Welcome to District Festival week!

Here's what's coming our way: MHSA District Music Festival events, the return of Hellgate's Swing for a Knight, and the first deadline for the New Orleans band trip. Check our events page and the breakdown below. Thank you for your commitment to excellence at Hellgate! -Mr. Dochnahl

Upcoming Events and Deadlines - See our Events Page for the Full Calendar

• April 17, 7:00 PM, Spring Festival Band Concert at Hellgate featuring all ensembles
  • Preview the concert program
• April 18, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM, all bands perform for MHSA judges at HHS
  • Thursday's Festival Schedule
• April 18 - New Orleans Commitment Contract Due
• April 19 - New Orleans Online Registration Deadline (see your BRT payments form)
• April 20, District Solo/Ensemble Festival at Big Sky High School
  • For Jazz Groups, Percussion, Solos, and all Small Ensembles
  • Saturday solo/ensemble performance schedule
• April 26 - New Orleans 1st payment due online (see your BRT payments form)
• May 1, 7:00 PM at SHS:   Airmen of Note Air Force Jazz Band, REGISTER TO ATTEND NOW
• May 3 or 4, State Music Festival in Helena
• May 8, 6:00 PM, Swing for a Knight Fundraiser Dance Concert at Missoula Fairgrounds Home Arts Building
  • Students, check out tickets from Mr. Dochnahl asap, $10 per ticket, 100% profit. Sell sell sell!
• May 15, 7:00 PM, Hellgate Pops Concert
• May 17, Noami Siegel's touring band workshops at Hellgate during class

District Music Festival this week!  Reminders for our success as a whole:

1. Wednesday, April 17, Spring Festival Concert:  students arrive at 6:30 PM, music starts at 7:00 PM at Hellgate, featuring all our large concert groups and select small ensembles. I'll have a digital program ready to preview ASAP. I can't wait for family/friends to hear another snapshot of what the students are accomplishing together.
2. Thursday:  Be ready in FULL UNIFORM to play for our judges in the auditorium!  Wind Ensemble 8:00 AM, Symphonic Band 8:55, Concert Band 9:30
3. NEW!  Wind Ensemble percussion ensemble, you're scheduled to play your 2 ensembles for judging at 2:30 pm, Thursday, in the band room. 
4. Thursday before 4:00 PM:  Student help needed to load percussion equipment on a truck headed to Sentinel for their festival hosting duties. Thanks for your service and leadership! There's no way I could do all this without you.
5. Saturday solo/ensemble performance schedule. Thank you for being dependable, self-sufficient, and rad! (Hellgate has the most solo/ensemble events signed up so far out of all western MT schools -- Congratulations!)
6. Plan ahead:  take your instrument and music home on Thursday, April 18 because the school and band room will be closed Saturday.
7. Friday afternoon band room for practice:  Practice with your group or accompanist in the Hellgate band room Friday afternoon, April 19. I'd LOVE to help your ensemble/accompanist prepare before Saturday's big day however I can. Email, reach out and I'll be there to help or simply open up the band room for you.
8. Please read the attached Festival Info letter
9. The more you give, the more you get in return. Your service is immensely appreciated to help make this festival a success for all of Hellgate and the region.
10. Remember that YOU can serve as a source of positive encouragement that unleashes the potential all around you, especially during big months like this one.
11. And please help me congratulate our Mean Girls cast, crew, and pit band. Weren't they crazy exceptional in the shows two weeks ago?! Wow!
12. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Keep being awesome.

Band Photo Album: Please view and add photos here. Thank you!

"Swing for a Knight" Fundraiser Dance - Save the Date:  May 8, 6:30-9:00 PM, Home Arts Building at the Missoula County Fairgrounds. Please visit our Swing for a Knight website for info and donations. We need everyone's help in soliciting donations for the event. Thank you for stepping up to get the whole Missoula community involved.