Regiment racking up recognition

Published 9:59 pm Monday, October 25, 2010

Well played: Jemison’s Blue Regiment Marching Band performed well at two marching competitions this month.

Jemison fans already knew the halftime show at football games this season was spectacular.

Now, the Jemison Blue Regiment Marching Band has the hardware to prove it.

The band won numerous “superior” and “best in class” ratings at two recent marching contests, the Lake Martin Invitational in Alexander City on Oct. 2 and the Heart of Dixie Marching Festival in Prattville on Oct. 9.

“It’s been a high level show for us, and the kids have really responded to it,” Band Director George Martin said.

The show the Blue Regiment performs is titled, “A Night at the Symphony,” and includes “Toccata” by Johann Sebastian Bach, “Danse Bacchanale,” “Hoedown by Aaron Copland, and Ludwig Van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”

Martin said, though the numbers are classical, they are “themes everyone knows, has heard somewhere. That’s part of the task.”

The show features Anna Davenport playing the violin, and she was awarded the “Best Soloist” distinction at Lake Martin.

The Blue Regiment earned superior ratings in band, drum major, dance line, majorette, color guard and percussion. Dance line, majorette and percussion earned “Best in Class” honors. Pit percussion won “Best Pit Percussion” of all the bands at the competition.

At Prattville, the band earned superior ratings in all captions, which included band, color guard, dance line, majorettes, percussion and drum major. The group also earned “Best in Class” honors for percussion, majorette, dance line, color guard and band.

Martin said that he even chose to attempt such a difficult show is a testament to his belief in the band members’ abilities.

“We worked a little harder each year so we could pull off something like this,” Martin said. “We hope we can step it up even a little more next year.”