Percussion Ensemble

Advisor:   
Jim Jacobsen

Description:   

Meeting Days/Time:   
1 rehearsal a week - before school on Fridays.

Eligibility & How To Sign-up:
Open to percussion students enrolled in band. Sign up in band class.

Jazz Ensemble

Advisor:   
Jim Jacobsen

Description: 
HHS currently has two Jazz Ensembles. Jazz Ensemble I is the top ability level jazz group at HHS and students must audition in the fall to be a member of this group. Jazz Ensemble II is a non-auditioned group and is focused on the development of Jazz style and ensemble playing. Except for guitarists and bass players, members of the jazz ensembles must be current members of one of the concert bands. Both groups rehearse two times per week and perform for a variety of events throughout the year. Besides numerous community performances, the groups travel to major jazz festivals each year. The Jazz Ensembles also perform three major concerts per year, including a concert featuring a professional guest artist and a combined concert with HHS Vocal Jazz. Students in the Jazz Program at HHS get the opportunity to learn and perform a truly American art form, Jazz, while having a blast. These groups play a wide variety of music and since there is only one student per musical part, the importance of the individual is emphasized. 

Meeting Days/Time:   
Each ensemble meets 2 times per week (Tues & Thurs after school and Weds. morning).

Eligibility & How To Sign-up:
Open to 9-12th grade band students (although non band students are eligible for the rhythm section, since those are not traditional band instruments). Audition information is provided in the first two weeks of school. Students audition and are selected for an ensemble. $150.00 participation fee. Additional fees are possible for Jazz Festivals, ranging from approximately $90-$200.

Marching Band and Color Guard

Advisor:   
Emily Chandler

Description:   
The Hastings Raiders Marching Band is a co-curricular activity of the band department. This state championship group is comprised of students grades  9-12 who perform in summer parades, home football games, and compete in fall field shows. The band participates in performance tours bi-yearly across the United States. The Hastings Raiders Marching Band is composed of an extraordinary group of fine musicians, and dedicated students who show pride in the band as well as the school. For incoming freshmen, this is an excellent opportunity for students to be acclimated to high school by making close friends, and being a part of an award winning organization. Students who wish to join marching band who are not in a band program may join the color guard, or the visual dance portion of the group. The Color Guard complements the music the Hastings Raiders Marching Band performs through the use of flags, rifles, sabers, theater, and dance. Dance training is helpful, but not required.

Meeting Days/Time:   
2 nights (Tuesdays and Thursdays) 5-9 pm.

Eligibility & How To Sign-up:
Open to students enrolled in band or orchestra. No prerequisite needed for color guard. Register with a google form that will be emailed.  $150 participation fee plus additional fees ranging from $300-$800 to cover travel and operating expenses.

Pep Band

Advisor:   
Emily Chandler

Description:   
The Hastings Raiders Winter Pep Band offers students the excitement of performing at athletic events during the winter season. The primary role of the pep band is to create enthusiasm and spread school spirit at school activities. Pep Band, like every co-curricular band ensemble at HHS, is an extension of the curricular bands. Members of our co- curricular ensembles must be enrolled in one of the bands at HHS. Students with expertise on all wind instruments and percussion are encouraged to participate. The Pep Band plays for wrestling, basketball, and hockey games as well as in school pep fests and coronations. The Pep Band also follows the teams into post season play and will perform beginning with section finals. The Pep Band season generally runs from mid-December through March, depending on the tournament fortunes of the sports teams.

Meeting Days/Time:    
Depends on game times.

Eligibility & How To Sign-up:
Any band students may join.  There is a Google Form to sign up.

Show Choir

Advisor:   
Luke Warren

Description:   
There are 2 Hastings High School Show Choirs - Riverside Company (Varsity Mixed Voice Group) and Dynamic Edition (All Soprano/Alto Group). Both groups prepare a competitive 15-20 minute show that is performed both at home shows and competitions in the upper Midwest. All singers in the groups must be part of a curricular choir that rehearses during the day. Rehearsals for these co-curricular groups are traditionally on Mondays and Wednesdays with special choreography rehearsals scheduled on weekends. All three groups have won numerous awards throughout the last 20 years, including many grand champion awards, best vocals, best choreography, best band and best male and female soloist.

Meeting Days/Time:   
Twice a week on Monday's and Wednesday's - some additional choreography rehearsals. 3:00 - 6:00 pm.

Eligibility & How To Sign-up:
Open to 9th - 12th Grade students.  Audition information is provided in the first two weeks of school. Students audition and are selected for an ensemble. $150 participation fee. Additional fees ranging from $500-$800 pay for costumes, hotels, travel, music rights, music arrangements.