The Adair County Marching Band consists mainly of young but determined members. Guided by second-year director Jonathon Holmes and assistant director Halen Pharis, the band has had impressive performances this season.
Adair County Band has always been a strong force in the KMEA state championships and this year the tradition is expected to continue. The band has competed twice this season and won their class each time. They have also received overall reserve grand champion in each competition.
Washington County band edged Adair County out with .05 point difference in scores at the Taylor County Invitational Band Competition in September.
“At both contests, we have won some small group awards like best percussion and best color guard,” said Holmes.
There were band students who voluntarily attended conferences and camps this summer to improve their skills. The students take the initiative to attend these and the parents take the students to these.
“Malloree Kimbler was in the music city drum and bugle corp this past summer” said Holmes. “Our field commander, Daria Chang, she attended the bands of America leadership conference and field commander conference. We also had some other students, color guard students that attended camps this year as well”.
“We are a really young band this year. We only have three seniors total. I think the bulk grade level of our group is 7th grade to 9th grade… I am really proud that our 7th and 8th graders in particular have really stepped up” said Holmes. “We are kind of showing a lot of them what the Adair County Band tradition is for the first time”
Many of the students have never had any experience with band. The Adair County Band is known for its “tradition of excellence” and motto “eyes with pride”.
Freshman Sarah Parrott is on her third year of marching band. She said “I’ve always liked music and [I joined] to get out of my comfort zone”.
For students who are considering joining band, Parrott says “I would say at least give it a one year shot because at the end of the day, you end up building a family, making close friends, somebody you are with every day, people you are with every day and it’s really a good sport. It can help you with timing, focus, multitasking, it provides new opportunities, new experiences. When you get out on that field and you get to state and you’re on that WKU field in front of that audience, it is really amazing”.
Band offers a welcoming environment according to Holmes. It gives the kids a place to belong and leave any problems that they may have at the door. There is a place in the band for anyone that wants to join and be a part of the group.
Students are encouraged to begin band as a sixth grader to learn all the fundamentals before going into marching band. There can always be exceptions if the students are willing to dedicate the time needed to learn everything in order to march.
“I love it [band] so much. In the beginning, people asked me to join because my music technique was so good. I think they saw potential in me and I wasn’t doing anything at that point in my life so I was like, let’s try it and I tried it and I ended up loving it” said Khyron Matney, a second-year marching band student. “It’s your family. Everyone here treats you like family. Like you can be going through anything and they will just be here for you. I love that so much. It’s like a home away from home.”
“The hundreds of hours that we put in for five minutes of show just to perform is crazy, but it kinda just all mushes together and you only remember the good things. I can’t wait to go to the quarterfinals” he said.
When speaking with band students, one word continuously came up – “family”. Each student said that the group was a family and they were all proud to be a part of it.
“All of the bands in the state that are sanctioned will compete in quarterfinals on Saturday, Oct 18 in Laurel County” said Holmes. “They will take the top six from both the east region and the west region. Those top twelve will perform the following Saturday, Oct 25 for state semifinals”.
Adair County will compete in class AAA east region in the quarterfinals performing their show “Crystallize” at 12:45 a.m EST at South Laurel High School. The semifinals will be held at Warren East in Bowling Green on Oct. 25 and the finals will be held that night at Western Kentucky University.
“When people see us at quarterfinals, it’s like they see a different band because there is so much of the show that they didn’t get to see at a previous band contest. We actually just put on our final set of drill,” said Holmes.
By Amy Pike
amy@adairvoice.com
