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Grissom High School Band

history/awards/recognitions

Grissom High School Band History

Mr. Theo Vernon, Band Director, and Mr. Brent Harris, Associate Band Director, bring to our band program the dedicated effort and outstanding leadership that have characterized our directors since Grissom High School opened in 1969. With a band enrollment that averages 200-250 students, the program includes the two marching bands, two symphonic bands, a concert band, two jazz ensembles, and several chamber ensembles.
The Instrumental Music Department at Grissom strives to maintain a balanced program in all facets of music education, including the development of the individual musician. Over the years, the Grissom Band program has consistently produced excellent musicians who are in demand by colleges and universities throughout the Southeast and many parts of the country.  Grissom students receive placement in one of the Alabama All-State Bands each year.
Awards and recognitions have come often to the Band as a whole, too. Since its inception in 1969, the Symphonic Band 1 has never received less than a superior rating in any adjudication. They have been invited to perform at music educators' and conductors' conferences. The Symphonic Band 2 has rarely received less that a superior rating in any adjudication and the Concert Band has never received less than an excellent rating. The Marching Band has won numerous titles in contests and festivals throughout the Southeast and has never received less than a superior rating. 
The tradition of excellence held by the Grissom High School Band program developed through the hard work and dedication of past members and directors Mr. Dave Ward, Mr. James Sparks, Mr. Ronald Rich, and Mr. Bill Connell is continued now through the hard work and dedication of our current directors and students.

Any alumni out there want to help create 1969-1984 awards and recognitions please email Mr. Vernon and he will get that information added.  Pictures and any information will be great. Thank you!
2020-2021 Awards
All-State Band

District Honor Band
2019-2020 Recognition
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​

Hendersonville Golden Invitational
Class A: All superior ratings 
Best Colorguard
Best Percussion
Best Winds
1st Place Band

Best of the Best Colorguard
Best of the Best Percussion
Best of the Best Winds
1st Place Band Large Division
Grand Champion (highest score of the day)

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Albertville High School - Northeast Alabama Marching Invitational
All 1’s (Superior)!
Percussion had the highest score out of all the 20 bands in all divisions!
Our band (Wind players) had the 2nd highest score out of all the 20 bands!
Drum Major - I
Percussion - I
Colorguard - I
Band - I, I, I
Overall - I
Best in Class AAA
Colorguard 
Percussion
Band
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Hoover Invitational Marching Festival
Class AAA: All superior ratings
Best Colorguard
Best Band (Highest score of the day out of 18 bands scoring higher than the Class AAAA bands with a 97.2!)
Symphonic Band 1  invited to perform for the Alabama Music Educations Association's annual conference.

All-State Jazz Band Members
Isaac Cargile - Gold Band
George Luft - Gold Band
Lake Black - Silver Band

Alabama All-State and District 1 Honor Band Members
2020 All-State Honor Band members
Ethan Watts - Flute (White Band)
Erin Hatcher - Clarinet (Red Band)
Carson Mades - Clarinet (Red Band)
Luke Aguyao - Alto Sax (Red Band)
Will Simmons - Tenor Sax (Alternate)
Daniel Sharp - Bari Sax (Unassigned)
Lake Black -Trumpet (White Band)
Ryan Ortakales - French Horn (Blue Band)
Isaac Cargile - Trombone (Red Band)
Casey Sherman - Trombone (Blue Band)
Henry Patterson - Baritone (White Band)
George Luft - Tuba (Alternate)

2020 District Honor Band Members
E
than Watts - Flute - 3rd chair
Erin Hatcher - Clarinet - 3rd chair
Carson Mades - Clarinet - 4th chair
Will Simmons - Tenor Sax - 3rd chair
Daniel Sharp - Bari Sax - 1st chair
Lake Black - Trumpet - 3rd chair 
Ryan Ortakales - French Horn - 5th chair
Isaac Cargile - Trombone - 2nd chair
Casey Sherman - Trombone - 5th chair
Erin Howard - Trombone- 8th chair
Henry Patterson - Baritone - 1st chair
George Luft - Tuba - 4th chair

