Two Former Hurricanes Are Now Redcoats
When the University of Georgia’s Redcoat Marching Band took the field at the Georgia Dome on Saturday, two Jasper County natives were among their ranks. 2016 Jasper County High School graduates Clay Evans and Anna Parker donned their Redcoat Band uniforms and marched with the legendary band for the first time.
Mr. Evans and Miss Parker began their marching band careers in the fall of 2011 with the Marching Hurricanes under the leadership of director and former Redcoat Band member Chris Savage. They were also led by Ray Buck and Kim Savage who also marched with the Redcoat Band.
Both Mr. Evans and Miss Parker were very active in the JCHS band and assumed several leadership roles throughout their high school band career. In their final year of high school, Mr. Evans served as band captain, and Miss Parker served as drum major. While marching in the band, Mr. Evans plays trumpet and Miss Parker marches with the piccolo and also plays flute.
Last winter the pair auditioned separately and made their applications to the Redcoat Band. They learned in April that they had been admitted to UGA and expected at least a month-long wait to hear whether or not they would also be accepted into the band. Fortunately for these two and their families, the news of their acceptance into the band came just a week later than their college admission notice.
On August 6, Mr. Evans and Miss Parker reported for band camp in Athens and spent a week learning songs that the band plays in the stands during the football games and learning the music and steps for both the pre-game and half-time shows.
They also participated in the themes and activities for each day as they got to know some of the 400 plus members of the band. They also were given a big brother and big sister who will help mentor them and guide them the first year of band as the Georgia-Florida game in Jacksonville. Next year they can audition to be in the Derby Band which travels to all away games.
As part of their membership in the Redcoat Band, members are expected to join an ensemble in spring semester, and right now the Menticide pair plans to participate in the brass and woodwind ensemble.
Like most members of the Redcoat Band, Mr. Evans and Miss Parker are not music majors. Mr. Evans is majoring in business accounting, and Miss Parker is majoring in biology/pre-medicine.
Mr. Evans is the son of Susan and Tim Evans and the grandson of Margie Roland and the late Ted Sauls and Patsy Evans and the late Robert Evans.
Miss Parker is the daughter of Denise and Wesley Parker and the granddaughter of JoAnn Sauls and the late Bobby Sauls and the late Mae Parker.
