tubas and front ensemble)
Gauntlets
Gloves (except percussion)
Jacket/Bibbers
Wear your dry fit polo under your uniform.
Hair should be pulled back off of your face.  No jewelry

Color Guard show uniform with black jazz shoes, tan gloves, gold clip on earrings.
Hair should be pulled back off of your face.  No jewelry (unless it's part of your uniform).

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)
Water jug
Money for food
SNACKS/extra drinks (sometimes the concession lines can get long)
All accessories (sticks, guard poms, mouthpieces, reeds, etc)

Things everyone should know

• Competitions are open to the public and we encourage all our families and friends to attend!
• Competitions are fundraisers for other band programs - this one specifically for Bob Jones.  It is run by the Bob Jones Band Parents with lots of volunteers.  Please be kind to them even if there are issues!
• Tickets are $15 ($5 for age 12 and under).  Tickets are available in advance through the S2Pass App.  Download the app and search for "Bob Jones High School."  Scroll to find "Rocket City Marching Invitational."  Ticket purchases will be available at the gate by cash or card.   We have a limited number of chaperones we can use.
• You can view the concessions menu for the event here.  In addition, Kona Ice and Traveling Tom's Coffee food truck will be available.
• Spectator parking is outside the stadium.  There is no additional fee to park.  
• Here is a map of the layout for Saturday
• The full schedule of bands can be found here.  Although we are competing, we always support and cheer for the other bands there.

Trumpet and Trombone Mutes

All trumpet and trombone players in the HHS Band program should own a metal straight mute.  These are easy to find at one of the local music stores (Gadsden, Hallman's, Madison Band Supply) or ordered online.   Dennis Wick, Jo Ral, Tom Crown, Yamaha, and Bach are all good straight mute companies.  ​

Canadian Brass - Special Event on Friday, Sept 26 (no game that day!)

The Huntsville Chamber Music Guild's Celebrity Series will present the world renowned Canadian  Brass  in concert Friday, Sept 26  at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary of Trinity United Methodist Church on Airport Road in Huntsville.   You can find out more about the concert at  hsvchambermusic.org. 

In addition, there will be a FREE Educational Encounter that same day, Friday Sept 26 at 4 pm, also at Trinity Methodist Church. All students who attend the Educational Encounter will receive a FREE ticket to the evening's performance. 

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).  

• 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 January 30-31  (don't sign up if you are planning to audition for district honor band/all state)

Upcoming Dates

​September 27th - Band Competition (all day) at Albertville
October 3 - Football Game vs. Austin  at Milton Frank (required game!  It's not Fall break yet!)
October 10th - Football Game at Albertville (Fall break - optional pep band).
October 17th - Football Game vs. Florence at Milton Frank Stadium
October 18th - Band Competition (all day) at Muscle Shoals

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

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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]
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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!