This Week in DHS Band and Guard

Monday, February 19th

• Varsity Winter Guard Rehearsal, 9 am - 1 am
• JV Winter Guard Rehearsal, 1:30 - 5 pm

• Wind Ensemble Trumpet Sectional, 7:45 am - 9 am
  
• Wind Ensemble Low Brass Sectional, 4:45 - 6 pm
• Varsity Winter Guard Rehearsal, 5-8 pm
  

Thursday, February 22nd

• JV Winter Guard Rehearsal, 7:30 - 9 am

• Winter Guard Friends and Family Performance, 7:30 pm @ DHS Competition Gym

• TCGC Smithson Valley Winter Guard Competition (see below for tentative itinerary)
• Casino Night, 7-10 pm, Knights of Columbus Club Mikulski Hall

Our 2nd annual Casino Night is Saturday, February 24th at the Knights of Columbus Club Mikulski Hall. 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://sites.google.com/g.comalisd.org/davenportband/information/casino-night-2024

All ensembles will be performing at the event. You do not need a ticket to watch the performances. We hope to see everyone there!

What is a Casino Night?

Normally in Vegas it’s you against the house. Well in our case, the casino is there for only one reason—to teach you the game so you can have as much fun as possible. Never gambled before? No problem. We will have professional dealers, equipment, and tables on hand to give you a full Casino experience!

$30 gets you in the door with $1000 worth of chips. Those chips are exchanged at the end of the night for raffle tickets for some spectacular items.

Spread the word, sign up (link above or QR code in flyer) and we’ll see you at the Casino!!

Below is a tentative schedule for the day for the TCGC Smithson Valley Winter Guard Competition this Saturday, February 24th.

Call Time @ DHS 8 am

Depart DHS 10:15 am

JV Performance 12:32 pm

Varsity Performance 5:15 pm

Parent Pickup 10 pm

A final itinerary will go out Thursday once performance times are finalized. Tickets can be purchased here. Additional information on the contest including parking maps can be found here.

Our first letter jacket fitting this year is March 1st at 4:30 pm. This is when students may order their letter jackets if they lettered in band this year. Students can qualify by earning a chair in the region band or earning a 1st division rating on a solo or ensemble at UIL Solo and Ensemble. Here is a list of all the students who have qualified. Please let Mr. Keyes know if your name should be added.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GwraLZLPu8cFsKZA0Xce0uTPbWHIn-uXtJG61WlP-3s/edit?usp=sharing

The school pays for the jacket and letter. All add ons (get expensive quick) and must be paid for by the student on March 1st. Order forms and additional info will be in next week's newsletter.

Color guard members who complete a season in the Varsity Winter Guard or earn a 1st division rating on a solo or ensemble at the TCGC solo and ensemble contest will qualify to order a jacket at the end of this school year.

We are hosting the TCGC Davenport Winter Guard Competition on March 2nd at Davenport HS. This is a large fundraiser that benefits the entire band program, and we need your help! Starting at 7:15 am on that Saturday, we will have several shifts of all kinds of jobs that need to be filled. Please consider signing up at the link below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094AACA62EABFFC70-47406652-tcgc?useFullSite=true#/

Percussion families, please read the document below carefully with specifics on the McCallum Percussion Festival on March 2nd, 2024.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PiulArhdN4BrpBtp3uO0L99uzWZlambRUdx3ZnGza7c/edit?usp=sharing

Comal ISD will again be offering Comal ISD District Band Scholarships. We don't have an exact number or amount for the scholarships yet. The scholarship application deadline is April 1st and the recipients will be announced at the Fine Arts Award Ceremony on May 1st in the Canyon HS PAC.

Band Scholarship Application

Invoices for past due band and color guard fees were handed out to students in class last Tuesday. Obligations for past due fees will be turned in to the front office at Spring Break. Fees can be paid here. Please email Mr. Keyes at jeffrey.keyes@comalisd.org if you have any questions or concerns.

We are having a mandatory trip meeting on April 15th at 6:30 pm. Please mark your calendars. A parent and the student going on the trip must attend this meeting.

Below is a link to the rehearsal schedule for Wind Ensemble though the end of April. Each of these rehearsals are very important as we have less time to prepare for UIL and our Tobin Center performance than normal with UIL Solo and Ensemble being later in the year and UIL Concert and Sight Reading being earlier in the year.

Wind Ensemble Rehearsal Schedule

2024 DHS Marching Band Summer Dates (required)

• May 28-30, May Camp, 9 am - 4 pm, DHS

• June 1, Band Registration, 9 am - 4 pm, DHS

• July 15-17, Student Leadership Team Camp, 9 am - 4 pm, DHS

• July 19-19, Drum Major Camp, 9 am - 4 pm, DHS

• July 22-24, Band Camp - Winds, Percussion, and Guard, 9 am - 4 pm, DHS
  

• July 29th, Summer Band begins for all (Winds, Percussion, and Guard), 8 am - 4 pm, DHS

Here is the band calendar for the 2023-2024 school year.

• You may pay your booster fees online at this link.
• The instrument usage fee can be paid at this link.

• February 24th, Casino Night, evening off campus
  
• February 24th, TCGC Smithson Valley Winter Guard Competition
• March 2nd, TCGC Davenport Winter Guard Competition (hosting)
• March 5th, Jazz Night, Smithson Valley HS, 7 pm
• March 6th, Pre-UIL Concert (Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band), DHS, 7 pm

Jeffrey Keyes

Director of Bands

Davenport HS

jeffrey.keyes@comalisd.org

Tyler McClendon

Associate Band Director

Davenport HS

tyler.mcclendon@comalisd.org

Alexis Dillon

Color Guard Director

Davenport HS

davenportguard@gmail.com

Kelsey Lien

Director of Bands

Danville MS

kelsey.lien@comalisd.org

Nichele Gonzales

Assistant Director of Bands

Danville MS

nichele.gonzales@comalisd.org

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