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November 16, 2016- Record-Breaking Season for Athens Drive High School Marching Band

posted Dec 10, 2016, 2:51 PM by Garla Smith   [ updated Dec 16, 2016, 7:02 PM ]

The Athens Drive High School Marching Band has had a record-breaking season, becoming the winningest band in Athens Drive history. They’ve been named Grand Champions in three out of five of this season’s marching band competitions. For their final band competition on Saturday, Oct. 29, among 27 other bands at Appalachian State University, they placed second overall! An amazing accomplishment at one of their toughest competitions. Now the Athens Drive Marching Band prepares for the Raleigh Christmas Parade this Saturday, Nov. 19, and we invite you to come watch one of the biggest and best high school marching bands in the State of North Carolina! 


A special award: 
On Saturday, Oct. 22, the marching band performed in Snow Hill, NC, at Greene Central High School, among 17 other bands from around North Carolina. But, before the marching band was awarded Grand Champions for their third time this season, there was a special award announced. The award for Best Band Director out of 17 total band directors in the competition. Dr. Jerry Markoch, affectionately known as “Doc” by his students and colleagues, was the recipient of the award- and the panel’s decision was unanimous. 

The announcement during the awards ceremony: 
“The Kenneth E. Ginn Award of Excellence is presented to a band director participating in today’s band competition. This award is given in honor of Kenneth Ginn, who was the band director of Greene Central High School until 1981, and the founder of The Greene Central Band Day Competition. Known for his exemplary work in developing the county’s music program, he won numerous accolades, including the N.C.E.A award for Most Outstanding Teacher and the Terry Sanford Award of Excellence in 1973. He acted as the director the ECU All District Band in 1976, and judged several competitions throughout North Carolina. To this day, he remains involved in education through the GC Music Boosters and GCS Alumni Association. This award not only salutes the director’s outstanding work at this year’s competition, but honors the quality of the school’s entire band program.” 

Under the direction of Dr. Markoch, the band will also be marching in the Apex Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. and in the Cary Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 12 p.m. Concerts by the band are always free and open to the public. The Grand Holiday Concert will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Athens Drive High School Auditorium. 

The Athens Drive Marching Band is one of the largest in Wake County, consisting of nearly 150 students. Photos from this season’s competitions can be found here: adhsband.smugmug.com/20162017/Competitions. Please attribute credit as “Photo released by Athens Drive Band.” Read More...