From the Podium

As the spring semester gets underway, I think it is important for us to take a moment to reflect on some of the events of the fall semester. The work has been difficult, but the rewards have been numerous as the Bridgeport High School Bands have experienced another season of great success.

The award winning began in late September as the Marching Band placed second in the School Day Parade at the Preston County Buckwheat Festival. A week later, the band placed first in their division and first overall at the Mountain State Forest Festival Parade in Elkins. The Frontline also won Best Auxiliary for the parade competition. The band also placed first in the field show competition and brought home 1st Runner-up Grand Champion honors. November brought more Frontline success as the group placed first in the Hip-Hop and Open categories at the WV Dance Festival.

In December, the band was awarded the Academic Achievement Award by the WVSSAC. This is the fifth time the band has won this award which is presented to the band program with the highest overall G.P.A. in the state of West Virginia. In addition to the group award, Logan May also won the individual Academic Achievement Award for male band student.

During Christmas break, the Marching Band paced the truck, loaded the busses, and took their Tribute to Jimmy Buffet show on the road to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. The band won first place in their division for both the Field Show and Parade competitions.

The Jazz Ensemble has also had a busy and rewarding fall. After performing for the Make a Wish Foundation and the annual Holly Ball, the group traveled to the Peach Bowl where they placed first in their division and received a Gold rating. After returning from Atlanta, the group was selected by audition as one of two honor bands for the Marshall University Jazz Festival.

Many individuals have also earned honors in the first few months of this school year. Five students were selected to participate in the A-B College Honors Wind Ensemble in November, and there will be nine students representing Bridgeport High School at the WVU Honor Band in February.

In early January, 19 students participated in the All-State Band auditions. I would like to congratulate Katie Ferber, Jonathon Fischer, Matthew Fredrick, Kelly Nansen, and Austin Seybert on being selected. I would like to offer special congratulations to Jonathon Fischer for making first chair on alto saxophone and also to Kelly Nansen for being the first freshman band student ever selected from Bridgeport High School. In addition to All-State, the band will have 19 students representing Bridgeport High School in the Harrison County All-County Band this March.

In closing, I would like to promote some of the upcoming concerts at Bridgeport High School. Our annual spring concert will be held on March 28 in the BHS Auditorium and will feature the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble. The Jazz and Percussion Ensembles will be featured along with the Show Choir on April 13 as we present an evening of Singin', Swingin', and Pingin'. I hope that you will find the time to come out and enjoy our award-winning ensembles for some fantastic evenings of music.

I would like to offer my sincerest thanks to all of you for your support of the Bridgeport High School Band program.

Mr. Chris Hayslette