This Week in DHS Band and Guard
Week of February 3, 2025
This Week's Schedule
- Solo and Ensemble Pre-UIL Contest - 5-7 pm, various DHS rooms, performance times click here
- Shine Percussion Ensemble, 4:45-6 pm
Tuesday, February 4th
- Region Jazz Band Clinic and Concert - see below for more info
- Hosting Middle School Region Band Clinic and Concert - Band Classes displaced to PAC foyer
- Casino Night Committee Meeting, 6:30 pm, DHS Library
- JV Winter Guard 5-7:30 pm
- Beacons of Light Percussion Ensemble Rehearsal, 4:45-6 pm
- Varsity Winter Guard 5-8 pm
- Earth Dance Percussion Ensemble Rehearsal, 7:30-8:45 am
- JV Winter Guard 5-7:30 pm
- Varsity Winter Guard 5:30-8:30 pm
- UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest, Davenport HS, schedule here
- TCGC Pieper HS Contest, itinerary to be released on Wednesday via email, 8 am call time, pickup 9:40 pm
*Ensemble coaching before and after school - see below for this week's schedule
Ensemble Coaching Schedule
Wind players, check you ensemble assignment here - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xz33LMJaMERMv4QG7E8wpCQwTWRPt3A1umCgxd8fmag/edit?usp=sharing
Wind and Percussion UIL Solo and Ensemble Pre-UIL
We are holding our Pre-UIL for woodwind/brass ensembles on Monday, February 3rd. All ensembles will be performing. Students playing solos that are not going to UIL are required to perform that evening. Students playing a solo at UIL solo and ensemble will not perform their solos on February 3rd.
Students performing on February 3rd will perform for a judge to get a rating and feedback to use to continue to prepare for UIL on February 8th at Davenport HS. Students need to dress nice and report to their performance room 10 minutes before their performance time. Parent are welcome to go in watch the performances.
Here is a the performance schedule.
UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest
The UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest is on Saturday, February 8th at Davenport HS. Please check performance times carefully here. Dress is business casual. Students need to arrive 45 minutes before their performance time to find their room and warm up. Students need to practice starting their ensemble and tune before performing. A map of the campus is below.
Results will be posted below.
- Ensembles and percussion solos - here
- Flute trio - here
- Woodwind and brass solos - here
- More Woodwind and brass solos - here
We need a few volunteers to host the contest. Please consider signing up at the link below.
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C094AACA62EABFFC70-54548981-soloensemble
Students that earn a 1st division rating on a solo or ensemble will earn a letter jacket if they have not already done so. Students that play a Class 1 solo (from memory) or and Class 1 ensemble and earn a 1st division rating will advance to the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest at the end of May in Austin, TX. These state qualifiers will have their picture added to our wall of fame in the band hall.
Region Jazz Band Clinic and Concert
The Region Jazz Band Clinic and Concert is Tuesday, February 4th at Davenport HS. Students will wear concert black - black pants, black button up shirt, black dress shoes. Region jazz band students need to bring their concert black to school with them on Tuesday.
8:30 am - Check in @ Black Box
9:00 - Morning rehearsal
11:30 am - Lunch break
1:00 pm - Afternoon rehearsal
4:00 pm - Dinner break
5:30 pm - Check in for concert
6:00 pm - Region Jazz Concert
Students will need to have a plan for lunch and dinner. Students may check themselves out for lunch with an email to Diane Van Haaren (diane.vanhaaren@comalisd.org) and Kristin Bliss (kristin.bliss@comalisd.org). Students may only drive themselves.
Obligations for past due fees
Invoices for past due band and color guard fees were emailed out on February 1st. Paper copies will be handed out on Monday. Obligations for past due fees will be turned in to the front office at Spring Break. Fees can be paid here. Students will not be allowed to purchase a band banquet ticket until their fees are paid. Please email Mr. Keyes at jeffrey.keyes@comalisd.org if you have any questions or concerns.
