The Bainbridge High School Concert bands received Superior Ratings in all captions during the Georgia Bandmasters Association State Concert Band Festival.

The festival was held at the Kirbo Center on March 5-6.

There were 25 bands in attendance this year from throughout the south Georgia area. The festival has grown in attendance state wide and offers a musical evaluation process for both middle school and high school bands and their directors.

This year marks the 25th consecutive year the Bainbridge High School Bands have captured this top rating.

The concert band, under the direction of James Sewell, received high praises from the adjudicators on their musical performance.

The BHS Symphonic band, under the direction of Paschal Ward, performed literature of high demand. All of the judges were very complimentary of this band’s performance. Some of the comments made by the judges were, “What an outstanding musical performance,” “Great job, great students and great teaching here in the Decatur County Band Program.”

The Bainbridge Middle School Band, under the direction of Joy Grimsley, also received Superior Ratings. This band is made up of both seventh- and eighth-grade students.

“We directors are all very pleased with the progress our students continue to make,” Ward said. “Without the continued support of our community, parents and administration our programs would not continue to benefit our students in their continued efforts toward individual and group growth.”

This year’s adjudicators were Steve Mclendon, president of the Alabama Music Educators Association; James Smith, professor of music from Troy University, and Chris Walker from Birmingham, Ala.