The award winning Bainbridge High School Marching Bearcat Band drum majors Devin Thompson and Grace McIntosh truly enjoyed leading the halftime shows at Bainbridge High School Bearcats football games this season.
“We featured some recent hits from great musical artists at this year’s halftime shows,” Thompson said. “Ray Charles is one of my favorite vocalists and we featured his classic ballad ‘Georgia On My Mind’ a long with ‘Some Nights’ by Fun and ‘Rock this Town’ by Stacy Cats.
“As always, we also enjoyed getting the crowds fired up by playing for the cheerleaders sideline performances and playing as our Bearcat team enters the field from the middle of the inflated Bearcat in from of the field house at home games.”
Sophomore McIntosh agreed and pointed out that her experience with the softball team and the band taught her a lot of leadership qualities.
“After games, the players often come over to us and we play the Bainbridge High School alma mater,” McIntosh said.
Preparation for the football season halftime shows begin at band camp, which starts three weeks before the opening of the school year. Both Thompson and McIntosh said the inspiration of their families was very instrumental in their growth as students and musicians. Both received outstanding musician awards as freshmen.
Thompson is also the announcer for Bainbridge High School Lady Cats and Bearcats home basketball games.
During concert season, Thompson plays the contra bass clarinet and McIntosh plays the alto saxophone. Director of bands Paschal Ward writes the music for the football halftime shows.
For 39 consecutive years, Ward’s Bainbridge High School concert bands have received superior ratings. Before coming to Bainbridge, Ward was band director at Livingston University in Alabama.