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VH 2007 Member Information
The following information should answer many of your questions for our indoor season.
The Virginia Helmsmen marching ensemble is offered to anyone age 13-22 interested in the performing arts. Each year we have many students participate that have never played a percussion instrument. By the end of the season, they will be fine percussionists and better musicians. It is the dedication and the unwillingness to accept second-best efforts of the students, along with the support of the parents, which make our ensemble one of the top programs in the country! Our life support system is the Tunstall Concert Ensemble and Booster Club. The combined efforts of TCE and VH enables us to save a great deal in expenses as well as achieve superior quality performances.
We compete at the National level in the Independent Open Class. The indoor season uses a three-tier judging system. This allows programs to compete with other teams that are at the same level. The classes are: A - Entry Level, Open - Intermediate Level, and World - Advanced Level. We are blessed with the talent and commitment to be considered Open Class. Our class of competition is made up of other Independent, high school and collegiate players, and College groups. This is the largest class in WGI and very competitive with many groups at or near the advanced level.
The competitions are spread out over the country in a maximum of a 500 mile radius. This causes the cost to be very high to participate, as well as higher entry fees and music costs. Membership dues have ranged from $600 to $1000 in the past, depending on the number of participants and planned travel. This year we will have three overnight trips. Many students have raised the entire amount of their dues; others have just paid their way. Participation in fundraisers is your prerogative; fundraisers are not required, only offered.
Rehearsals are every weekend from 600pm – 10:00pm Friday and 9:00am – 10:00pm on Saturday, unless notified of a change. Please check the web site news section for information and schedule changes before departure. www.vahelmsmen.org - During the weeks prior to regional events, we will switch to 6:00 to until the truck is loaded the night before we depart. We will also have various clinics and workshops throughout the season.
We are off to a great start! We have 39 students in the ensemble! This year’s show will be an original composition by Mike Nevin and James Steinke entitled “Captured” The Search for Immortality.” A comparison between photography and performance .I can truly say that this is a talented group of players with a ton of personality. They exemplify the word character. GREAT THINGS TO COME!
We have not established a budget for the year. We will complete the budget as soon as all the bids are in for busses and lodging. I will have final numbers next week, the preliminary is $950. I ask that anyone wishing to ride the bus let me know immediately so we can secure the proper size bus. As in years past, we will make all purchases for both groups at one time, using the Virginia Helmsmen and Tunstall endorsements to lower cost. Both groups will use the same equipment. Sadly, one of our highest single line item expenses is once again FOOD. We provide meals and snacks for two meals every weekend and at least one meal per day while we are out of town at competitions. (Excluding travel to and from) Our budget is calculated on the expected needs, most things to the penny, and divided by the number of members, less any contributions from the school account and the Booster Club. All payments for food, fundraisers, etc . . . will count towards the final amount. This does not include solid black shoes. (including the sole)
We will once again be sponsoring a raffle to help you with your dues. 100 percent of the ticket sales will be credited to your account. This year we will give away a Wal-Mart Gift Card for $500 and a beautiful Armoire from Hooker Furniture. As always, we will offer web site advertisements and all fees collected will be credited to your account. Other fundraisers TBD.
On Saturday March 9th we will have a dress rehearsal for players and parents to prepare for the 90 second set up and break down. Please plan to come up and have dinner with us followed by the “what to and what not to do” of an indoor show. This will be an open exhibition and we encourage all family members and friends to attend. There’s nothing better than playing for an audience to prepare for a show!
We will travel to Spartanburg, SC on March 16th for our first WGI Regional event. Bus seating will be limited and on a first come first served basis. We will depart at approximately 8:00pm Friday night, eat dinner on the way and return approximately 1:00am Sunday morning. The bus seats are free to parents, but are limited and offered on a first come first served basis. Motel rooms are available at a cost of $70.00 per night.
Our next trip will be to Nashville, TN on March 23rd-25th. We will rehearse on March 22nd from 3:30 until the truck is loaded. Loading will begin around 7:00pm We will depart at 8:00am Friday morning and return around 1:00am Monday morning. This is a two day show, with Prelims on Saturday and Finals on Sunday. Rooms and bus seats will be available upon request. Rooms are at an approx. cost of $75.00 a night. Students departing from Tunstall should plan to attend rehearsal from 6:00 to 10:00pm and stay in Danville.
We will depart for Dayton at 8:00am Wednesday morning April 18th and return April 22nd at approximately 6:00pm Sunday night. Rooms and bus seats are limited; please let us know if you wish to travel with us or come up later. Motel rooms are normally $70-$75 per night. All VH members are welcome to attend TCE rehearsal on the 17th and help with the loading of the truck. Students departing from Tunstall should plan to drive in Tuesday and stay at the VH motel. Students to our west may be picked up along the route.
We have decided to rent the Averett Gym for our home show, April 14th. We will have dinner before the show and several guest ensembles will perform. Please spread the word; it would be nice to fill the house. Admission will be $5.00 per person.
Our last week of rehearsal should prove to be very exciting! Mike Nevin plans to be here to work with TCE April 10th-12th and Mike McIntosh plans to be here as our guest clinician for VH all weekend long. These are tentative and subject to change.
As always, we need help with repairs, welding, sewing, painting, and prop building. If you have some time and would like to help us out, it will be greatly appreciated. Anyone who would like to help with the grocery shopping or weekend meals, please “come on down.”
Rehearsals are always open, during the week and on weekends. Feel free to sit in on rehearsal to see and hear what we are up to.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call or e-mail me at tbray3@comcast.net or 434-836-4573 home, 434-709-9783 cell, 434-724-7111 ext 30 Tunstall High School.