HHS BAND WEEKLY NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 22-28, 2025

Things We Like

Our marching band created a joyful moment by performing a special birthday show for Ms. Kay, fulfilling her wish for a marching band celebration. What a wonderful way to spread cheer!

Section Spotlight

 Congrats to our amazing Drum Majors and Percussion for winning best in class! Follow them on Instagram ​​@hhsdrummajorzzzzz​, @hhs_tenors , and @hhs_front_ensemble

Alumni Spotlight

Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners members Gracie and Jace Boudreaux, alongside Sheadon Kirsch, will perform as the exhibition band at next week's Albertville competition. Congratulations to these talented alumni for showcasing their skills! 

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.
​
$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

HHS vs Sparkman Photo Gallery

Sparkman Game Photo Gallery Link Here

​Schedule of the Week

​Monday:  Off.  
Tuesday:   Marching Band 4-6  Color Guard Sectional 6-7
Wednesday: Off.   
Thursday:  Marching Band 4-6   Percussion Sectional 6-6:30 pm
Friday:  NO GAME!! Bye Week.  Consider attending the Canadian Brass Performance and clinic (See below)!
Saturday: Northeastern Marching Invitational - Albertville HS Stadium

Spring Trip

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.
ALL SPOTS FOR THE TRIP ARE CURRENTLY FILLED.  HOWEVER, WE ARE LESS THAN 5 SPOTS AVAILABLE FROM MAKING A 3RD BUS AND GETTING EVERYONE ON THE WAITING LIST GOING.  IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT GOING (STUDENTS OR PARENTS) AND HAVEN'T SIGNED UP, PLEASE JOIN OUR WAITING LIST.    OUR GOAL IS TO INCLUDE EVERYONE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING THE PRICE.
HUNTSVILLE HS BAND in Orlando, FL, USA

Saturday Competition Information - Albertville HS Stadium

Schedule
7:45 am  Band Room Open
8:30 am - Rehearsal on band field (Percussion and winds with Shakos!!)
10:30 am - Rehearsal Ends.  Load Trucks - everyone help.  Dismiss by 11 at latest.
11:00 am - 12:30 pm  Lunch on your own.  You may leave campus.
12:30 pm  Meet back in Band Room.  
1:00 pm Depart on School bus for Albertville HS.  Travel in bibbers/guard uniform.
2:00 pm  Arrive and unload
3:10 pm  Line up for Warm ups
3:20 pm WARM UP
4:10 pm at Gate
4:20 pm PERFORMANCE - After we perform you will change out of your uniform, load trucks, and be able to get food and watch other bands.
5:00 pm - Exhibition by Jacksonville State
7:40 pm - Exhibition by Albertville - All students must be in our assigned section
8:00 pm - Exhibition by University of North Alabama
8:30 pm - Awards
9:15 pm - Depart for home
10:15 pm - Arrive Back at HHS.

Location
The competition is at McCord Field (Albertville Stadium) at 402 E. McCord Ave.  Albertville.

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 Albertville HS Band. Please be kind to them even if there are issues!
• Tickets are $10 (Kids 10 and under are free). Tickets are available at the stadium.  Cash or Card
• Here is their website with additional information.  At the time of this newsletter, I do not have a list of concessions available.
• There is no additional fee to park.  
• The full schedule of bands can be found here.  Although we are competing, we always support and cheer for the other bands there.
• Make sure anyone checking out to go home with parents does so AFTER awards at the buses.  Thank you for your help with this!!

Optional Fall Break Pep Band - Friday, October 10(travel to Albertville)

Our OPTIONAL fall break pep band will play at the October 10th game in Albertville.   We need to have a good representation at this game, so we ask that any student who is in town on this date to sign up and play.  We need to know how many buses to take, please sign up for this game at the below link.

Fall Break Sign up Link Here

Marching Band Field Trip!!!! - Thursday, October 16

We are teaming up with Hampton Cove Elementary School and providing a great music opportunity for their kindergarten students on Thursday, October 16th.    During the morning hours (during school), we are planning to bus to Milton Frank and meet our HCES friends.  We are planning to do an interactive instrument and color guard/majorette experience, learning about all the different instruments and marching band.  We will play our stand tunes and do our competition halftime show performance before returning to school around lunch time.  More information to come!

Eighth Grade Night - Friday, October 17

We invite all 8th grade band students to attend our 8th grade night against Florence on Friday, October 17th at Milton Frank!  There will be a tailgate with pizza and desserts prior to the game for students.

For more information and to register click here

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 30 - leadership to Blossomwood Elem during school for pep rally (car pool)
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 16th - Marching Band and HCES collaboration during school day at Milton Frank.
October 17th - Football Game vs. Florence at Milton Frank Stadium
October 18th - Band Competition (all day) at Muscle Shoals
October 22nd - Homecoming Marching Band Rehearsal 4-5 pm (Wed)
October 23rd - Homecoming Parade (No rehearsal - just marching the parade)
October 24th - Homecoming Game vs. Bob Jones (Milton Frank)

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 - stuart[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 

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