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Hoya Band To Compete at 2022 BOA Carolina Regional Championship

By
Heather McBride
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The Harrison High School Marching Band will compete in the upcoming regional Bands of America Carolina Regional event to be held in Winston-Salem, NC, on Oct. 15.

Approximately 30 bands from six southeastern states are scheduled to perform at this event, one of 15 regional competitions hosted by Bands of America during the month of October. The event will be hosted at the 10,000-seat Truist Field on the campus of Wake Forest University and is expected to draw a near-capacity crowd of parents, families, performers, and marching band fans. More than 3,000 high school performers will compete in the music event. Tickets and more information are available here.

Harrison Bands and all other entered high school bands will perform during a day-long preliminary competition. The top 12 bands as selected by a panel of certified judges will return for a finals event in the evening.

marching band performance
The Harrison Marching Band earned first place honors at the 11th Annual Wolverine Marching Classic. The next competition is at Bands of America – Carolinas.

Judges evaluate performances on music, visual and general effect categories. Under Band of America guidelines, the musical component of the show receives 60 percent of the judging value, with visual and general components accounting for the remainder.

Band shows also are subject to tightly controlled timelines. Bands have only four minutes to enter the field and complete set-up that includes marchers, pit instruments, sound equipment and all props. Then the bands perform their creative musical and choreographed performances, ranging from six to 11 minutes. Bands are allowed just two minutes upon completion to clear props and all marchers from the competition field. Points are deducted for any time violations.

Harrison’s marching band is nationally acclaimed for its competitive performance success. At previous Bands of America events, Harrison Bands has achieved two BOA Grand National Class Championships, earned finalist positions at three BOA Grand National events, captured four first-place finishes at BOA Super Regional Class Championships, and are eight-time BOA Regional Champions.

Harrison Earns Grand Champion Honors at 11th Annual Wolverine Classic 2022

By
Heather McBride
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0
marching band performance
The Harrison Marching Band earned first place honors at the 11th Annual Wolverine Marching Classic

In its first competition of 2022, the Harrison High School Marching Band earned Band Grand Champion honors at the 11th Annual Wolverine Marching Classic held Oct. 8 at West Forsyth High School. Bands from North Georgia competed in the marching competition hosted by the Pride of the West Marching Band from West Forsyth HS.

Marching bands were evaluated by a panel of expert judges on their musical performance and overall visual effect of their shows, plus separately on the acumen of their drum majors, percussion sections and auxiliary units.

Colorful graphics, DC Comics villains, and a complex music score are featured in the 2022 Midnight in Gotham performance.

In addition to the overall Band Grand Champion title, Harrison earned superior ratings from the six-judge expert panel for drum majors, percussion, color guard and band. Harrison also took first-place overall in the open classification of the largest bands.

The evening was a celebration of complex marching drills, choreography, visual presentation, and dazzling performing arts. Competing bands enhanced their group and solo performances with colorful graphics, elaborate designs, and monumental props, creating elaborately staged outdoor musical productions based on creative themes.

Poison Ivy strolls around and through the band ranks performing a haunting solo, while the Color Guard and marching band continue their choreographed steps.

Harrison’s championship performance, Midnight in Gotham, featured an array of costumed villains from DC Comics’ Batman series, including Harley Quinn and Cat Woman in the Color Guard, a percussion section of Joker characters and the front pit dressed as the Riddler. A haunting soprano saxophone performance featured Poison Ivy emerging from a neon hiding place, then strolling around and through the marching band ranks – all while the band demonstrated precision marching, choreographed steps, and a visible feeling of enjoyment.

Harrison continues the marching competition season on Oct. 12 at the Bands of America Carolina Championships at Wake Forest University. The band travels to Jacksonville, AL, on Oct. 29 for its final BOA event of the season.

Riddle solved: Harrison is heading to Wake Forest for its next competition, the BOA Carolina Regionals on Oct. 12. Then it’s on to BOA-Jacksonville on Oct. 29

Tri-M Music Honor Society Inducts 14 From Harrison Bands

By
Heather McBride
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Fourteen students from the Harrison Bands program have been inducted to the Tri-M Music Honor Society for 2022-2023.

