SHS band ends camp with concert
Family, friends and supporters of the Starkville High School Band witnessed the culmination of two weeks of hard work on Friday.
The band performed its 2017 marching season show at the end of its band camp Friday. The show features the music of pop star Bruno Mars and will be used for halftime shows this football season. The show was arranged by Wake Forest University Band Director Brandon Robinson with percussion parts written by Mississippi State University Associate Professor of Music Jason Baker.
“It went really well,” said Assistant Band Director Kyle Hickey. “This is my third year here, and this is the easiest as far as the kids working with us and doing everything they were expected to do without complaint. It’s been the best camp that I’ve been a part of here at Starkville so far.”
Hickey said the band would also participate in a few competitions this year.
He said the district’s band program starts in sixth grade, with training in marching beginning in freshman year.
“It takes a lot of effort both in school in our rehearsals and individual practicing at home,” Hickey said.
Freshman percussionist Blake Smith said band camp was difficult,
but he was looking forward to performing on the field.
“Everyone here is very talented,” Smith said. “The music sounds amazing. I love the music.”
Smith added that he was beginning to make friends with many of his bandmates.
“It’s something different that allows the kids to give back to their community and allows the community to invest in them,” Hickey said.