2019 Concert/Jazz Season
All-State Jazz Bands

Congratulations to Isaac Cargile - Trombone in the top Gold Jazz Band!
Daniel Sharp and Maxwell Windsor - Alternates 

University of Alabama Honor Band
Congratulations to the following students:
Priscila De Rubeis-Erin Hatcher-Carson Mades-Elise Mades
Alyssa Hatcher-Victoria Burnham-Mason Mays-Daniel Sharp-Josh Koch-Ryan Ortakales-Casey Sherman

District One Honor Band
Congratulations to the following students:
Flute E. Watts 
Oboe J. Parikh 
Bb Soprano Clarinets
E. Hatcher -D. Hoffmeyer -C. Mades
Bassoon
E. Mades 
Alto Saxophone
A. Hatcher 
Baritone Saxophone
D. Sharp 
Trumpets
L. Black -K. Britton 
French Horns
R. Ortakales-M. Severson
Trombones
I. Cargile -B. Albritton -C. Sherman 
Euphonium
H. Patterson 
Tubas
​G. Luft 

Alabama All-State Band
Congratulations to the following students:
Flute
Blue Band - E. Watts  
Oboe
Unassigned - J. Parikh 
Bassoon
Unassigned - E. Mades 
Clarinet
Red Band
E. Hatcher -D. Hoffmeyer 
White Band
C. Mades 
Baritone Saxophone
Alternate – D. Sharp
​Trumpet
Blue Band - L. Black 
French Horn
White Band - R. Ortakales 
Trombone 
Red Band - I. Cargile 
Blue Band - B. Albritton 
Alternate – C. Sherman 
Euphonium
White Band - H. Patterson 
Tuba
Alternate – G. Luft 
2014-2015 
Marching Band Contests

Columbia, TN Invitational September 27th
All superior ratings
Drum Majors superior
Percussion superior
Color Guard superior

Jacksonville State Contest October 18th
All superior ratings and 2nd place overall
Drum Majors superior and 3rd place overall
Percussion superior and 3rd place overall
Color Guard superior and 4th place overall
Diamond class outstanding soloist Matthew Shustack

Marching Band invited to perform in the nationally televised 2014 Hollywood Christmas Parade in Hollywood, California.

UAH Honor Band
Tabby Massengill Saxophone
Miles Gregorian  Bass Clarinet
Joelle Kim Flute
Sabrina Cline  Piccolo
Brooke Balla  Flute
Miller Cochran   Trombone
Mike McMahon  Tuba
Hunter Wade  Euphonium

District Honor Band
Brooke Balla Flute
Alice Kim Flute
Miles Grigorian Bass Clarinet
Alex Chenault Bassoon
Matthew Shustack Trombone
Tyler Belk Tuba

All-State Jazz
Andrew Phillips First in the state tenor saxophone in the Gold Band
Brandon Peterson guitar in the Bronze Band

All-State Band
Tyler Belk Tuba - White Band
Alex Chenault - Bassoon unassigned

All-State Orchestra
Sabrina Cline Piccolo
Giselle Fulton Oboe

Music Performance Assessment
Concert Band overall Excellent
Symphonic Band 1 & 2 all Superior ratings with Distinction

Swing Central Jazz Competition
The “A” Jazz Band selected as one of twelve bands from across the U.S. to compete in Savannah. GA.

Alabama Hall of Fame Jazz Festival
“B” Jazz Band received all superior ratings.

Chattanooga National Adjudicators Invitational 

Symphonic Band 1 and 2 received superior ratings
Concert Band received an overall excellent rating
Outstanding Section Award - Symphonic Band 1 Low Reeds
Outstanding Percussion Award - Symphonic Band 2
Flute Soloist Award - Peter Anthony, Symphonic Band 2
Trumpet Soloist Award - Scott Hurley, Symphonic Band 2

​2014

Congratulations to Chris Healy for making the bass trombone spot in the All-State Gold Jazz Band!!

