Sweepstake Award is the perfect score any band program can achieve. Students receive a red, white and blue medal for this accomplishment. It starts with the marching band earning all superior ratings at state marching evaluations. That is a superior rating given by all judges in marching band, percussion, color guard and drum major. The superior ratings earned the band the Red Ribbon.
The Blue Ribbon indicates superior ratings by all judges in concert band. Students performed their concert evaluation in Biloxi. Students are given approximately three months to learn three pieces of music and perform in front of judges. Each classification is given a certain level of music to perform from. The CHS band chose to play from a higher music classification to challenge the students a little more.
White Ribbon indicates superior ratings by all judges in sight-reading. Students have eight minutes to study over a piece of music they have never seen before. Students are not allowed to play as they are studying over the piece. When time is completed, students must perform together the piece of music they have not seen before.
“I am extremely proud of this group. We have a very talented group here at Columbia, and all of their hard work has paid off both as state champions and as Sweepstake Award winners," Band Director Leslie Fortenberry said. "I could not have asked for a better year. The students have pushed hard since the start of the season back in June, and their hard work continued to pay off through concert season. We don’t have an off season. Band is evaluated in the fall, winter and spring with concerts in between. Our only down time is the first two to three weeks in June, when we still meet to work on fundamentals/training.
“These seniors have had the perfect senior year, being both state champions and Sweepstakes Award recipients. I am incredibly proud of all the goals they have achieved in the past seven years. All of our students are hard workers, and we will continue to push them so they can reach their highest potential. I am proud of all involved in our award-winning and state championship Band Program.”
