HULLABALOO BAND

What is The Hullabaloo Band?

The Hullabaloo Band is the Official Athletic Band of Texas A&M University. The band was founded in June 2004, when Director of Athletics Bill Byrne and Associate Athletic Director Mike Caruso named Mr. Christopher Hollar the first appointed director of the band. The Hullabaloo was created to fill the need and responsibility of a permanent volleyball and basketball pep band for the university athletic department. The band premiered at an Aggie volleyball game on September 4, 2004.

The Hullabaloo serves as the official band of Fightin' Texas Aggie Volleyball and Basketball. The band has performed at every home and postseason game for those sports since its inception and continues its mission of performing and promoting an environment of spirit and support for our Fightin' Aggie teams.

Instrumentation / Organization

The instrumentation consists of 98 members with specific brass, woodwind and percussion instrumentation to support two individual ensembles. The band is organized by assigning members into two 49 piece groups, named the "Maroon" and "White" bands. These two ensembles alternate performances of all regular-season home volleyball and basketball games.

Full Band Instrumentation:

• 8 Alto Saxophones
  
• 6 Tenor Saxophones
  
• 12 Mellophones (in F)
  
• 24 Trumpets
  
• 16 Trombones
  
• 12 Baritones
  
• 12 Sousaphones
  
• 6 Percussion
  
• 2 Electric Bass
  98 Members
  

Maroon Band placement is assigned from returning, junior and senior members. White Band placement is assigned from returning sophomore and new freshman members. All White Band members must perform a successful new or returning member audition. The two bands are then divided into four tournament bands for postseason play.

Auditions / Placement

New Member Auditions

To become a member of the Hullabaloo, each student must attend an initial interview and perform a successful audition for the director. Audition requirements for wind players must include major scale proficiency and a brief sight reading piece. Trumpets, trombones and saxophones must prepare a short etude or solo piece of your choice that best demonstrates your ability on the instrument.

Percussionists should be prepared to play a drum set audition similar to a jazz band audition, demonstrating a variety of style, technique and ability to play strong in the rock, jazz, funk and pop genres.

Returning Member Auditions

Returning member auditions will be based on a review of the students' first year performance and will include major scale proficiency and three short excerpts from the book assigned by the director.

Placement

Preliminary and final placement in the band is based on the student's experience and playing ability. Current returning members may schedule their audition between April 1 and the end of spring semester finals.

Incoming freshmen should contact the director in early summer to schedule and prepare an audition while they are on campus for their New Student Conference. There are no auditions for spring semester. Only a very limited number of students may replace December graduates as needed.

Membership

Conduct

Members are expected to present, perform and conduct themselves in the best manner befitting the responsibility of performing and representing Texas A&M University.

Attendance

Members are expected to attend all scheduled rehearsals and games with their band.

Members are expected to be punctual and in uniform for the scheduled report time.

Members are expected to pursue and schedule substitute players in case of absence.

Members are expected to communicate any issues of attendance with the director.

Uniforms

The Hullabaloo uniform consists of an official Hullabaloo member's polo and black cotton pants with comfortable and appropriate shoes. Shirts must always be tucked.

Tournament Bands

Members are expected to travel once every year to NCAA postseason tournament play. There is no cost for traveling. The department provides transportation, housing and meals. Each member is asked to plan ahead for making their assigned trip, arrange for a substitute or switch with another member if not able to travel. Authorized university excuses are honored for members of the tournament bands but each member is expected to be in good academic standing and to be responsible for any missed work.

Performance Stipend

All Hullabaloo members are awarded an athletic department all-sports pass and performance stipend for their participation in the band. The sports pass is awarded the first week of school every fall semester and requires a 5-game volleyball attendance record.

Each member is eligible to receive a performance stipend from the athletic department for participation during basketball season. An individual game amount is awarded and accounted for with each member's attendance. This allows members to earn their stipend which is issued at the end of the season.

Holiday Band

All members who live locally or within a reasonable distance to campus are asked and expected to play in the Hullabaloo Holiday Band. This band is responsible for all games played outside of the academic calendar but especially during the December / January Holiday Break. This 30-piece ensemble has a similar, small Tournament Band instrumentation and awards members per-game compensation for travel and participation.

Instruments and Music

Instruments are provided for horn, baritones, sousaphones and percussion only. All others must have their own instrument. Music is passed out and collected at every game but students may use folders for individual practice.

Director

Mr. Christopher Hollar is the Director of Athletic and Jazz Bands at Texas A&M University. Mr. Hollar holds B.M. and M.M. degrees in percussion and jazz performance studies from the University of Tennessee.

Hollar is an accomplished jazz and studio drummer from Knoxville and the East Tennessee area and was awarded a graduate assistantship as percussion coordinator for the Tennessee band program.

Mr. Hollar studied jazz under professors Keith Brown, Jerry Coker, Mark Boling, Donald Brown and Rusty Holloway. Mr. Hollar's band experience and training came under the tutelage of Dr. Gary Sousa and Dr. Don Ryder.