The Tri-M Music Honor Society is a program of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), which focuses on creating future leaders in music education and music advocacy. Tri-M recognizes students that have gone above and beyond both academically and musically.

Harrison Band students enrolled in the Harrison High School Tri-M chapter for 2022-23 are:

  • Carl Anderson
  • Daniel Banstetter
  • Ainsley Collier
  • Blake Dwelle
  • Katherine Ferrell
  • Magdalene Forester
  • Rachel Jones
  • Sarah Mack
  • Owen Randall
  • Lauren Rogers
  • Georgia Smith
  • Charles Sweetman
  • Delilah Tanner
  • Lyndsey Williams

To be considered and enrolled in the Tri-M Society, candidates must have been enrolled in a school-sponsored music ensemble and/or class for at least one semester of the current school year. Member also demonstrate academic achievement, including maintaining for the previous semester at least an A average grade or equivalent in music, with at least a B average grade or equivalent in other academic subjects.

Tri-M membership also includes leadership and service requirements, plus demonstration of outstanding character.

Tri-M also provides students leadership opportunities to make a difference in their community through music-based service projects. Each year, student members contribute more than 750,000 service hours to their school and local communities and raise nearly $1 million for causes they care about. There are more than 84,000 students in 2,100 Tri-M chapters across 50 states and 15 countries.

Fall Concert Showcases New, Returning Musicians

By
Heather McBride
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concert band with director

Harrison Bands opened its fall 2022 concert season with the annual fall concert, showcasing the talents of the bands’ new and returning musicians.

Four of Harrison’s musical ensembles performed in the one-hour event at Harrison’s Performing Arts Center on Sept. 20.

Harrison’s percussion ensemble opened the fall concert.

The 28-member Fall Percussion Ensemble opened the evening with “Nimrod” from Enigma Variations. After a quick reset, Harrison’s Concert Band performed “Nearer My God to Thee” and “Down Under.”  The concert band is comprised of the newest members of Harrison Bands.

The Harrison concert band featured many of the band’s newest musicians.

Harrison’s Symphonic Band took the stage next, performing “As the Robin to the Meadow” and “Quixotic Episode.”

Concluding the performance evening, Harrison’s Wind Ensemble offered its renditions of “Whispers” and “First Suite in E Flat.”

The Harrison Symphonic Band performs at the fall concert.

In a touching tribute, Harrison Bands director Josh Ray remembered Gary Markham, a long-time Supervisor of Instrumental Music at Cobb County School District and an internationally recognized music clinician, guest conductor, adjudicator, and consultant. Markham passed away in July in Dallas, GA. Throughout his career and retirement, Mr. Marham was a longtime contributor and leader to several organizations with music-driven missions, including Bands of America (BOA) and the Music for All Foundation, Drum Corps International (DCI), the Midwest Clinic, and several Metro Atlanta Arts Boards.

The Harrison Wind Ensemble concluded the evenings performances.

The next concert performances of Harrison Bands are scheduled Dec. 8, when the bands will join other music and fine arts programs from the school for the Winter Extravaganza. Harrison Bands are directed by Josh Ray and Jonathan Grogan. Percussions instructors are Jeff Hope and TJ Shaheen.

Exhibition, Competitions Next Up for Harrison Bands

By
Heather McBride
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The nationally acclaimed Harrison High School Band will participate in a local exhibition and three competitions before wrapping up its 2022 marching season with a special appearance at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

Director of bands Josh Ray confirmed the final portions of the marching schedule for eager families at a recent meeting of the Harrison High School Band Boosters.

Harrison opened its band season with a two-week camp in July, followed by regular weekly rehearsals in August. The band has previewed portions of its 2022 competition show during halftimes of Hoya home and away football games.

