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April 28, 2010

JHS band makes sweepstakes

Nathan Straus Jacksonville Daily Progress

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville High School band has made University Interscholastic League Sweepstakes for the third year in a row. Band Director Mike Bullock said this signifies the band as a whole placed first division, superior, in a trio of events.

“There is a concert portion where the kids perform three pieces of rehearsed music,” Bullock said. “The other portion is the sight reading portion, where students are given 10 minutes to look at a piece of music and then play it. They had never practiced or played the music before.”

Bullock also said the band ranked in the first division when it competed in the October, 2009, marching contest. These three first division performances were required to win the Sweepstakes trophy.

The latest two victories came at Whitehouse High School on April 22. Bullock said about 23 bands competed at the event and only eight got Sweepstakes.

“To do this three years in a row is great. We’ve had an outstanding year in many ways,” Bullock said. “This is the most students ever enrolled in the Jacksonville band and to win Sweepstakes on top of that is a really exciting feeling.”

UIL Judge Randy Lifeste said of the JHS band performance, “All three pieces were very well performed. You did your homework in preparing for today. I enjoyed it very much. Congratulations to all involved in this outstanding program.”

Bullock said this is the 29th Sweepstakes the band has won.

Jacksonville Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Joe Wardell said the band has done a tremendous job in its work.

“It is a neat thing to see our band consistently win awards,” Wardell said. “It’s hard to get to the level our band is at, but it’s harder to stay at that level.”

Wardell also said commendations are in order for Bullock, the other band directors and the students.

“It’s a great program and it continues to increase in the number of participants because it is such a quality program,” Wardell said.

Senior French Horn Musician Kyle Taylor said he did not expect the band to come through and do so well.

“In the end we got our attitude in shape,” Taylor said. “We hit our peak when we needed to.”

He also said he learned from past experience the other bands present at the UIL competition are very good as well.

Bullock said overall, the entire band program has grown from the sixth grade level to the 12th grade level.

In addition to their April performance at UIL, the band went to Disney World in March to perform in a park parade during spring break. Bullock said it proved to be a fantastic trip.

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