THE Houston Band

Hello, Houston Band family!

What a great showing from our students at their first competition of the season. I've told the students this already, but I don't think I've shared it in a newsletter yet: That contest is band-for-band the most talented contest we will be to all year--and likely ever for these students. There was not a SINGLE small, up-and-coming, or under-supported band there. After the contest concluded, some staff stayed back to speak with judges about what we can improve as we go through the season. Because both the standard of competition and quality of adjudication were so high at the Tournament of Champions, we have been given a lot of really valuable feedback around what we need to fix both as we approach Booneville on Saturday and our performances coming up after Fall Break.

Our goal in art music is to bring beauty into the world through hard work and intense collaboration. Our young musicians achieved that goal and then some last Saturday, and I couldn't be more proud. Thank you also to every parent volunteer and friend in the stands for your support. We can and will do great things together, this season and beyond! Go mustangs!!

With excitement and gratitude,

Mr. C

We have a rehearsal today after school. It is critical that all students are there.

The spring trip will be April 2-5. We are going to Dallas to listen to some phenomenal band and orchestra music, and we can't wait for as many students as possible to join us! Find attached the flier with details about this trip!

https://tourbot.etadventures.com/customerweb/signin

Trip Code: houstonband25

Password: dfwtrip25

NOTE: There is an option for a 1, 2, or 3 person room on the website. DO NOT select that option, as ALL students will be put into rooms of as many students as possible. Select the 4-person room.

Below, find the itinerary for the Collierville contest. This will be our toughest contest of the year competitor-wise, but I'm looking forward to our performance nonetheless! GO MUSTANGS!!

Take note that this is a slightly different "perform" time than we initially received from the contest organizers. Make sure you get there early to find a seat in time!

Dues are PAST DUE. We will be reaching out to delinquent dues payers starting later this week. If you forgot to turn in your dues on time, make sure to send a check this Friday morning.

To allow for more ample water breaks to keep our students safe and healthy, we may be going slightly over some rehearsals. This was the case yesterday. This will not be a huge time difference, but please know we may be letting students out as late as 5pm through the rest of the season. We will start our end-of-rehearsal run-through by 4:45pm, and each run will take about 8-10 minutes depending on staff comment length.

It is always my goal to dismiss no later than 4:45pm, but feel free to wait to pick your student up at 5pm if if you don't ever want to wait on us for the slightly overheld rehearsals.

The start of our competitive marching season means it's time to begin preparations for concert band auditions. Our concert season will be divided into three distinct cycles this year, with a different makeup of students for each cycle.

• November 5-December 5: Holiday Concert Cycle. Two roughly-equally sized concert bands.
• January 7-March 7: Concert Performance Assessment Cycle. Top "Wind Symphony" group with about three quarters of students and a "Developmental Ensemble" for others.
• March 10-May 6: Symphonic Cycle. Select students leave the "Wind Symphony" to prepare for a full orchestra collaboration with HHS Orchestras. All other students perform in the "Wind Symphony".

Auditions for the Holiday Concert Cycle will take place the Tuesday and Wednesday following the conclusion of marching season.

Auditions will consist of the following:

Woodwinds and Brass 11th-12th graders: The "technical" etude for all west, a random selection from any of the 12 major scales, and a sight reading passage.

Woodwinds and Brass 9th-10th graders: The first etude of three for all west, a random selection from any of the 12 major scales, and a sight reading passage.

Percussion students: You grade level's all west snare excerpt, mallet sight reading, and a random selection from any of the 12 major scales.

Students should anticipate attending a sectional every 2-3 weeks after school on Monday, until competition season. Then, plan on attending as needed. Plan on attending the following dates!

Upcoming Sectional Schedule

- September 23: ALL STUDENTS

- September 30: ALL STUDENTS

- October 7: ALL STUDENTS

- October 21: ALL STUDENTS

- October 28: ALL STUDENTS

We will also be hosting weekly open practice times each Wednesday. The road to All West participation starts now! We hope to see as many students as possible fill the band room each Wednesday to improve their craft.

Wendy Camamile also went out of her way to create a rhinestone shirt/sweatshirt that you can purchase here if you'd like: https://theshirtplace.net/shop/ols/products/houston-band-rhinestone-logo-t-shirts-and-sweatshirts

This is a lot of info, and things have changed since last season. Please make sure you carefully read this section.

We have begun collecting band dues. Dues are MANDATORY and will be collected via SchoolCashOnline OR check. Checks will ONLY be collected Friday mornings before school. You can pay through SchoolCashOnline at any time. No cash will be accepted by Mr. Sims or myself. Dues checks should be made out to "Houston High School" with the memo being "Band Dues - <student legal name>".