Congratulations to the following students for making District 1 Honor Band and/or All-State Band:

Honor Band 
Sabrina Cline - piccolo/Alice Kim - 8th chair flute/Kristen Page - 7th chair clarinet/Gracie Anderson - 2nd chair tenor sax/Michael Jones - 2nd chair bari sax/Katie Trausch - 9th chair trumpet/Travis Redfield - 2nd chair trombone/Hunter Wade - 3rd chair euphonium

All-State
Sabrina Cline - piccolo/Kristen Page - White Band clarinet
Gracie Anderson - tenor sax/Michael Jones - bari sax - Alternate
Chris Healy - Red Band trombone/Travis Redfield - Blue Band trombone/Hunter Wade - Blue Band Euphonium


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2013
The tradition continues!  The marching band received many accolades at their competitions.

Jacksonville State University Contest of Champions October 5 

RESULTS:
1st in Division Drum Major / Guard / Percussion and Band.
2nd overall Band out of 20 bands!

Recap Scores:
Percussion - 97 - highest score of the day out of 20 bands!!
Color Guard - 85.5 - 10th overall
Drum Majors - 92 - 10th overall

Band - 
     Music - 38.83  - 2nd overall to 38.90
     Visual - 28.50 - 2nd overall to 28.67
     GE -28.87 - 2nd overall to 29.00

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Hoover Invitational Contest October 19

RESULTS:
Drum Major - Superior (2nd highest score of the day with a 98!)
Color Guard - Superior
Percussion - Superior
Band - Straight Superiors

Outstanding soloist from class AAA & AAAA combined:
Grissom mellophone soloist Madeline Jory!

Best in class AAAA Band out of 8 bands that received all superiors. Tough competition!

Highest scoring band of the day out of 22 bands!!  95.5!!

2013
Congratulations to the following students for being selected as a member of the 2013 UAH Honor Band!

Sabrina Cline - Flute/Kristen Page - Clarinet/Elijah Stevens - Bass Clarinet/Andrew Toomey - Alto Saxophone/Chanda Shaw - Trumpet
Chris Healy - Trombone/Hunter Wade - Euphonium/Michael Jones - Baritone Saxophone

Congratulations to senior trombonist Nathan Franklin for being selected to participate in the Macy*s All American Marching Band marching in the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City!
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2012-2013

“A” Jazz Band selected as one of 12 bands to compete in the Swing Central Jazz Band Competition in Savannah, Georgia.

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Symphonic Band 1 awarded the Grand Champion at the Dixie Classic Grand National Adjudicators Invitational competition in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Symphonic Band 2 - All superior ratings.

Concert Band - Overall excellent rating.



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2018 Marching Season
Columbia Central High School Invitational - September 29

Results: Band placed 2nd in the largest class and won the best spirit award out of 7 bands.
Percussion placed 2nd in class
Color Guard placed 5th in class

Jacksonville State Contest of Champions - October 20
Results: All superior ratings in every category!

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2017 Marching Season
Station Camp HS Marching Invitational
Results: All superior ratings in all categories. Drum Major, Color Guard, Percussion and Band.

​Hoover HS Marching Invitational
Results: All superior ratings in all categories. Drum Major, Color Guard, Percussion and Band.
​Received the highest overall score for musical performance!

2018 All-State Jazz Band
Alex Edwards- Trombone in the top Gold Jazz Band

UAH Honor Band
​Isabel Ward, Elise Mades, Kira Geib, Kaci Thompson, Dagen Hoffmeyer, Carter Ward, Alex Edwards, Dominic Kuzy, Trent Anton, Jacob Schultz, Jack Henry Parikh

District Honor Band
Erin Hatcher, Carson  Mades, Dagen Hoffmeyer, Elise Mades, Carter Ward, Kyra Britton, Issac Cargile, Alex Edwards, Bryce Albritton, Dominic Kuzy

​University of Alabama Honor Band

Kathryn Brown, Erin Hatcher, Aylssa Hatcher, Victoria Burnham, Mason Mays, Daniel Sharp, Ryan Ortakales, Dominic Kuzy, Trent Anton, Kaelin Marshall

2018 Music Performance Assessment (MPA)
Concert Band overall Excellent rating
​Symphonic Band 1 & 2 straight superior ratings

2018 All-State Band
Erin Hatcher - 3rd chair Blue Band, Issac Cargile - 4th chair White Band, Alex Edwards - 2nd chair White Band, Dominic Kuzy 1st chair Red Band (first in the state!)

