GRAVETTE -- As the Gravette High School band prepares for its annual spring concert, a look back at the school year shows the progress it has made and the awards the 36-member group has received.
They excelled during marching band competition during the first semester and have demonstrated excellence during concert and sight reading competition in recent weeks.
Band director James Hendrix, who came to GHS this school year from Greenland schools, has good words about his students.
"They did very well this year," Hendrix said. By comparing the records from the past 10 years, the only ones on file, Hendrix said, "They have worked very hard and have achieved scores and ratings that have been higher than any in the past 10 years."
At the recent Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association Region VI Concert Band Assessment, the band received "Superior" ratings from two judges and an "Excellent" rating from a third, earning them an overall "Superior" rating.
Hendrix compared his students' success to students who score advanced on the Benchmark tests.
"They have come a long way in a short amount of time (since he took over the baton last August)," Hendrix said.
Four large trophies earned this year include a superior rating at the Elkins Marching Invitational; an excellent rating at the Region VI Marching assessment; a second-place trophy at the NWA Invitational Marching Classic held in Siloam Springs; and drum majors Tucker Fournier and Cody Smith brought home the best Drum Major Trophy from the War Eagle Classic held at Heritage High School in Rogers.
The band will also be receiving a large plaque, in the shape of Arkansas, recognizing their superior ratings in concert as well as sight reading this year.
Besides competitive performances, during the year the band marched in the annual Gravette Day and Christmas parades, played at all the Gravette football games, home basketball games and pep rallies. And they roused the student body and veterans with a patriotic performance at the annual Veteran's Day assembly.
Students who are members of the Jazz Band were well received for their performance at the recent Gravette Chamber of Commerce banquet.
Senior Tucker Fournier, who plays euphonium, received All Region and All State honors. He was one of only 16 euphonium players selected in the state to the 2014 Arkansas All-State Band which recently was in concert in Hot Springs.
All-Region honors were also received by Austin Sizer on percussion, and Junior High All-Region honors for Hannah Graves for bass clarinet. Katie Garrett and Christina Bramel were both selected as alternates for the All-Region Band.
As the school year winds down, the band will be getting ready for their spring concert which is scheduled May 8 in the Performing Arts Center. The band will also be traveling to Six Flags in Dallas, Texas, where they will perform in the "Music in the Parks" concert band competition.
An awards banquet will be enjoyed the evening of May 13 at the GHS commons. For their final performance of the school year, the band will play at the high school graduation on May 17.
Besides his praise for the students who have worked so hard, Hendrix had words of appreciation "to the school, the community and the parents, who have been very supportive of the band program this year."
The band will be losing eight senior members who will be graduating, Hendrix said, but he is looking forward to a new group of junior high students who will carry on the winning tradition when school starts again in August.
General News on 04/02/2014