The talented students who make up the Hillcrest Jazz Band have been working hard as they prepare for their next concert, scheduled for Tuesday, February 16 in the HHS Auditorium.

Reporter Chelsey Choate shot the footage at the left during one of the Jazz Band’s rehearsals.

The tunes are being heard and practice is becoming perfection for the Hillcrest band. As the second semester of the school year has rolled around, the Hillcrest band is at an early start for preparation for later events. With no competitions or concerts until early March, they are making sure they will be ready. “We have just been practicing hard and making sure to hit every note perfect,” said Senior Kelsey Kleier.

This semester the band has split into two different groups: the concert band and the advanced band. Advanced band is for the students with more experience playing, where as concert band is for those still learning. “I think we will have a lot of fun in concert season this semester,” said Band director Shane Knupps.

For all seniors, their last semester of high school flies by. For some band students, this could be their last months of playing. “Band was fun for all four years, and I am relieved it is almost over,” said Senior Drew Gammill. While some students are feeling relief for a new change, some will

continue playing next year. “I’m sad it is my last semester for band in high school, but I’m continuing in college, so it all kinda works out,” said Senior Ryan Catterson

With this being Shane Knupps’ first year at Hillcrest, he seemed to be enjoying his time here and his students. “I think the band is a great group of students, and I think first semester went very well,” said Knupps.

Hillcrest’s Broadcast Journalism I students are producing short stories about classes and activities at HHS in the coming weeks.

This segment, about the Hillcrest concert band preparing new music for holiday performances, was produced by junior Andrew Edwards and sophomore Chandler Reed.

Check back in the days ahead to see more videos in the “Beat” section of this website.

While everyone else is wearing costumes on October 31st, the Hillcrest Blue Wave Band will be in uniform at Columbia, Missouri.

It’s the last competition for the month and the Hornets are hoping to perform well. “We have had a hard season because of the weather, but we have our show ready for this weekend and hope to improve our score a lot,” said senior drum major Kelsey Kleier.

With all the rain, the band has not gotten the chance to practice regulary. Battling the elements has definitely gotten old for the Blue Wave members.

“The rain is our enemy,” said Jake Wright.

September is the calm before the storm for the Hillcrest Blue Wave Band. October is when all the rain comes pouring. With four competitions ahead in the next four weeks, the band has been practicing hard.

“We practice every morning at 7 and every tuesday night at seven.” said senior Kelsey Kleier, who is one of the band’s drum majors.

The band started off the year with a new teacher, which isn’t always easy. “It was hard at first, but we got used to him, and I feel like he’s a very good band director,” said senior Micah Lambeth.”

“This year is going well,” said Shane Knupps, the new director. “We have had some adverse weather conditions to deal with as we’ve been preparing for our competitions, but I think that it will turn out to be good in the end.”

The first competition, Valhalla, will take place here in Springfield at JFK Stadium, followed by a second competition, Ozarko, at Missouri State University. The band will then travel to Rolla for the Route 66 competition.

The last contest for the month of October will take place in Columbia Missouri, where the band will compete in the “Champion of Champions” festival at Faurot Field on the MU campus. That one has the Blue Wave members, and their new director, a little extra “pumped.”

“I am very excited about the festival and it should be an exciting performance for the band to be in such a large stadium,” said Knupps.