Marching Band

Marching Band 2026

The April 28 parent meeting will include a conversation about what marching band should look like next year. This is not a question about whether marching band has value. It does. The question is whether the current structure is the best fit for our students, families, and program goals.

The Main Conversation

We need to talk directly about:

• competitive marching band

• noncompetitive fall participation

  • Friday night football games

  • pep rallies

  • parades

• funding

• what it takes to make a competitive season truly competitive

• what our community wants this part of the program to be

As it stands now, students are in favor of a competitive marching band season and have a basic understanding of that it requires to ensure that they are able to both produce a show they are proud of as well as have a legitimate oppurtinity of competitive suceess. 

Competitive Marching Band

A truly competitive marching band season requires:

• consistent attendance

• summer preparation

• field rehearsal time

• instructional staff

• drill/design support

• transportation

• equipment and logistics

• family and booster support

• clear funding

Competition can be a strong experience for students, but it has to be supported at a level that matches the goal.

In marching band, success is not only about placement or trophies. Bands are evaluated against a performance standard and also ranked in comparison to the other groups at each event. Scores and placements can change from week to week based on the contest, the judges, the timing of the season, and the other bands in attendance.

For us, success means students are prepared, supported, and able to perform at the highest level they are capable of achieving. That requires the instruction, equipment, design, transportation, staffing, rehearsal time, and family support needed to help them reach that level.

Noncompetitive Fall Participation

One of the questions for next year is how to include more students in the visible fall life of the band program, even if they are not doing the full competitive marching band commitment.

This includes:

• Friday night football games

• pep rallies

• parades

• school/community performances

• stands music

• school spirit events

At this point, the goal is to move toward a strongly encouraged model. That means if there is a real reason a student needs to miss, that can be communicated and discussed. Otherwise, the expectation is that band students participate in these visible school events. This is not being presented as a full requirement yet.

Why This Matters

Concert band and the concert season remain the center of the Ashley Band program. The fall structure should support the full program, not drain it. At the same time, fall events are one of the most visible ways the band serves the school community. Students who are not in competitive marching band can still contribute to that part of the program and we encourage them to do so.

Known / Working 2026 Dates

These dates are provided for family planning. The Google Calendar remains the official source of truth.

Summer / Preseason

• July 28-July 31, 2026 - leadership week

• August 4-8, 2026 - band camp

• August 11-15, 2026 - band camp

Fall

• September 26, 2026 - mattress fundraiser

• October 1, 2026 - likely competition date (Northside HS or Raleigh, NC)

• October 10, 2026 - likely competition date (White Oak HS)

• October 17, 2026 - Pirate Classic, Topsail HS - confirmed / registered

• October 24, 2026 - tentative competition date (Swansboro HS or other) 

• October 31, 2026 - tentative competition date (Halloween) (Havelock HS or Midway HS)

Families should treat Saturdays from September 26 through October 31 as likely band activity days. We will participate in 3-4 competitions and will likely have rehearsal on Saturdays where we do not have a show.

The final competition may be on Halloween. Current student leadership and staff and in open talks about this decision.

Football Games

The band attends Ashley home football games and in-county away games against Hoggard, New Hanover, and Laney. The full Fall 2026 football schedule has not been publicly confirmed yet.

Funding

Competitive marching band has real costs.

Those costs include instructional staff, design, color guard equipment and uniforms, wind/percussion uniform tops, UDB/BEAM drill and music app access, props, equipment, transportation, competition-related logistics, meals, water, maintenance, and replacement items.

Part of the April 28 conversation is whether our community wants to support a competitive season at the level required to make it strong.

The known/likely core estimate for a 60-student competitive season is about $35,350, or about $589 per student in actual per-pupil cost, including transportation but before variable props and equipment.

Props and equipment are the largest unknowns right now. We would typically plan around $2,000-$4,000 for props and $1,000-$5,000 for equipment needs such as instruments, wheels, sound, and front ensemble equipment. With those variable needs included, the realistic full estimate is closer to $38,000-$44,000, or about $640-$740 per student in actual per-pupil cost.

NHCS has covered transportation for the past two years, and at this point we believe that coverage will continue. If so, the shared funding goal for the band may be closer to $32,000-$38,000, or about $540-$640 per student, depending on props and equipment needs.

That number is not a participation requirement for any individual student. Our model is to set Fair-Share Funding Goals and strongly encourage families to help meet those goals through fundraiser participation, sponsorship acquisition, booster support, school/district support where available, optional family contributions when families choose that option, or some combination of those.

Separate student clothing orders, such as shoes, socks, show shirts, jackets, optional sweatshirts, and additional family shirts, would be handled separately because those needs vary by student and by family.

2026 Competitive Marching Band Funding

What Happens Next

More specific registration/intent information will follow after the April 28 meeting.

The goal is to complete fall marching band registration by May 15 with a firm understanding on how we plan to move forward.