Now, Harrison Bands is finalizing its show for these events:

Wolverine Marching Classic, West Forsyth HS, Oct. 8. The Hoya band will join bands from around North Georgia in this evening competition, the 11th annual event hosted by West Forsyth. Get tickets and more information here.

Cobb County Marching Exhibition, McEachern HS, Oct. 10. Bands from throughout Cobb County participate in this two-night event. The Hoyas will perform with eight other Cobb high schools on Oct. 10, while an additional eight high schools will perform their shows on Oct. 17. The University of South Carolina marching band also will perform on Oct. 10, while the University of Georgia Redcoat Band will close the event on Oct. 17. Get tickets for Harrison’s performance and others on Oct. 10 here. and more information by scanning the QR code below. Get tickets for Oct. 17 here.

Bands of America Carolina Regional Championship, Wake Forest University, Oct. 15. Approximately 30 high school bands from six states are expected for this regional championship event. The Hoyas will perform in preliminary rounds on Saturday morning. Finals are scheduled for the top 12 bands in the evening. Get tickets and more information here.

Bands of America Alabama Regional Championship, Jacksonville State University, Oct. 29. The Hoyas return to JSU after finishing fifth overall here in 2022. Harrison is scheduled for an early-morning preliminary performance, with finals scheduled in the evening. Approximately 30 bands from Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee are confirmed for the event. Get tickets and more information here.

Magic Kingdom Parade, Disney World, Nov. 6. The Hoyas conclude their exhibition and competition season with a coveted feature spot in a Magic Kingdom parade on Sunday afternoon. Spectators from around the world will enjoy music and marching by the Hoya band as they navigate the famous parade route through the world’s busiest theme park.

Scan code or click the graphic for Cobb County Marching Exhibition tickets.

Marching Band

By
Heather McBride
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0

The Harrison Marching Band is the most visible performance group at Harrison High School. Recipient of the Sudler Flag and a multiple-time Band of of America Grand Nationals Class Champion and Finalist, the Harrison Marching Band is nationally recognized for its excellence in music, performance and student development.

BOA, Orlando – The marching band placed 6th overall against some elite bands, won First Place overall in Class AAA, Class AAA Outstanding Musical Performance, and Class AAA Outstanding General Effect.

Our Marching Band, which includes the Color Guard, begins rehearsing in the summer and continues through the football season.  Performances include home and away football games, pep rallies, select local parades, local competitions and exhibitions, and several Bands of America competitions.

The marching band is an extracurricular activity open to any current ninth through twelfth grade band student.  Because the activity is a direct product of the skills that are developed in the band curriculum, only students currently enrolled in a band class are eligible to march, with the exception of Color Guard.

Performing “Studio H” at Cobb Exhibition, 2023

Since the marching band enters into competitive events, all students must meet the Georgia High School Association and Cobb County academic and residency eligibility requirements. The details of these requirements are outlined in the Harrison High School Student Handbook issued to all students by their advisement teacher.

The marching activity is a demanding activity, both musically and physically.  All participants must commit themselves to maintaining high musical performance standards and good physical condition.

Harrison Marching Band is one of the top competitive marching bands in the nation!

Performing “Restricted Area: 51” at BOA Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, IN, 2019.

Awards and Honors

Some of the awards and honors earned by our Harrison Marching Band include:

  • Sudler Flag Award-Winner Program
  • Two-Time Bands of America Grand National Class Champion
  • Three-Time BOA Grand National Finalist
  • Four-Time BOA Super Regional Class Champion
  • Eight-Time BOA Regional Champion
  • Appearances in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day, Dublin (Ireland) St. Patrick’s Day, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl parades and more.

For a more complete listing of our Marching Band Awards and honors, click here.

For a full list of our band show timeline and highlights, click here.

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Since its inception in 1991, the Harrison High School band program has established a reputation for musical excellence. While consistently receiving "superior" ratings and top scores in regional and national events, Harrison Band members also demonstrate outstanding scholastic, teamwork and competitive abilities, developing personal relationship, study and life skills important to future success.

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