Miller County Band earns Superior ratings
by MCL staff writer

(First row, L-R) Julia Kimmins, Tiffany Roland, Jackie Moore, Adam Phillips, Josh Kimbrel; (second row) Jared Busby, Mark Cook, Daniel Allen, Kaitlin Warren, Ashley Ingram, Ashley Young, Megan Phillips, Deanna Mason, Kasey Burke; (third row) Leeland Chandler, Alan Kimbrel, Caleb Long, Kyle Roberts, Lee Nix, Kayln Phillips, Shelby Standifer, Eric Lovering, Austin Deane; (kneeling) band director, Richard Horne

On Wednesday, March 12, the Miller County Symphonic Band under the direction of Richard Horne traveled to Cairo to perform at the GMEA District II Large Group Performance Evaluation (LGPE). There are two portions of LGPE where students are evaluated and awarded a rating based on their performance. The two portions are concert evaluation and sightreading evaluation. The ratings for both portions are I for Superior, II for Excellent, III for Good, IV for Fair, and V for Poor. In the concert portion of LGPE, the Miller County Symphonic Band was awarded an overall rating of Superior. In the sight-reading portion, the Symphonic Band was awarded another rating of Superior. According to the GMEA Handbook, a Superior rating is comparable to a score of 95-100 and is considered an outstanding performance worthy of distinction as being recognized among the very best. The Symphonic Band is comprised of students from eighth grade through 12th grade.

There were three pieces of music selected for the concert portion. The band performed a march written by Karl King and arranged by James Swearingen titled "Rough Riders." The second piece performed was a Larry Daehn composition

titled "Song of the Hebrides." The final piece performed was an energetic work by David Schaffer titled "Fire Dance." After the concert portion, the band went to the signt-reading room and was given a piece of music that neither they nor the director had seen before. After six minutes to study the piece, the band played a James Swearingen composition.

The judges for the event were Mr. Wally Shaw of Houston County (head judge), Mr. Mickey Fisher of Tunnel Hill, and Mr. Julian White of Tallahassee, FL. The sightreading judge for the event was Mr. David Moorer of Valdosta.