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On Friday, March 30, the Aiken
Middle School Symphonic Band and Jazz Band loaded a bus and
headed for
Myrtle Beach
to participate in the Fiesta-Val Invitational Music Festival and
Competition. This event showcases some of the finest bands,
choirs and orchestras in the nation. This particular site hosted
bands from
New York
,
Maryland
,
Georgia
,
Virginia
,
Florida
and
South Carolina
. The opportunity for Aiken Middle to participate was a large
step for the program.
The Jazz Band performed first at
Coastal
Carolina
University
followed by the Symphonic Band performance at
Myrtle Beach
High School
. The two brilliant performances caused a great deal of suspense
as everyone had to wait until Saturday night to hear the
results.
The awards ceremony, held at
Medieval Times, was dominated by Aiken Middle. The Symphonic
Band earned a
Superior
rating, the highest rating possible, and a first-place finish
among the middle school bands. The Jazz Band awards came next
with the same results, a
Superior
rating and first-place finish. The middle school championship
trophy was next. To earn the championship, a school must have at
least two ensembles perform, and at least one concert band. The
score of the concert band is added to the score of the second
ensemble to determine which school performed best in all areas.
Aiken
Middle School
was recognized as the Middle School Champion.
The final award given was the
biggest and is known as the Grand Champion. The Grand
Championship is awarded to the school with the highest scores
regardless of age, grade, or division. In order to win this
award, Aiken Middle had to compete not only with the other
middle schools, but also with the high schools - Aiken Middle
won. In short,
Aiken
Middle School
dominated every category of music in which they participated.
The icing on the cake: Kelly Huff earned special recognition for
her bass clarinet solo in the jazz band performance.
The achievements at the festival
are a result of three years of hard work by the young musicians
at AMS; work that would have been impossible without the support
and dedication of the parents, staff and administration. This
performance follows the great success at the concert festival at
USCA where the Symphonic Band and Concert Band earned
Superior
ratings. These bands from Aiken Middle are two of only four
bands that earned such distinction at the inaugural event.
The bands at Aiken Middle are
blazing a trail. Led by record-breaking seventh- and
eighth-grade classes and supported by an amazingly strong
sixth-grade class, the future looks bright and many more awards
are expected to follow.
Band members are Ieshia Bell,
Sherridan Bigg, Colby Bouchillon, Shellie Bowick, Brandon Boyd,
Brittany Bozzarello, Michael Coggin, Kristen Curtis, Kelsey Day,
Tracy Delgadillo, Helena Farrington, Ashley Garrett, Corey
Grooms, Kelly Huff, Ronnel Jackson, Lauryn Johnson, Michael
Knapp, Perri Leaphart, Carissa Leischner, Brook Lewis, Qwaneshia
Matthews, Kelsea Nestor, Melanie Riddle, Brittany Rourk,
Victoria Sarchet, Catie Snipes, Matt Solenberger, Shannon
Strong, Dara Timmerman, Telesa Watts, Kirsten Welcher, Bryson
Wightman, and Jeremy Woodruff. The bands are under the direction
of Ryan Westberry.
