Pep Band Plays at Library Opening

Members of the student-organized Hayfield Pep Band played at the opening of the new Kingstowne Regional Library on April 11, 2026. Plenty of library patrons stopped to enjoy the music, including some future band members and the Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Jeff McKay.

Summer Band Camp Opportunities

As the weather begins to warm and the days begin to lengthen, this is a great time to think about opportunities for musical education during the summer. We’re talking about band camp, of course! Here’s some information on two camps that are nearby. Of course, there are camps all over the East Coast that have high-quality learning opportunities for students. If you are interested in other recommendations, please contact Mr. Specketer.

JMU Summer Band Camps - July 7-11, 2026

$525 before April 15, $550 after April 15

This camp is a five-day overnight camp offering five different tracks for students: Marching Band, Concert Band, Drumline, Color Guard, and Drum Major camps. Students arrive on Tuesday, July 11, move into their dorm rooms (shared with one other person), then spend the next three days learning repertoire for a final culminating performance on Saturday, July 11.

Mr. Specketer is on the instructional staff for the Marching Band camp and has been a staff member for the JMU SBC for 14 years. It is a great opportunity for students in all tracks to have a fun and engaging experience and learn some things they can bring back to our program. If you have any questions about any of the camps after looking through the website, please ask Mr. Specketer.

George Mason University Summer Band Camp - June 22-27, 2026

$800 + optional residential add on

This is a day-camp with a residential add-on option. From the website: “The camp offers a comprehensive musical experience for students enrolled in music programs or private lessons in grades 6–12 with at least two years of playing experience. Students will enjoy the community of two large ensembles, a Junior High and Senior High Band, instrument specific break out sessions, a myriad of engaging masterclasses, recitals, electives, and social events.”

Indoor Percussion & Winter Guard Win Again!

Hayfield performers in our spring groups continue to notch impressive wins!

On March 21, Hayfield students performing with South County Combined indoor percussion won first place in their division performing at Rock Ridge High School.

A week later, the Hayfield Indoor Guard earned first in their division at their Atlantic Indoor Association Championship event!

Congratulations Hawks!

Marching Hawks 2026 - Preliminary Information

The Marching Hawks perform at the South County Invitational, September 20, 2025.

It is hard to believe, but it is time to start preparing for the 2026 Marching Hawks season. Plans are well underway for our Spring Training event and beyond, so here’s some preliminary information to help you plan your summer.

Band Camp Dates

August 3-7 and August 10-14, from 8:00am to 4:30pm – please do your best to make sure all students are at band camp for both weeks!

August 18 and 19; 5:00-8:00pm

Fees

The current projection is for a slight increase in fees to $320.00 total for the season due to a rise in transportation and production costs. These fees will be assessed in the Fall of 2026 via MySchoolBucks invoicing. Additional fees assessed via the School Store as follows:

• Color Guard Fee - $45.00 – Covers a portion of color guard-specific items.

• Shoe Fee - $40.00 – For first-time Marching Hawks members, or returning members needing to replace their shoes.

• Percussion Fee - $30.00 – FCPS-required fee for all percussion (Battery and Front Ensemble) members for use of school instruments (FCPS N5922)

Spring Training 2026 – May 13 and 14; 3:30-6:00pm

All returning members of the Marching Hawks are invited to participate in the two-day Spring Training event! This serves as a recruitment opportunity for new members as well as instructional time for returning members. Attendance is not mandatory to participate in the 2026 Marching Hawks, but is HIGHLY encouraged!

Links

Our way-too-early 2026 presentation is available below, as well as a registration form for the Spring Training event and season if students already know they want to participate.

Marching Hawks 2026 Presentation

Marching Hawks Spring Training 2026 Form

Marching Hawks 2026 Commitment Form

As always, if you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them. I am still waiting on the football schedule to determine our performance schedule for the season. I will send that information out as soon as possible. I’m looking forward to another great year for the Marching Hawks!

Concert Band Assessment, Indoor Percussion & Winter Guard Deliver Strong Results

On March 11 and March 12, all three Hayfield concert bands participating in the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association Concert Assessment received a Superior rating! Congratulations to the students in the Concert Band, the Symphonic Band, and the Wind Ensemble on this accomplishment!

Participating in a recent competition at South County High School, Hayfield students playing with the South County Combined indoor percussion group earned a second-place finish for their show, “Redacted.” At the same contest, Hayfield’s indoor guard performed their show “Under My Umbrella,” finishing fourth!