Champions; Webster's Dictionary defines as "one who fights for another or a cause" or "a winner of first place in a competition." While alone, both definitions are true, in reality true champions cannot achieve their first place without the fight for their "cause".   This weekend 190 students in the West Johnston High School Marching Band were named Champions in the Bands of America Regional Championship in Towson, Maryland.  This is an achievement the band program has been working (fighting) towards for the past 6 years since the program began.   In recent years, marching band has evolved from an activity that allowed band students to perform during the halftime at football games into a very competitive activity in and of itself  that involves not only the students but also very committed band directors, parents and our community.  High school marching bands have several opportunities each fall to compete locally, regionally and nationally.   The musicians and color guard of the West Johnston Marching Band perform their fall field show in competition locally and throughout the southeast.  The fall field show West performs is quite a production that centers around the music selections.  This production takes hours of rehearsal, practice and hard work by not only the students but also the directors and parents.    Musicians must learn to perform their music while marching into specific drill spots to form pictures on the football field.  If that were not challenge enough, musicians now have added movement and other performance techniques to enhance their show.   The color guard adds the visual component of the show by spinning several different flags, rifles and sabers while moving throughout the band and covering the entire football field.  Again if that is not enough, the color guard also adds emotion to the intricate field show with their movement and performance skills.    While the band directors are guiding and teaching the band students; they are also coordinating the efforts of the parents and community to support the students and prepare for competition.  At West Johnston all of our 210 flags in the show and the props are made by the parents who also wash the uniforms, keep the students fed and hydrated, move the instruments and equipment and more.  It's quite an undertaking by all of the directors and parents involved but the results are well worth the effort and dedication.     Timeline of West Johnston's Success:   August 2002 -West's first marching band in 2002 with 67 October 2003 - West was named a finalist for the first time in a Bands of America Regional competition in Johnson City, TN   November 2004 - West was named a semi finalist (top thirty out of approximately one hundred twenty bands) for the first time in Grand Nationals competition.   January 2005 - West represented the state of North Carolina in the 2005 Inauguration Parade for President George W. Bush   November 2006 & 2007 - West continues success as finalists and semi finalists in Bands of America Competition in Regional and Grand Nationals competition in 2006 and 2007   April, 2007 - West is awarded the privilege and honor to perform during the 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade   October 2008 -Bands of America Regional Champions this past weekend in Towson, Maryland   Yes, West Johnston has achieved great success over the past 6 years.  All of this is not given it is earned and one thing has always remained true; the band program's belief that "With Hard Work & Dedication Anything is Possible." Success has come from commitment, team work, sacrifice, hard work, and dedication; all qualities that once learned, experienced and rewarded will contribute to all of these students success in life way beyond their medals or large trophy.    So congratulations not only to the students of the West Johnston High School Band Program but also to the directors, parents and entire community as this is a great example of students, teachers and directors working together.

Related Links

1. http://www.wjhsbands.org