Hullabaloo Band
The Hullabaloo is an athletic department sponsored student organization consisting of a select group of 150 student musicians that serve as the official pep band of Texas A&M University supporting Volleyball and Men’s & Women’s Basketball at all regular season home and post season tournament games.
Check the section below to learn more about our band.
For more information on Hullabaloo Band, please email Martin England, Director of Volleyball/Basketball Bands.
ORGANIZATION
- The total membership is divided into two bands that alternate the game schedule to keep the organization time commitment friendly
- Each student with confirmed placement by early August is awarded a complimentary all sports pass for participation in the band
- Members receive Adidas band apparel and have the opportunity to travel with the teams to post season SEC Conference and NCAA Tournament games
ELIGIBILITY/AUDITION PROCEDURE
- Members must be classified as full time registered undergraduate or graduate students of Texas A&M
- Auditioning members must be entering freshman with high school band experience, or upperclassmen who have a consistent record of Band experience from another university ensemble.
- Students must perform a successful audition for the director on their principal instrument defined in the auditions requirements below.
- Incoming freshmen should contact the director in early summer to schedule and prepare your audition while you are on campus for your New Student Conference (NSC)
SCHEDULING AN AUDITION
To Audition, please email Mr. Martin England at mengland@athletics.tamu.edu OR click here for more.
- For incoming Freshmen, the best time to audition is the afternoon before your New Student Conference. Other audition times are available and need to be scheduled with the director. If you are a current student, an audition should be scheduled before the end of this semester.
- For the audition, you will still need to select and perform material that includes two contrasting excerpts which exhibit both technical facility and lyrical qualities. Students should prepare approximately two minutes of each style. You will also receive a sight-reading selection via email very shortly before your audition time.
- We understand that there may be circumstances where you may usually use a school instrument that you may not have access to at this time. We want everyone to have as successful audition as they can, so please communicate this with the director after you complete your audition form. We will handle these on a case by case basis.
- For Drum Set: You may or may not have access to equipment/instruments for your audition. We will work with you on a case by case basis and will consider what you have available or possible past recordings. Please complete the form and the director will contact you to discuss options.
- To speak with a director by phone, please call 903.372.2532 and leave a message that includes your name, call back number, instrument played. The director will call you back within 2 business days.
CONCERT/JAZZ AUDITIONS
If you are planning to audition and play in a University Concert or Jazz Band, that audition counts for Hullabaloo membership, just schedule and follow the audition guidelines for those ensembles and notify me of that date and time. To audition for Hullabaloo only, follow the audition requirements below.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS: SAXOPHONE, TRUMPETS AND TROMBONE
- Scales: Concert Bb, F, Eb and Ab major
- Region Solo Etude: A prepared TMEA Region or comparable solo etude, 1-2 minutes in length, medium tempo or faster that best demonstrates your ability for technique and musical style on the instrument
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS: MELLOPHONES (in F), BARITONES (bass clef) AND SOUSAPHONES
Successful Concert Auditions and placement on French Horn, Euphonium and Tuba auditions are accepted.
Auditions for Mellophones, Marching Baritones and Sousaphones may be exempt based on availability and the student’s record of high school experience on these instruments. If necessary students will perform two scales and a sight reading audition on the school provided instruments.
- Scales: Concert Bb, F
- Two short sight reading excerpts assigned by the director
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS: DRUM SET, ELECTRIC BASS
- Student must demonstrate proficiency on drum set, being able to demonstrate a strong ability to play time and fills in a rock and funk musical setting following musical charts. A record of high school jazz band experience or private drum set study is required.
- Bass players must be proficient reading bass music and a record of high school jazz band or private lesson experience is required.