• The first payment is due on September 1st ($250), final check collection August 30th.
• The second payment is due on October 1st ($250), final check collection September 27th.
• Our boosters also highly encourage a $225 donation that enables them to pay our world-class adjunct staff and take care of equipment emergencies that naturally come up when we regularly bring a half million dollars of equipment into the elements. While it would be great to send that money ASAP, it would be helpful to make that $225 donation no later than November 1st. This can be sent via the linked website OR via check made out to "HHS Band Boosters" placed in the dropbox in Mr. C's office W-F.
• We encourage those who are able to just pay everything ASAP, as this is the most expensive portion of our year. If you need extensions, please reach out sooner rather than later.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, please reach out to me ASAP. If you or a relative are in the privileged position of paying for another student's full or partial dues, please reach out to me about how to "Give the Gift of Band."

We have a new way of tracking band conflicts internally. Please note, students that miss rehearsals and performances without prior approval will be penalized with grade deductions.

All you have to do is give us as MUCH heads up as possible, emailing me the reason for missing and (when relevant) a doctor's note. Please note that the closer we get to a date, the less likely exemption will be granted. Give us time to plan for other students' success when sending us your reasonable conflicts due to health, religion, family emergencies, etc.

Thank you for your understanding and commitment to our band's success!

There are several changes this year that I want to make you aware of right now, rather than surprising you once school gets rolling!

- Holiday concert is at HHS this year. We have to be able to ticket and collect donations at that concert, and GPAC is not allowing us to do that in their space.

- Holiday parade is happening this year. The holiday parade rain date is on the calendar, so make plans to attend both possible dates (Dec 14 & Dec 15). If you have a conflict with the Sunday rain date, tell me ASAP (just like you would for any other conflict). Do not email me the moment there is a weather event and the rain date is activated; it will be unexempt just like any other missed performance.

- Festival Mini Camp on Feb 22 is a Saturday event for students in the top concert ensemble.

- All State is changing from being a Wed-Sat event to a Thurs-Sun event. This is beyond our control; please plan accordingly if you generally make All State or get close. This year's All State is April 10-13.

Find upcoming dates for performances, events, and one-off rehearsals below. Note that regular rehearsals are Tuesdays and Thursdays, with sectionals on Mondays.

You can always find our full calendar (including Google and iCal integration links) here: https://www.thehoustonband.com/calendar

• 10/5/24 - Second contest (All Day!)
• 10/25/24 - Football v. White Station. GO MUSTANGS!!
• 10/26/24 - Third contest (All Day!)
• 11/1/24 - Football v. Collierville. GO MUSTANGS!!
• 11/2/24 - Final contest (or show recording session TBD). GO MUSTANGS!!
• 11/5/24 - After school Symphonic Band Rehearsals Begin (every Tuesday)
• 11/7/24 - After school Wind Ensemble Rehearsals Begin (every Thursday)
• 11/23/24 - WTSBOA Orchestra Auditions
• 11/5/24 - Winter Concert
• 12/12/24 - Holiday Parade practice
• 12/13/24 - Holiday Parade practice
• 12/14/24 - Germantown Holiday Parade
• 12/15/24 - Germantown Holiday Parade Rain Date (treat it like any other performance date! KEEP OPEN!)
• 1/11/25 - All West Band Auditions (required for all students unless they've made an orchestra)
• 2/13/25 - All West TN Band and Orchestra Clinic Begins
• 2/15/25 - All West TN Band and Orchestra Clinic Concerts Conclude
• 2/22/25 - Festival Mini Camp - Required for all students in the top concert ensemble
• 3/5/25 - Wednesday after school rehearsal for Festival
• 3/6/25 & 3/7/25 - Possible Concert Festival dates (TBA)
• 4/2-5/25 - Dallas Trip
• 4/5/25 - Solo & Ensemble
• 4/10/25 - TN All State Conference Begins
• 4/13/25 - TN All State Concert Concludes
• 4/22/25 - HHS Symphony Orchestra rehearsals begin (Tuesdays/Thursdays)
• 4/28/25 - Boston Brass Residency Begins
• 5/6/25 - HHS Instrumental Concert
• 5/7/25 - Graduation Orchestra Rehearsal
• 5/8/25 - Graduation Orchestra Rehearsal
  
• 5/9/25 - Graduation!
• May 12-13 25-26 Leadership Camp (after school)

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