Notes from marching bands across county
By Carole Robinson, Donna O'Neil, staff writers
news@williamsonherald.com
High school bands from across the county have been seen performing in parades, competitions and at half time during football games.
Brentwood High School
“We were very pleased to be awarded second place and be in the same grouping as Marion Catholic High School,” said Brentwood High Band Director Randy Box, who praised both his band and the members of the Marion Catholic High School band, which won the classification, for the performances.
Marion Catholic, he said, “is a private school in the Chicago area and is an outstanding band.”
Independence High School participated in the Bands of America regional championships this past week at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. Brentwood placed 12th overall in the competition.
Although the competition season is over, the band is looking forward to performing in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade. According to the band director, this parade is older than the Macy’s parade, having been established by Gimble’s Department Store five years prior.
The trip to Philadelphia will include a stop in Lancaster County to learn about Amish culture, and after performing, the band will travel to New York City.
“This season has been an emotion journey for us,” said Box. “We will bring it to a conclusion with a trip to Ellis and Liberty islands.”
The band’s half-time program featured an immigration theme, featuring musical selections about the lives of immigrants. The performances included a voice over of the Emma Lazarus poem that is etched on the Statute of Liberty, which reads in part, “Give me your tired your poor…” and interviews from immigrants who came through Ellis Island.
Fairview High School
The Sound O’ Gold marching band at Fairview High, under new director Rick DeBusk, took fourth place in Class 1B at the recent Pulaski Competition. The drumline and color guard also placed fourth place in that competition. Drum Major, Robert Buck received first place Drum Major at Pulaski.
This year, the band program will be offering its first High School Winter Guard and Winter Drum Line, which will compete in the SCGC circuit. This is an extension of the popular Fairview Middle School Guard, which is currently in third place in the South East Color Guard Circuit for Cadet (Middle School only) classification.
Independence High School
Independence High School did not participate in any competitions this past weekend, but did play an exhibition program at the Tennessee Division 2 State Marching Band Championship. They also hosted the event where fellow county school Page High School took first place.
Band Director Chris Cooper said the competition season has wrapped up, but the band has a few more public appearances. In addition to the Franklin Veterans Day Parade where they performed yesterday, “The band will perform in the Franklin and Spring Hill Christmas parades. They will also travel with the football team throughout the post-season championship season.”
Ravenwood High School
It was another growing and learning year for the Ravenwood Marching Band as it celebrated its seventh year. The band program continues to grow in membership and trophies are beginning to show up in the band room.
This year the Raptors took first place for best music and sixth place overall in Class IIIA at the Travelers Rest Invitational and eighth place overall at the Music City Invitational. The field commanders took first place in the Large Division and received the Rod Cameron Memorial Field Commander Challenge Cup at the Music City Invitational.
The band took 11th place overall at the recent Contest of Champions in Murfreesboro.
The show “Shadows” was written for the band by Richard Saucedo from Carmel High School in Carmel, Ind., working with band director Mark Kinzer, to honor a band member who died last year from cancer.
“It’s about the transition from life to the afterlife,” said Dennis Jackson, Band Boosters’ president elect. “The whole concept is about the angel that shadows us through life.”
The first movement represents life, the second is the battle with cancer and the third takes place in heaven.
“It was a great motivation for the kids,” Jackson said. “They knew the girl and they felt inspired. This is a great group of kids – very enthusiastic. They did an outstanding job.”
On Dec. 29, the Raptors Marching Band will head to Dallas, Texas to march in the Cotton Bowl Parade on New Year’s Day and perform in the mass band at halftime during the Cotton Bowl football game.
Carole Robinson can be contacted at crobinson@williamsonherald.com
Donna O’Neil can be contacted at doneil@williamsonherald.com
Posted on: 11/12/2009
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