By PASCHAL WARD

Director of Bands

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 at Bainbridge College on March 8-9.

The Georgia Bandmasters Concert Band Festival is an evaluation procedure of musical performance abilities for performing bands and directors. Preparing for the festival allows the opportunity and motivation for learning music during an extended period of time prior to the event as a part of regularly scheduled school work.

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 27th 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” and “Great job, great students and great teaching here in the Decatur County Band Program.”

The Bainbridge Middle School Band, under the direction of James Sewell, 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.  Without the continued support of our community, parents and administration our programs would not continue to benefit our students in their continued efforts towards individual and group growth.

This year’s adjudicators were, Steve McLendon, President of the Alabama Music Educators Association, Randall Key from Hartselle, Ala., and Dr. Chris Walker, from Birmingham, Ala.