| Conductor and Arts Department Chair
David S. Albert started
the band program at the opening of the school in 1993-94, with 32 students. Ten
of those students were flutes, nine were percussion, and the low brass consisted
of one
trombone and a bass clarinet! With the help of very dedicated
students, Bands Club parents,
and the School Administration, the Program has grown to over 180 students and
supports the Symphonic Band,
Concert Band,
9th Grade Band, Marching Band,
Color Guard,
Jazz Band,
Pep Band, and various other
Small Ensembles. The Leesville Bands and
Ensembles have received superior ratings and first place awards in numerous
marching band contests and have received superior ratings at the Central
District Bandmasters Association's Concert Festival in Grades IV, V, and VI. The
Bands have traveled and performed in Florida at Disney World, were awarded First
Place and Most Outstanding Band in New York City, Atlanta, Miami,
Williamsburg, Toronto, Nassau, Bahamas, and San Francisco!
Ovation Festivals and Festivals at
Sea have awarded the Symphonic Band the National High Festival Music Scores in
1999 and 2000. The Symphonic Band has performed at
the North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina as well as the
55th
Midwest Clinic, An International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago,
Illinois. The Symphonic Band also
travels to Banner Elk, North Carolina for its annual Band Camp. The Band is
noted for outstanding concerts presented to sold out audiences. Often, the Band
invites College Wind Ensembles to perform joint concerts.
Many Leesville Band
members are selected each year to participate in the North Carolina Central
District All-District Band as well as the North Carolina Honors Band. Several
Band alumni are now working on music degrees in colleges and universities as
well as performing in university and military bands across the United States.
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