Preseason Camp Information - Fall 2025
2025 Preseason Camp dates August 15 - 22
All SOSA members are encouraged to download the “Slack” app and create an account for communication. Slack will be the main source of communication throughout the season. You will be enrolled into SOSA Slack on check-in day by your section leaders (Student Staff). We recommend you use your school email for Slack. Download the app from slack.com. If you are having issues regarding Slack email sosa@utsa.edu
“Step 3” - Complete the Member Information Form required for all members/sections:
Housing Deadlines for Dorms and University Oaks:
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DEADLINE is JULY 15, 2025 to complete the following to gain Early Move In access to your dorm beginning on the same day as SOSA Check-In day:
You must secure your own housing contract through the UTSA Housing Office. UTSA Bands, SOSA, or the School of Music does not provide housing.
Register for marching band course course through your ASAP Registration Portal.
Complete Membership Information Form by the deadline to be placed on the Early Move In list.
Once you have completed the steps above, UTSA Housing will reach out to you shortly with instructions on confirming your early move in. Please be patient as UTSA Housing has a lot of students to communicate with over the summer. Email SOSA here if you have not received early move in instructions after 14 days.
Membership in The Spirit of San Antonio DOES NOT guarantee you a room. It is a common misconception that UTSA has special rooms available for marching band members. THIS IS NOT TRUE. If you have not yet applied for housing through the UTSA Housing Office, do so immediately.
Advising Appointments. If you are an incoming UTSA student, it is best to request an advising appointment/Freshman Orientation date that is BEFORE the posted deadline.
See course numbers here for registration.
*Dorm early move-in is only available to those who have registered for the marching band course.
*All SOSA members living in UTSA dorms are expected to attend all band meetings and rehearsals during preseason camp.
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DEADLINE is JULY 21, 2025 to request an Early Move In from University Oaks. Complete the following:
Register for marching band course course.
Complete Membership Information Form
Email info@universityoaksutsa.com to request an Early Move In form to move in the same day as SOSA Check-In day. You must have a housing contract set up with University Oaks. This step must be complete before the deadline.
Membership in The Spirit of San Antonio DOES NOT guarantee you a room. It is a common misconception that UTSA has special rooms available for marching band members. THIS IS NOT TRUE. If you have not yet applied for housing, do so immediately. Students living in University Oaks are still expect to attend all meetings and rehearsals during summer band camp.
Advising Appointments. If you are an incoming UTSA student, it is best to request an advising appointment/Freshman Orientation date that is BEFORE the posted deadline.
See course numbers here for registration.
*University Oaks early move-in is only available to those who have registered for the marching band course.
*All SOSA members living in University Oaks are expected to attend all band meetings and rehearsals during preseason camp.
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SOSA members living in off-campus housing are expected to attend all band meetings and rehearsals during preseason camp. Please make housing and transportation arrangements to attend preseason camp starting on SOSA Check In day. It is best to move into housing ON or BEFORE the first day of Preseason Camp Check In. SOSA, UTSA Bands, or the UTSA School of Music does not communicate with off campus housing.
Be sure to communicate with landlord and/or roommates.
August 2025 Preseason Band Camp Schedule
(Updated May 27, 2025)
All SOSA members are expected to attend all band meetings and rehearsals during preseason summer band camp.
Friday, August 15
SOSA Check-in / Move-in
Second Floor of Arts Building
9:00am - 4:00pm - Check-in - All Members
Students may check in anytime during this time period. The check in process generally takes about 45 minutes. Students are encouraged to also use this time to move into housing facilities. You will receive a detailed daily schedule when you check-in.
6:30pm - FULL SOSA Membership - Mandatory meeting in Art Building Recital Hall (Second floor).
What do I do when I arrive for Summer Band/Preseason Training?
Report to the second floor lobby of the ART Building on the east side of campus for check-in (UTSA School of Music is located inside the ART building. Campus Map HERE). All members will report on Friday starting at 9am for registration. Parking lot nearest to ART building can be found HERE.
Saturday, August 16
(Attendance taken at all 3 rehearsal blocks)
10a- 12p - All NEW wind players in Recital Hall; ALL Auxiliaries report to instructors; All Percussion report to instructor
12p - 2p - Lunch on your own
2p - 5p - All NEW wind players in music sectionals assigned rooms; Auxiliaries report to instructors; Percussion report to instructor
5p - 7p - Dinner on your own
7p - 10:00p - All NEW wind players on SOSA Field; Auxiliaries report to instructors; Percussion report to instructor
Be sure to communicate with your landlord and/or roommates.
Sunday, August 17
(Attendance taken at all 2 rehearsal blocks)
2p - 5p - All NEW wind players in music sectionals assigned rooms; Auxiliaries report to instructors; Percussion sectionals report to instructor
5p - 7p - dinner on your own
7p - 10:00p - FULL WINDS MUSIC REHEARSAL in UTSA Music Recital Hall; Auxiliaries report to instructors; Percussion sectionals report to instructor
Be sure to communicate with your landlord and/or roommates.
