CHS Marching Band Reflects on Successful Season

The Cabot High School Marching Band has had an extremely successful season that has resulted in several top awards for the largest 10th-12th grade band in the state. Assistant CHS Band Director Kara Reynolds reflects back on the season and shares an inside look on how it all began and what's next for this amazing group of musicians.

Disbanded
The season began almost 11 months ago with “Disbanded.” The show “Disbanded” is an original idea with the music of Beethoven arranged by Ben Lee, a young and upcoming composer in the music world. The CHS Band directors and their design team, including drill writer Wes Pendergrass, percussion arranger Cole Williams, and Mr. Lee met in January to discuss ideas. The show evolved over the next few months into a fun play of traditional marching band dissolving into everything that you should not do on the marching field.  

From the Beginning
Starting in May, the CHS Band has marching camps throughout the summer.  The students dedicate individual practice time to memorize music and motion.  On Friday nights at Panther Stadium, our home audience watches 266 high school band students during halftime. These students all rehearse during three different periods of band. The only time all 266 rehearse together is on Friday afternoons of home games. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and many Saturdays in the fall, the competition members rehearse.  These students work tirelessly to play, move, and perform for judges that critique everything from how they hold their instrument, move their feet, to the tone quality of their playing.  Judges look for General Effect of the show visually and musically. They judge not only the entire band, but there are specific judges watching for individual performers.  These judges actually move around the students on the field during the performance.  

Competitions: Cabot Invitational
The first contest performance was at the Cabot Invitational as the exhibition band. The CHS Band hosted 25 groups on campus for a great day of marching band.  

Broken Arrow Invitational 
Our first ranked contest of the year was the Broken Arrow Invitational in Oklahoma, the home of the Grand National Champion Pride of Broken Arrow Band.  The contest was based off of the Bands of America contests and gained our students and staff a greater understanding of where to go next in their performances.  The band placed 11th at this contest, finishing behind several BOA top national bands.  

Lake Hamilton Power Band Invitational
At the Lake Hamilton Power Band Invitational, the Band took Outstanding Band in class, Outstanding Music, and General Effect in the Prelim performance.  In their finals performance, they received Outstanding Visual, Music, and General Effect along with Grand Champions of the entire contest.  

Championship at the Rock
At Championship at the Rock the group received a Superior Rating, 2nd in classification, and placed 2nd for the entire day.  For the 31st year in a row the group received a superior 1st division rating at ASBOA Region Marching Assessment qualifying them for the 2nd Annual State Marching Contest. 

AR State Marching Contest
The group received the 1st division award at Arkansas State Marching Contest on October 31st at War Memorial.  

We Are Family
The CHS Marching Band has worked tirelessly this semester, but we could not do it without the amazing background support we get in so many ways.  We had an amazing parent and family clean-up crew at each performance.  Parents helped serve pizza and sandwiches at contests, set up tents, pull the trailer, pass out water, and much more.  Mags Trucking and Dewayne Smith made sure all of our equipment arrived safely to each event.  Parents and volunteers worked in the concession stand at every game.  Our administration, faculty, and staff have cheered the students on all season.  

The Music Continues
It has been an amazing season for this great group of students and we are excited to watch as they continue to work hard through concert season.  All-Region, All-State, Solo and Ensemble, Concert Assessments, and college auditions are just a few of the tasks ahead for these young musicians.  We are proud of these young musicians and look forward to more music this year!

Congratulations to our CHS Marching Band for an outstanding season. We are so proud of your hard work and dedication and can't wait to see what's in store for next year!

CHS band received a superior 1st division at the AR State Marching Contest! #disbanded #prouddirectors @cabotsd @DrTCabot @CabotHigh pic.twitter.com/GRcIGcCo8X

— Cabot Bands (@CabotHSBand) November 1, 2017