WV Band Earns Strong Ratings
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
Band members show off their trophies following a strong performance Saturday.
GRENADA – The Water Valley High School band earned strong ratings at the 2023 MHSAA Region II State Marching Evaluation at Grenada High School on October 7. Band director Wes Brown reported drum major Jackson Herrera and the color guard each earned superior ratings and the band and percussion each earned excellent ratings. Superior is the highest rating and excellent is the second highest rating on the five-level classification.
Brown explained that the band performed their half-time show, “Disney’s Magical Worlds,” which is a tribute to the many stories and worlds that Disney has created over the years. The band members have worked weeks perfecting the performance during each football game. Brown said the show contains complex music starting with a medley of Classic Disney songs including the “Mickey Mouse March” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” before rapidly transitioning to the Lion King classic, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” The show ends with a medley of songs from “Pirates of the Caribbean, at World’s End.”
“This year I was not kind to our band students, I picked some hard music,” Brown said.
The band director attributed the band’s success during Saturday’s performance to a strong foundation that started in band camp back in the summer.
“Every year it starts with band camp. We work really, really hard for a week to get our show ready,” the band director said.
The work perfecting the show continues on the football field each Friday night.
“The sharp-eyed viewer during half-time will notice that we add a little bit more every Friday night until we have our full show,” Brown continued.
Brown attributed the success of the color guard to Jackie Egdorf, the band’s color guard instructor, and strong dedication that included lots of Saturday practices. As for the drum major, Brown said Herrera had also worked hard to earn the superior rating.
“He is always working and practicing his conducting anytime he has free time,” Brown said.
Brown is in his third year as the band director and reported Saturday’s performance was the strongest he has seen since he started at Water Valley High School.
“For the first time since I have been here, we saw the band play as a whole band. I am super proud of them and super proud of how much they have grown,” Brown said.
