Marching ‘Canes Are Superior
The Jasper County High School Marching Hurricanes placed second and earned superior ratings at the Oconee Classic Marching Contest at Baldwin High School last Saturday.
Band classifications are based on number of wind players, and despite being a single A band, the Marching Hurricanes elected to compete up a class with bands much larger.
Chris Savage, the JCHS Band Director, explained, “The band welcomes a challenge! Out of 11 bands in classes A and AA, the Marching Hurricanes were the only band to receive all superior ratings in overall band, percussion, color guard and drum major.”
He continued, “Despite this feat, the band was edged out of first place in class AA by a mere eight-tenths of a point.”
In addition to outscoring 10 other bands in the total competition (including two AAA bands), the percussion finished third in class, color guard finished second in class and drum major Taylor Edwards finished second in class with an incredible score of 95.
“The Marching Hurricanes scores proved that our students can compete with anyone, regardless of size or area,” praised Mr. Savage.
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Their “General Effect” score was fourth overall, only topped by the three 5A bands in the competition that had more than three times as many wind players.
They will continue their competition season on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Greater Atlanta Area Marching Festival at Rockdale County High School.
The band is under the direction of JCHS Director of Bands Chris Savage, middle school band director Ray Buck, guard coordinator and music teacher at Washington Park and Jasper County Primary School Kim Savage, guard instructor Hailey Brown, brass/visual staff Wayne Bennett, percussion staff Matthew Benton and consultant Matt Jernigan.
Band members include Ciara Christopher, Anna Parker, Amber Payne, Mary Phillips, Sara Saldana and America Strickland on flute and Jacob Bell, Ashley DeVane, Braxton Johnson, Sara Massey, Briana Peete, Faith Vaughn and Katelin Villarreal on clarinet.
Saxophones include Robert Gordon, Megan Litz, Madison Perry, Andrew Pratt and Broox Shannon.
In the brass section, Laura Mitchell is on mellophone and Tyler Aldridge, Zack Billings, Ashton Cook, Brody DeGarmo, Clay Evans, Jacob Hutchison, Austin Norwood and Madison Rae are on trumpet.
Rounding out the brass section are Levi Head, Sean McCowan, Evan Newton, Josh Payne, LeeAnn Phillips, Will Robinson and Kamryn Rooks on trombone, Noah Hanson on baritone and Austin Peek and Travaus Sims on sousaphone.
The percussion section includes Luis Perez, Hunter Poteet and Cameron Whitener on snare drum, Levi Ford on tenors and Kellie Evans, Seth Pettis and Tristan Armstrong on bass drums. Starr Batchelor, Jace DeGarmo, Kolby DeGarmo, Malachi Guli, Brendon Haddock, Avery Jacobs and Joshua Sheriff play in the pit.
The guard includes Briana Boyer, Morgan Fields, Carigan Goen, Kayla Henderson, Shelby Neely, Jenny Ortiz, Kirsten Pettis, Madelyn Piper, Jamyer Sands, Danielle Siebe, Destiny Smithornton, Savannah Steele, Annia Thompkins, Miranda Wade and Haley Wellborn.
Band managers include Anthony Sanders, Kedarius Richard and Autumn VanHouter.
