Bands Judged On 2016 Marching Shows

“Our main goal is to teach students to be productive citizens with our second being to make them great musicians.” Gerry Nichols Prairie Grove Band Director

SPRINGDALE — Farmington, Prairie Grove and Lincoln high school bands put in hours of practice time to entertain fans each year and the 2016 shows provided music with a “heavenly” theme, pieces from James Bond movies and songs from the rock band Queen.

In addition to half-time performances, the three bands also present their marching shows to be judged and critiqued and one of the most important programs is the Region VII Marching Assessment for Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association. For marching bands, the regional assessment is is comparable to standardized testing for core subjects and bands are scored by three judges on such categories as music, marching, visual effects and colorguard.

The highest score possible is a Division 1 or superior. A Division 2 rating is considered excellent and a Division 3 score means the band did a good job.

The 2016 marching assessment was held in October at Springdale High School’s Jerrell Williams Bulldog Stadium.

This year, Farmington earned a Division 1 score for its performance featuring a James Bond themed show. The band received superior ratings from all three judges.

Prairie Grove band, using elaborate props displaying a large earth, Jupiter and Mars, received an overall Division 2 rating for its show, called “Written in the Heavens.”

Lincoln High Band also received an overall Division 2 rating for its “Music of Queen” show.

Jim Spillars, Farmington band director, said the Crimson Regiment has had another great season.

“I’m really proud of the kids and the effort that they have given to make the band a success,” Spillars said in an email. “The James Bond show has been fun to teach and it

is one of my favorite shows that we have done. It has been well received at the competitions and assessments that we have gone to. It was nice to have the opportunity to showcase our soloists - Derek Salonen on alto sax, Emily Lannutti on vocals, Brady Williams on synthesizer, and Jakob Payne on trumpet.”

Lincoln’s band director, Andrew Enis, is in his first year in Lincoln.

“I am enjoying my new position as the director of bands at the Lincoln Consolidated School District,” Enis wrote by email. “Our marching program for the year is based on the music of the rock band Queen. This music has been a lot of fun to teach, the students have enjoyed playing it, and from the feedback I have received, our community and school staff have really enjoyed watching our show.”

Enis said his students have worked hard this season and improved every step of the way.

“I’m extremely proud of their efforts and success this marching season. I’m proud to be a part of this program and I look forward to our Spring concert season and the future of the Lincoln Band Program.”

Prairie Grove’s band fielded more than 100 members for the first time this year. Director Gerry Nichols is starting his 12th year in Prairie Grove and the band has more than doubled in size during his tenure.

The Tiger band has been busy this season. The band participated in the War Eagle marching competition in Rogers and came in 10th place out of 21 bands. The band won the outstanding marching award for its division. Senior trombone player T. J. Langley won outstanding soloist award.

Prairie Grove marched in a contest in Siloam Springs and then will participate, along with Farmington, in the state marching contest Nov. 1 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. This is the first year for a state marching contest and the three highest- scoring bands in each division will be ranked first, second and third.

Prairie Grove’s marching show mixes Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” with Bruno Mar’s “Uptown Funk,” Aquarius and Drops of Jupiter. Soloist in this year’s show are Mat Hattenhauer, TJ Langley, Tylor Sullivan, Will Spencer and Keaton Conrad.

Nichols said more than one-half of the band is ninth and 10th graders.

“We look forward to a great future,” Nichols said. “The band could be more than 110 next year. Our main goal is to teach students to be productive citizens with our second being to make them great musicians.”