The magnificent season the Grayson County High School Marching Band just concluded caught the attention of community leaders.
Leitchfield Mayor Harold Miller and Grayson County Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson on Wednesday signed a proclamation at the high school declaring Thursday, November 30, 2023, Grayson County High School Marching Band Day.
The band, under the leadership of Aaron and Ashley Bell, placed 38th out of 92 groups and earned a Distinguished rating on the national level at the Bands of America Grand National Championships recently held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Additionally, at a national competition recently held at Forrest High School in Tennessee, the band won Best Overall Music and was crowned Grand Champion.
Other high notes of the marching band season include:
- Placing 8th in the Kentucky Music Educators Association Class AAAA competition, the highest placement for a GCHS marching band since 1989. Additionally, in Class AA competition, the band came in 8th out of 26 competitors.
- Being named the Reserve Grand Champion and winning 1st place in Color Guard at a competition held at Franklin-Simpson High School.
- Winning 1st place in Color Guard and Percussion at a competition held at Warren East High School.
“Kevin (Henderson) and I talked about this. We wanted to do this for you guys,” Miller told marching band members regarding the proclamation. “… (We’re) proud of you guys; proud of all your accomplishments.”
Henderson echoed Miller’s praise of the band for its outstanding year.
“Congratulations on all of your achievements over the year and it’s something to be proud. We’re really proud of you all, (and) we just wanted to congratulate you all on a very good year,” Henderson said. “And thank you all for representing Grayson County High School and representing Grayson County as well as you do. We really appreciate it and we wish you all the best of luck.”
Miller, an outstanding musician (and singer) in his own right, told GCHS marching band members how important participating in band has been for him in his life.
“Being an old band guy myself — I played trombone — I think the band is a super important part of education. In my case,” Miller explained, “I had a band director named Mr. Ashby that taught me a lot about life. Most everything I’ve been through and worked through all my life; there have been a lot of lessons that he taught me that still come back to me every day.
“So, enjoy your time here. You guys have been super successful. Grayson County has always been known as having a top ranked band. Even back in the ‘70s when I was here.”
Henderson, in his closing remarks to the band, related a story of Miller beating one of the world’s best fiddle players, recent National Fiddler Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy Mattingly, in a fiddling contest while both attended Grayson County High School.
“So, keep playing. You never know,” Henderson told the band. “The next guy, the next girl, could be sitting right here. We could be watching them on TV living their dreams and doing exactly what they want to do. Remember, do what you love, but love what you do. So keep on going.”
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
