New Member Information

Welcome to the Stonewall Brigade Band! We hope that you will enjoy playing with us and getting to know other local musicians.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals are from 7:30-9:00pm every Monday evening, including most holidays. Members may arrive as early at 7:00pm so that they can be tuned up and ready to play by 7:30pm.

Rehearsals for the summer season begin in early January. Although it may not be feasible for everyone to have perfect attendance, the SBB does expect members to attend at least 75% of the rehearsals to ensure adequate familiarity with the music.  The summer concert season begins the first Monday of June and runs though the last Monday of August.

After a break during the month of September, rehearsals resume the first Monday in October to prepare music for the Holiday Concert (usually the second or third Monday of December) and to preview music for the next summer season. Again, perfect attendance is ideal but the SBB expects musicians to attend at least two-thirds of rehearsals.

Absences

Let your section leader know as soon as possible when you will be unavailable for a rehearsal or a performance so that parts can be reassigned if needed. The section leader will inform the director if enough members of the section will be absent to impact the music selected for a rehearsal or performance.

Inclement Weather

The SBB follows the inclement weather policy for the Blue Ridge Community College for evening classes. If the evening classes are closed, we are closed. We will also send an announcement via email; please make sure that your contact information is up to date!

Because summer concerts in Gypsy Hill Park are under the cover of the band stand, rain is not enough to cancel a performance! If severe weather is in the forecast, the Music Director may cancel a concert out of caution for SBB members’ and the audience’s safety.

Parking

During rehearsals, parking is available in the field across the street. Because there is not a streetlight at the intersection between the field and the band room, we suggest carrying a flashlight to help you be more visible to drivers after dark. Be careful not to block cars. Do not block the entrance by parking between the light pole and the sign post. Convenient summer concert parking is behind the Stonewall Brigade Band gazebo in Gypsy Hill Park. Please do not park on any mulched area.

Music

The SBB plays music of different genres and of varying difficulty. Summer concerts may have different themes, such as Halloween in August or Broadway Shows. Music suggestions are welcome!

Rehearsals-All music, by instrumentation, is located on the music shelves in the  smaller rehearsal room (aka the museum side). Please be aware that the flute ensemble rehearses in the museum side before SBB rehearsal and keep noise to a minimum. During rehearsal keep your music in order and return to the shelf before you leave. The librarian appreciates your help in making her job easier! SBB music is NOT permitted to leave the building. Those who would like to practice more difficult passages are encouraged to take photos with their phones or to make use of the copier by the music shelves.

Concerts– All music is placed in formal black folders and kept in black boxes according to instrumentation. It is each member’s responsibility to retrieve and return music folders to the appropriate boxes. Remember music may not be taken home. Please keep the music in concert order. The librarian will have the black boxes  set up at each concert venue.

Concerts

In addition to the summer concert series in Gypsy Hill Park, the SBB may play at other community events and venues. Specific dates will be announced and sign up sheets available in the band room. Also check the google calendar on our website.

Concert Attire

Effective May 27th, 2024, SBB concert attire is all black.

For a more-uniform look, it is preferred that members wear a polo shirt with an embroidered logo. Polo shirts may be purchased at or brought to Shenandoah Awards & Apparel (https://www.shenawards.com/) for embroidery. Please allow 7-10 days for the work to be completed.

Skirts or dressed should be long enough to cover the knees when one is seated. No leggings, please!

Fees

There are no dues or fees required to join the SBB. All members are volunteers.

Board of Directors

The Stonewall Brigade Band is an all-volunteer band and has a Board of Directors who meet once a month to deal with the business of the band. Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month. There are several committees you can serve on that helps the band in many ways. If you have any advice or thoughts, please let one of the board members know.

Full Membership

Individuals become “associate members” upon participating in a rehearsal or concert and become full members for life when voted upon by the members after six months active participation by attending at least half the rehearsals during that time. Active full members have the privilege of voting in band business meetings.

Full members who do not attend at least one rehearsal during each three-month period are placed on the inactive list until participation resumes with attendance at half or more of the rehearsals during a three-month period. Placement within sections of the band is determined cooperatively by members of the section, under the direction of the section leader.

If you have any questions you may contact your section leader, any board member, or call or text Tanya Faidley, new member contact, at 540-416-3512 or email at tnfaidley2@gmail.com.

Welcome and have fun!