​2018 Dixie Classic Adjudicator's Invitational - Atlanta Symphony Hall
Concert Band - Excellent rating
Symphonic Band 2 - Superior rating
Symphonic Band 1 - Superior rating
​Clarinet Section 
award - Symphonic Band 1
​Low Brass award - Symphonic Band 1


2017 Dixie Classic Grand National Adjudicators Invitational competition in Chattanooga, Tennessee Results:
Concert Band- Excellent Rating
Symphonic Band 2- Superoir Rating 
​Symphonic Band 1- Superoir Rating
Outstanding Woodwind Award - Symphonic Band 1
Outstanding soloist award - Alice Kim - flute
​Overall Highest Score of the day - Symphonic Band 1!


Music Performance Assessment 2017
Concert Band - ALL Superior Ratings!
Symphonic Band 2 - ALL Superior Ratings!
Symphony Band 1 - ALL Superior Ratings!
All-State Jazz Band 2017
Brandon Peterson - Gold Band - Guitar
Wyatt Detrick - Silver Band - Trombone

Congratulations to the following students for making the 2017 District 1 Honor Band:
Flute - Alice Kim, Joelle Kim
Clarinet - Noah Cargile
Contra-Bass Clarinet - Isabel Ward
Bassoon - Elise Mades
Tenor Saxophone - Daniel Mowery
Trumpet - Kyra Britton
French Horn - Ben Jensen, Sam Becker
Trombone - Alex Edwards, Matthew Shustack, Issac Cargile, Bryce Albritton
Euphonium - Wyatt Detrick
​Noah Kim - Percussion

Congratulations to the following students for making one of the 2017 All-State Bands:
Alice Kim - Flute - White Band
Isabel Ward - Contra-Bass Clarinet - alternate
Elise Mades - Bassoon
Daniel Mowery - Tenor Saxophone - alternate
Ben Jensen - French Horn - Blue Band
Sam Becker - French Horn - Blue Band
Alex Edwards - Trombone - White Band
Matthew Shustack - Trombone - White Band
Issac Cargile - Trombone - Blue Band
Wyatt Detrick - Euphonium - Red Band

Hawaii 2016
70 members of the marchign band traveled to Hawaii to participate in the 75th Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. They marched in a parade honoring Pearl Harbor survivors and performed at the Arizona Memorial and the U.S.S. Missouri. While at the Arizona Memorial we placed a wreath and saluted those who sacrificed for our freedoms. It was a very touching moment that we will all never forget.
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2016 Jacksonville State University Competition results:
​Superior ratings in all categories! Drum Major, Color Guard, Percussion, and Band. Placed 3rd in Diamond class and 3rd highest score overall out of 34 bands!! Grissom also had the 2nd highest "raw" score by 1.65pts. In Olympic judging they drop the highest and lowest scores of the 5 adjudicators. Thus the reason for the 3rd place overall. 

Congratulations to the following students selected for the 2016 UAH Invitational Honor Band.
Joelle Kim-Alice Kim-Giselle Fulton-Dagen Hoffmeyer-Isabel Ward-Elise Mades-Greg Lucero-James Torres-Matthew Estacio-Kaci Thompson-Austin Meeks-Ben Jensen-Alex Edwards-Matthew Shustack-Delvin Showers-Wyatt Detrick. Here is the schedule and more information. http://www.uah.edu/…/mu…/ensembles/bands/4264-uah-honor-band

2016 Kudzu Klassic In Russellville Contest results. Congratulations!!!!
Straight superior ratings for Drum Majors-Color Guard-Percussion-Band
Best in class AAAA Drum Major
Best in class AAAA Color Guard
Best in class AAAA Percussion 
Best in class AAAA Band
Tim Bowling Most Entertaining Award!!
Best overall Band-grand champion!

2016 UAB Concert Band Invitational
​Congratulations to the Symphonic Bands 1 and 2 for being invited to perform at the inaugural UAB Concert Band Invitational Festival. The bands performed extremely well and received very positive comments from the renowned music educators.

