HHS Band Weekly Newsletter Jan 16-20th 2023

Weekly Schedule 
Monday - MLK Day (no school).  Special Wind Ensemble Rehearsal 6-9 pm on stage.
Tuesday - AMEA Preview Concert - UAB Wind Ensemble and HHS Wind Ensemble 7:00. pm Auditorium.  Winter Guard 4-6 (location confirmed!)
Wednesday - Off
Thursday -  Wind Ensemble 4:00-5:30 (short rehearsal and load truck)
Friday  -  Wind Ensemble AMEA Performance!!  See information below.  
Saturday - Winter Guard camp at HHS 9-2.  

AMEA Preview Concert - Tuesday, January 17th - HHS Wind Ensemble and UAB Wind Symphony

7:00 pm 
 HHS Auditorium
6:30 - Wind Ensemble warm up on stage (tux/concert dresses)
Please stay and support both ensembles.  The UAB Wind Symphony is making a special trip for this and we want them to feel welcome.  They will also be playing some TERRIFIC MUSIC!!!
The Concert is free and open to the public!

​**Each member of the wind ensemble will receive a program on Monday evening to keep.  We encourage them to give it to you to use for this concert.  We will also have electronic programs available, but no paper copies given out.**  


AMEA Information - Wind Ensemble -  Friday, January 20th
The performance is free and open to the public at the BJCC Theater (not concert hall) at 3:30 pm.  We would love to have family and friend attend!  There is still room on the bus to ride and chaperone as well!

Schedule for Friday, January 20th
 (Wind Ensemble and symphonic band helpers excused from school all day)

8:30 am – be in the band room – casual clothes.  Make sure you bring your uniform bag with tux/dress, CORRECT shoes, Black socks (guys), cummerbund and bowtie (guys).    Symphonic Band helpers – make sure you have dress clothes to change into.  Business casual is fine for you (no jeans, no t-shirts, no tennis shoes). Sym band help:  Carolyn Vandervere, Coulter McKinney, Aiden Hall, Colleen Pleva, Liz Tatum, Gabe Tapia, Tara McCalllion
8:30 am – triple check everything.  Personal instruments on/under the bus. 
9:00 am – meet and load 2 charter buses.   
9:15 am – depart to Birmingham.   
 
11:15 am – stop for lunch in Birmingham.  Fultondale exit:  Full Moon BBQ, Chik fila, Mcdonalds, Arby’s, Firehouse, Five Guys, Target (Pizza hut express inside). 
12:30 pm – Depart lunch 
12:45 pm  Arrive at BJCC.  Unload trucks, Unload equipment, hang out/relax, get changed.   
2:30 pm   Warm up / short rehearsal on stage.  Do not overplay.  You will have a chance to warm up on your own, we will tune,  adjust the organ and solos, and get comfortable in the hall.    There may be a group performing when we arrive so be quiet when we go inside.  We will have a place to store cases.  There are changing rooms back stage. 
 
3:15 pm – Break 
3:30 pm PERFORMANCE!!!!!!! 
4:30 pm Change out of uniform and load equipment.  Take most cases with you to dinner – we will drop them off at the bus before we go in.  Buses will be parked over by the restaurant.   Large instruments can be put on truck instead of carrying them to buses. 
 
5:45 pm – Dinner at Mugshots in Uptown (walkable).  Please bring $20 for dinner.  We have reservations.  Birmingham, AL — Mugshots Grill & Bar (mugshotsgrillandbar.com) 
7:30 pm – Depart for home 
9:30 pm – Arrive back at HHS. 



Winter Guard Information
I am sorry for having to cancel last week's rehearsal due to no available space to practice.  The issue has been resolved going forward!

Competition and Rehearsal Schedule 
*Every Tuesday from 4-6 pm Winter Guard has rehearsal 
January 21st - Staging Camp at HHS 9 am - 2 pm (changed from 1/14)
January 28th - Competition at Mortimer Jordan HS (Birmingham)
February 11 - Competition at Thompson HS (Alabaster)
February 25th - Bob Jones HS (Madison)
March 25 - Spain Park HS (Hoover)
Marching 27th - Goodies with the Guard at Bob Jones HS (Madison)
April 1 - Championships at Western Kentucky University. (Bowling Green)


Students are responsible for working to create their own carpool to these events.
Please contact Mrs. Jeffress if you have any questions.  [email protected]

All State / District Honor Band Auditions - January 27th and 28th
An email went out Friday about the importance of this event

ADULT REGISTRATION AND HOSPITALITY volunteering is posted on charms or by contacting Audrey Beumer at [email protected].  We have the 2 days divided into shifts.  We will do brief training (easy job but still need some instructions) when you arrive.

STUDENTS can sign up to volunteer on our sign up genius link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A084BA4A72DA0F85-allstat
All students will be trained on what to do the week before in class.  
  
Upcoming 9th grade (current 8th grade) band meeting
Our annual meeting for all current 8th graders and parents interested in the band program is scheduled for Thursday, February 9th at 6:00 pm.   This meeting has been communicated to the HJHS and HCMS bands, but if you know anyone interested, encourage them to attend!  We will need leadership team members this night!

We will talk about the band program 
  


Senior New York Trip
Payment #3 of $500 per traveler is due to the travel website by January 23rd and the remaining balance is due February 1st.    

London Connection!
Next Payment
Friday, March 31st is the next Payment- $400 per traveler. 

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.


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



Upcoming Events
Friday and Saturday, January 27-28.  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!
Saturday, January 28th - Winter Guard Competition at Mortimer Jordan HS
February 2-4 - Winter Camp for ALL Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble!
February 11 -Winter Guard Competition at Thompson HS
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!
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