12.12.25

Written By David Mobley

Hello Dragon Band Students, Parents and Families,

We had a great Holiday Concert last week!  The Silent Auction was a big success, raising over $4400!!  Kudos to Mrs. Schade for coordinating the efforts and to the others who helped organize and run the auction!  Way to go!!!

Here are the sections whose gift baskets brought in the highest bids!

  • Mellophones $60 - 5 Band Olympics points

  • Trombones $320 - 10 Band Olympics points

  • Clarinets $360 - 15 Band Olympics points

All 9th, 10th and 11th Grade Students:

  • Please fill out this form by the end of next week - Friday, December 18th

  • It would be useful to fill this out in tandem with your parent(s) so we can gather accurate email addresses for everyone

  • We are starting to build our roster for next year and need to know your intentions!

REMINDERS - Coming in January

  • Mulch Sale

    • We’ll begin our annual mulch sale when we come back to school for the spring semester

    • Students sell as many bags of mulch as they can through January and then we deliver all the bags to the customers in March

    • More details to come

  • Sectionals

    • We’ll begin one day per week sectionals for students in Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band

    • Dates and times will be added to the calendar soon

  • Full Orchestra

    • Students in Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony will have the chance to participate in one of our two full orchestras

    • Rehearsals begin in January and go through February to UIL Full Orchestra Concert and Sightreading on March 4th

  • TMEA Area Auditions

    • Students earning a high enough chair at Region Band auditions will advance to the Area level auditions

    • Area auditions are on Saturday, January 10th in Duncanville (near Dallas)

    • The area auditions are important because this is the chance for students to make All State!

  • Jazz Band

    • We’ll start jazz band one day per week in January

    • The group will play at various events in the spring months

Next Week’s Rehearsals

  • None!

TMEA Region Band Auditions

  • Auditions are Friday-Saturday, December 12-13th at Cedar Ridge High School

  • 205 students have signed up to audition!

  • Phase 1 - Friday, December 12th, arrive by 5:30pm

  • Phase 2 - Saturday, December 13th, arrive by 9:00am

  • Considerations for Auditions

Attendance

  • If your student is well enough to attend school, they should be coming to practice and events unless they get sick in the middle of the day and are sent home by the nurse

  • Look ahead at the rehearsal and event schedule and plan your appointments and tutorial help around it

  • The band's calendar is on dragonband.com

  • Attendance at rehearsals and events is mandatory unless otherwise specified

  • Absences due to sickness are excused with notification from a parent if the student has a fever, is vomiting or cannot otherwise get out of bed

  • Absences due to prolonged sickness/injury are excused with a doctor's note

  • Who do I email?  Mr. Mobley for Varsity Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony and Concert Band 2, Ms. Benford for Junior Varsity Marching Band and Symphonic Band and Ms. Bouhadana for Concert Band 1, Mr. Hammack for all Percussion and Mr. Mendieta for Color Guard

  • Absences that are not excused-birthdays, completing homework, studying, test preparation, part time job, pop concerts, parties, vacations, weekend getaways

Grades and Eligibility

  • RRISD Eligibility Calendar

  • Students must remain academically eligible to participate in football games and marching contest performances and all TMEA activities

  • Should a student become ineligible they will still practice with the group during band class and in some cases, outside of the school day

  • There are two types of official grade reporting - IPR (Interim Progress Report) and Report Card

  • We are required to go by these official methods to determine eligibility

Heads Up!

  • Austin Youth Orchestra Auditions

    • Spring Semester auditions are for new members only

    • Video auditions are due December 31, 2025 at 11:59pm

    • Students should:

      • Complete the registration form and pay the audition fee of $35

      • Review the posted Spring 2026 audition materials

      • Upload the audition video using the registration form

      • All information can be found on the 2025-26 Season Audition Page of our website

  • Parents for Arts Education

    • We have an amazing opportunity to get in front of thousands of community members (last year over 32,000 people were there!) at the Round Rock Arts Festival on October 3rd-5th

    • Thanks to Scot Wilkenson and the City of Round Rock Arts and Culture Department, PAE/SAE will be covering the "Make Music" area and we need additional volunteers!  

    • Lots of students need service hours (especially "outside" service hours for NHS) and we can provide that

    • Here's the link to a Google form to sign up for a 3 hour slot

    • https://forms.gle/W3MmuKrBMbuznkVN8

    • 📢 Here's how you can help right now:

      • ✅ Sign up at www.paetx.org – It takes just a minute!

      • ✅ Follow & share our mission on social media to spread the word.

      • ✅ Encourage parents, grandparents, and students (ages 18-118!) to join us.

  • FLUTES

    • All flute students are invited to participate in Austin Flute Society Events this year! We have several events that are made for YOU - the students! Here are a few highlights: 

      • Flootapalooza is a solo performance opportunity open to all students! Learn any solo or etude and perform it for your friends and family on a beautiful stage! Performers will receive positive feedback and an outstanding performer in each age group will be awarded. This exciting event will be held Saturday, February 7. A sign up form will be on the website soon.

    •  All AFS events are $10 to participate OR students can purchase a $20 membership that is good from now until next August, and all events are FREE! For more information and events, they can visit www.austinflutesociety.org

Coming Soon

  • Friday-Saturday 12/12-13, TMEA Region Band Auditions

  • Thursday 12/18 Last day of the fall semester

  • Friday 12/19 - Friday 1/2 Holiday break

  • Tuesday 1/6 Spring Semester begins

  • Saturday 1/10 TMEA Area auditions

  • Tuesday 1/6 Band Booster Meeting, 7:00pm, Band Hall

  • Monday 1/19 No School

  • Friday-Saturday 1/30-1/31, TMEA Region Band Clinic and Concert

  • Friday 2/6 Winter Concert, 6:30pm, Hartfield PAC

Thank You Everyone,

David Mobley

Band Director, Round Rock High School

201 Deepwood Drive, Round Rock, TX 78681

512-464-6028

dragonband.com

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:  This email and any files transmitted with it are subject to the laws and policies regulating confidentiality related to communications with and/or of Round Rock Independent School District's parents, students, and personnel; and, therefore, could be considered confidential. The contents of this transmission are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom this e-mail is addressed. Improper copying or dissemination of this e-mail to individuals other than those permitted to receive same by law and policy may result in legal action. If you are not one of the named recipients or otherwise have reason to believe that you have received this message in error, please notify the RRISD Office of Legal Services at (512) 464-5000

David Mobley
Next

12.5.25