Monday, August 18 - Thursday, August 21
(Attendance taken at all 3 rehearsal blocks)
10a - 12p - FULL WINDS MUSIC REHEARSAL in UTSA Music Recital Hall; Auxiliaries report to instructors; Percussion report to instructor
12p - 2p - Lunch on own
2p - 5p - Full Winds Music sectionals in assigned rooms; Auxiliaries report to instructors; Percussion report to instructor
5p - 7p - Dinner on your own
7p - 10:00p - FULL BAND (winds, aux, perc) on SOSA Field
Be sure to communicate with your landlord and/or roommates.
NOTE -
Pregame Spots assigned Monday evening based on adequate visual and musical progress as well as attendance at camp
Prelude and Show 1 Spots assigned Tuesday evening based on adequate visual and musical progress as well as attendance at camp
Friday, August 22 - SWAG DAY
(Attendance taken at all 3 blocks)
10a-12p - FULL WINDS MUSIC REHEARSAL in UTSA Music Recital Hall; Auxiliaries report to instructors; Percussion sectionals report to instructor
12p - 2p - Lunch on own
2p - 3p - Full Winds Music sectionals in assigned rooms; Auxiliaries report to instructors; Percussion sectionals report to instructor
3p - 4p - Winds and percussion rehearsal in recital Hall
4p - 4:30p - Distribute New Member Swag
4:30p - 6p - Dinner on your own
6:30p - FULL BAND in UTSA Music Recital Hall- Distribute/Dress in SWAG, warm-up for debut performance
7:15p - Set up in tunnel
7:30p - 8:30p - Debut Performance at UTSA Paseo Steps; dismiss approximately 8:30
Sunday, August 24 - First SOSA GIG!
(Attendance Taken)
MIDNIGHT LIGHT EVENT
10:30p - field house opens
11p - field house closes
11:30p - band ready to perform in front of school next to University school sign (sign closest to University bus loop)
UTSA Summer Band FAQ’s
Do I need to audition for the Marching Band?
The “Spirit of San Antonio” currently serves as a non-audition marching ensemble as we continue in our growth over the next few years. However, we strongly encourage students to look over and be comfortable with the materials in the assessment packet. The assessment packets include materials used during the season and will be used to asses individuals when placing parts amongst the ensemble.
UTSA Athletic Band Assessment Packets are available for download - HERE
UTSA Athletic Band Percussion Packet is available for download - HERE
Why do you have a Summer Band/Preseason Training session?
College Bands are noted for excellence in performance. Texas College Bands are noted as being models for College Bands all across the country. To achieve this excellence, we must be able to execute the fundamentals of marching and playing at a very high level. Because we learn and perform different halftime shows throughout the season, everyone must be able to learn and polish a new show quickly and efficiently.Preseason Training provides all Marching Band members, new and returning, the opportunity to get into shape physically, mentally, and musically so that we can work together to produce exciting performances.The emphasis is on fundamentals, but we will also be learning music and drill maneuvers for the season ahead. The quality of our Summer Session has a lot to do with the success of our season.
Pregame/Half Time Marching Positions
Members who display proper visual and musical skills during band camp will be assigned marching positions. This is to ensure the safety of our performers.
Pregame positions are assigned on Monday of summer band camp.
Half Time show positions are assigned on Tuesday of summer band camp.
Members who do not attend summer band camp or who do not display proper visual and musical skills will be assigned as alternates until skills are improved or a spot becomes available.
I heard that the Summer Band/Preseason Training session is pretty tough.
We will approach this important training period very seriously. It is intense and we work under strict time limits. Summer Band is designed to train our members for the season ahead. We work hard during rehearsals, but you will enjoy the camaraderie and satisfaction that comes from working hard to accomplish something worthwhile.Thousands of college band performers go through this same training period all across the nation each August. We believe that you will find the training session to be carefully planned and extremely efficient. We promise to do everything possible to make your experience informative and rewarding.
What will the schedule for Summer Band be like?
The normal daily schedule for Preseason Training is as follows:
Keep in mind that this is only a sample schedule. You will be given a detailed daily schedule when you register for training. We make every effort to use this time in a productive and efficient manner.
10:00 am - 12:00 pm Drill (Rehearsal Field)
12:00 pm - 01:30 pm Lunch
01:30 pm - 04:30 pm Music Rehearsals
04:30 pm - 06:30 pm Dinner
06:30 pm - 09:30 pm Drill (Rehearsal Field)
What if I have to attend Orientation and Registration during preseason camp?
Email SOSA@utsa.edu to discuss your important business with the band directors.
What about medical appointments?
Please make every effort to schedule appointments before or after preseason camp. If you have an appointment to attend, email SOSA@utsa.edu to discuss the band directors.
What about meals during Preseason Training?
You must provide your own meals during Preseason Training. There are many fast food and family-style restaurants in the area around campus. Many students also bring breakfast items eat in their residence hall or apartments.
Due to the rigorous physical activity involved in our preseason camp, all students are encouraged to eat well balanced meals three times a day.
What about going through sorority/fraternity rush?
If you wish to go through sorority/fraternity rush, you may certainly do so. However, if you are a first-semester freshman, it is not recommended that you try to do too much your first term in college.
Being in The UTSA SOSA and a sorority or fraternity will place a lot of demands on your time; some of that time should be devoted to studying! Some students are able to do both, but you should weigh the pros and cons carefully.If you decide to go through rush during our Preseason Training Session, you will be responsible for keeping up with everything that is taught in rehearsals that you miss, and you will be evaluated on the same standards as those who attended all rehearsals.