Starr's Mill band wins third Grand Champion title of season

The Starr’s Mill High School Panther Pride Marching Band recently ended a record-setting season by winning its third Grand Championship title. The band competed against 25 groups from Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama on Oct. 25 at the Contest of Champions at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Ala.

The Panther Pride won first place band in preliminary competition with the highest musical and visual scores of the 25 competing bands. Other awards included first place band, color guard and majorette and second place percussion in AAA Class competition.  The finals competition consisted of the first place band from each of the five classes and the next seven highest-scoring bands. As the temperature dropped, the band’s energy level rose and the finals performance earned the group the Co-Grand Champion award, setting a school record for most Grand Champion titles in one season.  The 2008 Pride also earned Grand Champion titles at the Super Bowl of Sound Marching Band Contest at Central-Carroll HS and the Marching Warrior Invitational Marching Band Contest at Gordon Central High School.

Starr’s Mill Band Director Scott King attributes the band’s incredible season to his students’ hard work, talent and desire to succeed. 

“What an unbelievable season! Due to great student leadership, work ethic, talent, and an exciting show design, the Panther Pride was very successful this year.  The students set goals early in the season and worked hard to achieve those goals. We wanted to be competitive in our first contest, not just our last. The students learned a very valuable life lesson – work hard and you’ll be more likely to succeed.  Our student leaders and seniors stepped up this year and really raised the bar of expectation. Each year I try to describe to the rising freshmen and parents how important participation in marching band is to the overall band experience in terms of life skills learned and interaction with a great group of students.  I’m very proud of our students and our program at Starr’s Mill.”

The award winning show, based on Dvorak’s “New World Symphony” was written by King with musical arrangement by assistant director Dr. Andrew Poor. Color Guard instructors are Deryl Colson, Amy Broeker, and Mitch Birnbaum. Percussion instructors include David Coheley and James Broeker. Angela Colvin and Rick Walker also serve on the band staff. The band is under the field direction of Drum Majors Keegan Christensen and Molly Wenske.

The Starr’s Mill Band program has been consistently recognized as an outstanding program both on and off the field. The Starr’s Mill Wind Ensemble has been chosen as one of the Honor Bands of Georgia and will perform at a music clinic at Columbus State University in January. The group will also travel to the University of Georgia to perform at the 2009 JanFest Clinic.  The Panther Pride will also participate in the Children’s Christmas Parade in Atlanta on Dec. 6 which will be televised locally on WSB-TV. 

For more information about the Starr’s Mill Band, go to www.smhsband.org.