2016 MPA Results
Congratulations for all Superior Ratings at the District 1 Music Performance Assessment at James Clemens High School!
​Concert Band (1-1-2-1 = 1)
Symphonic Band 2 (1-1-1-1 = 1)
Symphonic Band 1 (1-1-1-1 = 1)
​

2016 All-State Members
Brooke Balla - 1st Red Band - Flute
Tabby Massengill - White Band - Alto Saxophone
Daniel Mowery - 1st Tenor Saxophone
Matthew Shustack - 1st Blue Band - Trombone
Ashley Olmstead - Alternate - Trombone
Wyatt Detrick - Red Band - Euphonium

Congratulations to Wyatt Detrick for being a finalist in the Super 
Solo Competition at 2016 All-State Band Festival. He placed 7th out of over 90 students.

2016 District 1 Honor Band
Brooke Balla - 1st chair Flute
Alice Kim - 11th chair Flute
Tabby Massengill - 1st chair Alto Saxophone
Daniel Mowery - 1st chair Tenor Saxophone
Kyra Britton - 14th chair Trumpet
Matthew Shustack - 5th chair trombone
Ashley Olmstead - 7th chair Trombone
Bryce Albritton - 8th chair Trombone
Wyatt Detrick - 1st chair Euphonium
Mike McMahon - 5th chair Tuba
Jaden Bush - 6th chair Tuba

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Grissom's Symphonic Band 2 performs at the 2016 Alabama Music Educators Conference in Montgomery, Alabama.
​

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Rosa Richardson, flute soloist, with Symphonic Band 2 at AMEA.

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Congratulations to the 2016 All-State Jazz Band Members!
Brandon Peterson - Guitar in the top Gold Band
Wyatt Detrick - Bass Trombone in the top Gold Band
Andrew Getman - Alternate Guitar in the Bronze Band
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2015-2016
Marching Contests
​

Spain Park High School Invitational September 26th
All superior ratings in all categories: Band, Drum Majors, Color Guard and Percussion.
Best in Class 4A Band, Drum Majors, and Color Guard and Overall Grand Champion! Percussion had the 2nd highest score of the day!
______________________________
Congratulations to the UAH Honor Band Students selected from over 80 schools:
Brooke Balla - Joelle Kim - Tabitha Massengill - Rebecca Wiggs - Matthew Shustack - Alex Edwards - Wyatt Detrick - Mike McMahon

​Hoover High School Invitational October 17th
All superior ratings in all categories: Band, Drum Majors, Color Guard and Percussion.
​Best in Class 4A Band, Drum Majors and Color Guard! Mellophone soloist award and Piccolo section award!
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2011-2012
Symphonic Band 1 awarded the Grand Champion at the Dixie Classic
Festival in Washington, DC.
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2007-2008
Band selected to March in the Philadelphia
Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Symphonic Band 1 awarded the Grand Champion at the Dixie Classic Grand National Adjudicators Invitational competition in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

2006-2007
Symphonic Band 1 awarded the Grand Champion at the Dixie Classic Grand National Adjudicators Invitational competition in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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2004-2005
 Band selected to March in the Hawaii Waikiki Thanksgiving Day Parade and Performances at the Pearl Harbor Memorial.

Symphonic Band 1 awarded the Grand Champion at the Dixie Classic Grand National Adjudicators Invitational competition in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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2001-2002
 “A” Jazz Band selected to perform at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands.





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Summer 2000
“A” Jazz Band selected to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.


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1999-2000
Marched in the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade as the lead band!


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1998-1999
“A” Jazz Band selected as one of 20 bands to compete in the Essentially Ellington Jazz Band Festival in New York City.




​1996-1997

Jazz bands selected to perform in Austria for their Millennium Celebrations.

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1985-1986
1st place in the University of Alabama Marching Festival.

Symphonic Band 1 selected to perform at the International MidWest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL.

​



1001 Haysland Road, Huntsville, AL 35802   256-428-8000  ext. 2111
Director of Bands - Mr. Vernon - john.vernon@hsv-k12.org
Associate Director of Bands - Mr. Harris - brent.harris@hsv-k12.org

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