DECATUR -- The Decatur High School Band celebrated a phenomenal year, gaining exposure during several key events in Decatur since the 2015-16 school year began last August.
Under the direction of Jesse Owens, first-year band teacher, the high school band has marched in both the Christmas and homecoming parades in downtown Decatur. They, combined with the high school choir, gave an outstanding performance at the first high school Veterans Day celebration on Nov. 11 and brought about an increase in school spirit during the football and basketball seasons.
In January, two members of the band made all-region band. Ryan Shaffer earned first band, second chair, tenor saxophone; and Isabel Rogruguez, second band, seventh chair, clarinet.
But all this pales in comparison to the band's most recent and important achievement.
The Decatur High School band attended its first regional assessment performance at Bentonville High School on March 12.
The event was attended mostly by larger schools such as Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers. Decatur was the smallest high school band and the only 2A class school to attend the event.
The bands were rated either I, II or III, with I being superior and II being excellent. They were judged in two categories, performance and sight reading. The three judges rated Decatur's band with one excellent and two superior ratings for performance. The band also earned a superior rating in sight reading. The music the band members performed was slightly above what would be expected from a 2A school, but the students rose to the challenge to earn this rating.
The band will continue to grow in the coming years, thanks to the efforts of former director Kristin Wages, who took over the music program at Decatur Northside Elementary this year. Wages has implemented programs to get younger students interested in learning to play a musical instrument and joining the school's bands.
The band will appear in several events over the next few months, including a concert with a Purple Heart dedication ceremony at Veterans Park on April 23, a spring concert in May and graduation ceremonies on May 15. For more information on these events or any other band activities, go to decatursd.com.
General News on 04/06/2016