Directors’ Notes: August 24-28, 2026

By Reed Bailey | August 23, 2026

Calendar Fundraiser Updates:

We want to start by thanking each and every one of you that have contributed to the Boosters’ calendar fundraiser in some way. At the time of writing this, we have surpassed our original goal of by almost $8,000 and we still have until the end of this week to see how far we can get. We know fundraising is no one’s favorite part of having a high school student or being part of the Band & Orchestra program, but it’s essential to ensuring our growing program can continue to grow and thrive. Thank you all for helping us thrive this year!

Changes to our Annual Calendar:

We always try to communicate changes/updates as soon as possible. This update may come far too soon, but we wanted all to have the information as soon as we did so you could plan ahead. We do not have all the details yet, but will get them out to you as soon as we do:

Vail Pride Day: For the past 15+ years, high school ensembles have not performed at Vail Pride Day. The reasoning for this is that the weekend always conflicts with the Arizona Music Educators’ Association’s Region Honor Band/Orchestra/Choir festival and we typically have a large number of students participating in that festival, out-of-town. In 2027, these dates do not conflict and therefore we have been instructed that high school musicians will be asked to perform at Vail Pride Day. I have no clue what this looks like yet (which ensembles, how many students, when, what, how, etc) but please plan for your musician to be at VPD that weekend in someway… more to come…
Graduation: …has always been the Saturday before the last week of school. Starting this year, Cienega is shifting to Graduation the last Monday of the school year (May 24, 2027) still at Kino Memorial and still at 7:00 PM. This will shift many things for us, but we are still asked to perform the traditional Pomp and Circumstance. We are beginning to work through those details now and will share more as we work through it.

Marching Band Specifics

Concerning Away Games: We scheduled two away game trips when we released the calendar in April. One was for this Friday at Buena HS and the other for later in the season to Desert View HS. We were informed a couple of weeks ago by Vail Transportation that the band would be unable to travel to these events due to a shortage of bus drivers available on Friday afternoons/evenings. It is reasonable to understand that with three varsity football teams in the district, with 3 cheer squads and 2 marching bands, that we would run into this dilemma eventually. While it is disappointing, and to some frustrating, we ask that we recognize how fortunate we are that Vail pays and provides all of our buses for the competitive season and for Saturday travel for free. Many (most) other competitive marching bands in our state pay for charter buses to every single show they attend. If we have to choose between the two, I am thankful we get the support on Saturdays that we do from the Vail School District.

Bands of America Updates: We’re still awaiting ticketing information for the Flagstaff regional. As we understand it, this is a NAU hold-up, not Music For All. In the meantime, this is what we do know:

Hotel: Students, Staff, and designated chaperones will be staying at: Baymont by Wyndham Flagstaff 2005 S. Milton Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 255-5435
- All students must travel to the hotel site and stay at the hotel site with the rest of the band. This is to ensure all students receive the necessary information and communication from staff at the right times and that we have all student-performers present and accounted for prior to performance.
- You/Your family are welcome to reserve hotel rooms at the same site and follow the band’s itinerary.
Spectator Parking Information: The spectator parking lot is a HAUL from the Skydome. NAU is providing shuttles from the parking lot to the stadium. Please plan extra time in order to catch a shuttle and avoid having to walk across the entire NAU campus. I’ve attached a site map below.

25-NAU-SPECTATOR-PARKING-MAP-1 Download

Parent Volunteer Preparation: We have also been warned that the walk from the warm-up lot to the band entrance gate (AKA: The Push) is one of the most exhausting in Arizona and it is uphill. The band is conditioning specifically for this push because unfortunately, there is no shuttle for the band and majority of the equipment. Props will be unloaded close to the stadium, but front ensemble equipment will make the long trek to and from the warm-up lot. All of this information is offered a “heads up” to those of you that usually help push front ensemble equipment and audio equipment. You are more than welcome to join the band for conditioning on Monday nights!
Plan for TWO Performances: Bands of America regionals operate under a prelims/finals format, with the top 12 bands from prelims moving on to finals later that night. At the time of writing this, there are 13 bands registered for BOA- Flagstaff. I preface the following statement with: This comes from a place of statistic analysis, not over-confidence or entitlement: We should all plan to perform twice that Saturday and for a late departure back to Tucson.

Marching Band Agenda for the Week:

Monday 0- Fundamental refresher on field

Monday PM- normal 6-9 PM rehearsal

5:30 pm: guard & percussion begin their warm up block

Tuesday 0- field rehearsal

no open band room this Tuesday afternoon

Wednesday 0- inside rehearsal