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October 27, 2015
The GHS Pirate
Band shined at the UIL Area B marching contest while performing one of their
best show of the season. The contest was
held October 26, 2015, at Tommy Standridge Stadium in Carrollton.
The band
advanced to area after earning a Division I superior rating from all three
judges at the regional competition on October 13 at Herman Clark Stadium in
Fort Worth. Only seven of the sixteen
Region 7 bands in Class 5A made it to area.
The
band had been preparing its marching show “The Maze” for
the competition since late July, with a three-week summer camp preceding the
start of the school year. The group awed
crowds during football halftime programs and then had a busy schedule on the road
with invitational competitions in late September and October prior to UIL
contest.
The
band advanced to the finals in all three invitationals – the Midlothian
Marching Showcase on October 3, the DeSoto Marching Classic on October 10, and
the Sam Houston State University Marching Festival on October 17.
“I
am so proud of my students and the season they have had. The strides made from
July to October were nothing short of amazing. I can say without reservation
that this is the hardest working marching band I have had the pleasure to work
with in my career,” commented band director Mark Eastin, who is in his sixth
year leading the Granbury band program.
Although
the band was not one of those advancing to the state marching contest in San
Antonio, Eastin was optimistic that the Granbury ensemble was on the right
track. “We have grown up exponentially
as an ensemble this fall and have laid the groundwork for a very successful
future. We have already started the planning stages for next year's show and
hope to bring a continuing level of excitement and enthusiasm for the marching
program at GHS,” he said.
In
addition to drum majors Braden Jumper and Emma McKelvain, also serving in band
leadership positions are: color guard captain Kaily Reason; drumline captain
Reagan Hall; section leaders Whitney Shearon (flute), Reagan Clarkson
(clarinet), Sam Perez (saxophone), Matthew Johnston (trumpet), Brennan Ross
(French horn), Fernando Barragan (low brass), and Aaron Morgan (tuba); drill
captains Reece Ahler, Brynn Bednarz, Melaine Boleng, Gavin Clarkson, Shannon
Cooke, Tiffany Henney, Kalvin Hughes, Saylor Jordan, Rayni Skaggs, Lily
Thornton, and Cameron Weeks.
Eastin is assisted by Tahlequah Kirk, Acton Middle
School directors John Morgan and Stephanie Bosch, and Granbury Middle School
directors Michele Kahne and James Beeson.
Links to Related Information:
Previous News Articles:
- 10/14/2015: GHS Band Earns Superior Rating at UIL Marching Contest
- 10/13/2015: GHS Band Posts Strong Performances in DeSoto
- 10/5/2015: Band Marches to Finals at Midlothian Contest
- 10/2/2015: GHS Band to Begin Month of Marching Contests
- 9/28/2015: Middle School Bands Perform at Halftime Show
- 9/24/2015: GHS Band Hosting Reindeer Run on November 28
- 8/28/2015: School Spirit High at First Pep Rally
- 7/27/2015: GHS Pirate Band Ready for Summer Camp
