Parent Orientation

What is this Marching Band thing?

• The CHS Marching Band is a competitive, varsity sport (yes, that’s right) involving musicians (cool folks with instruments) and the guard (cool folks with flags) who perform highly coordinated harmony and moves during Friday night home football game halftime, at about 5 competitions on fall Saturdays (usually an all-day trip to somewhere in Virginia, from Salem to Fairfax, via school buses and a rented UHaul for the larger instruments and props), and sometimes on a few other occasions (Fall Band concert, Dogwood Parade…).

• The MB rehearses at summer band camp in August, and then, during the school year, every Mon-Thursday morning at 8 a.m., Friday afternoon, and select Saturday mornings.
   

You, Parents, are the Band Boosters!

• All parents of CHS Band musicians and guard members are automatically considered Band Boosters–you don’t need to do anything to join.

• You’ll be supporting the band just by allowing your student to participate, but we hope you’ll join in to give a little time (or maybe even a lot!)...
   

 Band Boosters Purpose

• Support the Charlottesville High School (CHS) Band Director, Mr. Hackworth, staff, and musicians.

• Support band activities and programs.

• Promote the bands to our community and beyond.

• Fundraise (ah, yes–but there are fun ways to fundraise!).
   

Your Role as a Band Parent

Don’t have much time?  Do the minimum…

• Read the weekly email updates from Mr. Hackworth (even if you don’t usually read email).

• Have fun!

 

Have a little time to help out?  Try out one (or a few) of these…

• Attend Friday night home football games to see the MB perform

• If you volunteer for just one thing, please consider helping with Cavalcade in October! (See below)

• Chaperone a competition (they’re great kids, so chaperoning is mostly just being on-call and watching the show)

• Help load/unload/drive band equipment on a home football game night (Fridays) or for a competition (Saturdays)

• Provide some food, help serve it, or help clean up during a Friday practice/football game night (the band stays after school, practices, eats, then performs)

• Help out (big jobs, small jobs) with the big fundraising events: UVA Seat Install (August), Cavalcade (October)

• Attend a Board Meeting (see below).

• Help out with props, uniforms, communications….Let the Band Board know what you like to do and how much time you’d like to contribute and we will definitely have a job for you.

 

WOW!  BAND???  I LOVE BAND!!!  Come on out…

• See above–do it all!  (Or as much as you like).

• Attend monthly Meetings:

  • Band Booster meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm.

  • Meeting minutes are available upon request.

  • A great way to stay informed!

• Become a member of the board!

Band Leadership

• Band Board Members:

  • President - Rob Cook

  • Vice President - E.D. Rambo

  • Secretary - Amanda Nelsen

  • Treasurer - April Rodgers

  • Chaperones - Amy Ogden

  • Equipment - John Naegle

  • Fundraising - Amy-Sarah Marshall

  • Hospitality - Ruth Payne

• Section Leaders:

  • Flutes - Nyomi Becker-Montambault, Michelle Wong

  • Clarinet - Alyssa Bell, Bengi Paquette, Holden Robertson, Piper Honeycutt

  • Sax - Graham Gilbert-Schroeer, Liat Randolph, Macey Brown, Luke Wylie

  • Trumpet - Ada Brantley

  • Low Brass - Nate Ogden-Ant, Parker Riedel, Cyrus Cook

  • Front Ensemble - Nora Hickey

  • Drumline - Eleot Abrahamson, Gabe Cockayne

  • Guard - Astrid Cordano, Ananda McClurken-Gibney, Hannah Tricker

• Drum Majors:

  • Kes Rodgers

  • Evin Nelson

  • Julia Crum

• Band Director:

  • Mr. Hackworth

Communication Channels

• Weekly Email Blasts:

  • Sent on Sunday nights.

• Sign Up Request Emails

  • Sent as needed for competitions and home football games.

• Band Website - https://www.cvillebands.com:

  • Current information, calendar, forms, FAQs, fundraising details.

• Social Media:

  • Facebook & Twitter (X) for pictures and updates.
     

Band Events

• Home Football Games (various Fridays):

  • Dinner is provided by parents for band members before the game, 5(ish)PM.

  • Band marches to the stadium together.

  • Band performs at halftime when possible.

  • Band plays pep tunes during 1st, 2nd, and 4th quarters.

  • Students get 3rd quarter off to go for concessions.

  • Band members are required to stay until the end of the game.

• Competitions (various Saturdays):

  • About 5 Saturdays between late September and early November.

  • Parents help MB load and unload the MB equipment (front ensemble instruments, sousaphones, drums, etc.; props; flags) at CHS and at the competition (volunteers can sign up just to load at CHS or unload at CHS or go along for the full ride and help at CHS and the competition).

  • Chaperones are on hand to help Mr Hackworth and MB members while at competitions. The band is mostly self-sufficient, but chaperone work can include safety-pinning uniforms, going back to the bus to pick up forgotten gloves, and such, and always involves calling roll to make sure no one gets left behind.

  • It’s okay to clap and make noise!

  • Awards can take a while.

• Calvacade 10/5:

  • CHS hosts 10+ marching bands from around the state

  • Largest one-day fundraiser for the band.

  • Lots of opportunities to volunteer. As a parent, please plan to spend at least part of the day at CHS helping out. Additional opportunities before the event to help planning / organizing.