Florida Trip Meeting
We are having a mandatory meeting or all students going on our Florida trip on Thursday, March 6th at 6:30 pm in the DHS auditorium. One parent needs to accompany the student at the meeting.
Casino Night
Our 3rd annual Casino Night is Saturday, February 15th in the Davenport High School Cafeteria. More info can be found on the flyer below. You can purchase tickets (buy in) at the link below. You save $10 if you buy in before the event.
https://secure.payk12.com/school/Davenport-Band-Boosters/674
All ensembles will be performing at the event. You do not need a ticket to watch the performances. We hope to see everyone there!
The next casino night meeting will be January 29th at 6:30PM in the DHS Library. Please attend the meeting if you are interested in helping. All are welcome to attend.
Parents, we are looking for volunteers to take the lead for each section basket. Here is a sign-up genius link if you are interested in helping organize the section baskets for prizes.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DA4A72EA5FBC25-54436360-casino
Join the Texas Arts Education Commision to Advocate for Music Education
See link below to join the Texas Arts Education Campaign. The TAEC team's mission is to inform state lawmakers about the unique importance of fine arts as a part of a well-rounded education and preparation for a global workforce.
Band Banquet
Band Banquet is Saturday, May 10th at the New Braunfels Civic Center. We are looking forward to celebrating a historic year. We will begin selling tickets at Casino Night on February 15th. Tickets will be $40 for students and parents. The last day to purchase tickets is April 15th.
Please note the following from our Band Handbook about Band Banquet.
- Students who are ineligible two out of the three 9 weeks grading periods lose the privilege of attending the Band Banquet. All fees must be paid in full for students to purchase a band banquet ticket.
Comal ISD Band Scholarship Application
The link to the Comal ISD District Band Scholarship application is now open. The application is due by March 31st, 2025.
Symphonic Winds Recordings
Florida Trip Hotel and Bus Sign Assignments
Below is the google sheet with rooms assignments and seat assignments.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1of7IjmYDTvpVQYHIRjvtyfKEzX_b0aicYdVkyK3JKDM/edit?usp=sharing
Remind Groups
Parents and students, please take a moment to join the appropriate groups by texting the code including the @ to 81010. You do not need to re-join if you were in the correct group this year.
Directors to Students/Parents
- Woodwinds - @99edfh to 81010
- Brass - @dhswolfb to 81010
- Percussion - @kdb2aa to 81010
- Color Guard - @dhswolfba to 81010
Upcoming Events
- February 15th, Casino Night, DHS Cafeteria
- February 25th, Percussion Concert, 6:30 pm, DHS Auditorium
- March 1st, TCGC Smithson Valley Winter Guard Competition
- March 6th, Florida Band Trip Meeting, 6:30 pm, DHS Auditorium
- March 7th, Pre-UIL Concert During School Day
- March 8th, TCGC Davenport Winter Guard Show (Hosting - we need volunteers)
- March 14th-20th, Florida Trip
- March 22nd, TCGC Area
- March 29th, TCGC State
- March 31st and April 1st, UIL Concert and Sight Reading Competition - Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, and Symphonic Band competing
- April 11th, American Classic Music Festival, DHS Auditorium, Wind Ensemble performance 2 pm, Symphonic Winds Performance 3:15 pm
Band Staff
Jeffrey Keyes
Director of Bands
Davenport HS
Tyler McClendon
Associate Band Director
Davenport HS
Michael Lehmann
Associate Band Director
Davenport HS
Alexis Dillon
Color Guard Director
Davenport HS
Kelsey Lien
Director of Bands
Danville MS
Nichele Gonzales
Assistant Director of Bands
Danville MS
Email: jeffrey.keyes@comalisd.org
Website: http://www.davenportband.com/
Location: 23255 FM3009, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: (830) 837-7521
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davenporthsband/
Twitter: @davenporthsband