Remember the name. Hexatonics is a newly formed jazz ensemble that is looking for playing opportunities. The group consists of five trumpet payers and one drummer.

A new, student-made jazz ensemble has arrived in Altoona, and its name is Hexatonics.

The ensemble consists of sophomores Emmanuel Bulabon, Evan Getty, Heaven Williams, Addison Carles, Lukas Umholtz and freshman Dominic Sparacino.

“It all started Christmas 2024,” Bulabon said. “It wasn’t really official then, but it was me, Heaven, Addie and Evan. We were going to perform at this party, just for fun, and then in mid-September I saw a post where Lakemont was asking for music groups to perform for Lights on the Lake… so we added Dom and Lucas.”

“The mastermind behind everything was Emmanuel Bulabon,” Sparacino said. “He asked us, ‘I want to start a jazz band, because we’re all good friends.’ Everyone would play. The five [trumpets] plus Lucas, and we play at gigs.”

“He mentioned that they needed a rhythm section, and I said that I could do it, me being a jazz drummer,” Umholtz said.

Playing as a jazz ensemble has provided new challenges for the members of Hexatonics.

“What we learn with dynamics and reading rhythms and the synchronization of what we learn in band, we try to incorporate that in what we do in Hexatonics,” Carles said.

“The environment, it’s just a little different,” Sparacino said. “Five trumpets, one drum, and then obviously more complex and demanding charts than you’d see in regular jazz or concert band.”

Hexatonics’ next gig will be at Lights on the Lake on Dec. 13.

“Our Lakemont [Lights on the Lake] performance is hopefully going to set us off for more people to look into our group,” Carles said. “Maybe not hire us, but even just let us play at their things.”

The members of Hexatonics hope to level up their playing in the future.

“We hope that we can go to more places,” Williams said. “Lights on the Lake is a really good start to it… People really like hearing us play. Then they’ll talk to us and we get another gig.”

“In the future, I’d like to act as more of a professional band instead of a school group,” Getty said.

“Expect big things,” Sparacino said. “In a few months, you will hear the name Hexatonics all around Altoona. Remember the name. Anything is possible.”