Athens ISD press release
The Athens High School “Pride of the Hornets” Band recently competed in the UIL concert and sight-reading event in Troup, earning the coveted Sweepstakes Award for a remarkable 10th year in a row.
“It is extremely difficult to earn Sweepstakes for just one year,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Janie Sims. “It’s an amazing accomplishment to do it 10 years in a row.”
The high school varsity band was awarded first-division ratings in both concert and sight reading competition from all six judges. “Wow, what a band! What a musical performance!” noted one judge.
In the concert portion of the competition, each band performs three music selections: a march and two other pieces. This performance is followed by a sight-reading portion where each band must study, prep and perform a completely unfamiliar piece of music in a short period of time. The band performed “Second Connecticut March” by David Wallace Reeves, “Dusk” by Steven Bryant, and “English Folk Song Suite” by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Back in October, the band also received a first-division rating for marching. In order to be awarded the UIL Sweepstakes award, a band must earn first-division marks in all three areas: marching, concert and sight reading, which is a difficult accomplishment to achieve. Achieving it for a decade straight is a remarkable feat.
“I am so very proud of these young musicians,” said Band Director Rusty Lay. “I push them with harder music than is necessary, and they always meet and exceed the challenge.”
Along with Lay, the directors of the Pride of the Hornets Band are Stephen Morman, Gehrig Blankenship and Robyn Blanchard, with assistance from John Glover.