Ashe County Band includes Symphonic and Steel Drum Bands

By Allison Canter

Ashe County High School's Band includes not only the marching band, but also the Symphonic Band and a Steel Drum Band as well. Students who join these bands can participate in various competitions and events. Both bands have won various awards and are currently preparing for upcoming events.

The Symphonic Band has received four honor ratings of superior in North Carolina state band contests and seven superior ratings at the annual Carowinds Band Festival competition.

The Steel Drum Band's most recent trip was to Washington, D.C. to perform for wounded U.S. military personnel at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital. "This trip was one of the most memorable experiences of my career," said Band Director, Scott Turnmyre.

The trip was made possible by some very kind donations to the group from the citizens of Ashe County, he said. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx also helped to make the trip possible. While in Washington, the group dined with Foxx at the Members' Dining Room in the U.S. Capitol. Following the meal, Foxx gave the group a tour of the building.

Turnmyre said they are currently working on music with the Symphonic Band and Steel Drum Band. They have the N.C. State Band Contest for the Symphonic Band in mid-March, and the Carowinds Band Festival in early May. The Steel Drum Band is also working on their 2009 performance set.

"I look forward to directing the Symphonic Band and Steel Drum Bands at our upcoming competitions and concerts," Turnmyre said. "I have no doubt that our groups will perform at the highest levels possible."

In mid-April, the Husky Vanguard Marching Band will travel to Orlando, Fla., to perform in the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom. The vanguard will lead the evening parade in the Magic Kingdom as they march down the famous Main Street U.S.A. in the theme park. This will be the third time the band has performed at Walt Disney World.

As far as individual awards, the Ashe County band is represented in that category as well. Senior band members, Courtney Camp was awarded a scholarship at the Carolinas Carousel Parade. She plans to attend Wake Forest University in the fall.

When getting started with the band, students usually learn their primary instruments in the seventh and eighth grades at Ashe County Middle School.

"From that starting point, we continue to work on the primary instrument and often have students branch out to other instruments when they get to high school," said Turnmyre. "We often have wind instrument musicians go to percussion when they get into marching band to fill out the numerous positions in the marching drum line."

All the ninth through 12th grade band students have the option to participate in the Husky Vanguard Marching Band and the Symphonic Band, and students in grades 10 through12th can participate in the Steel Drum Band.

"The Steel Drum Band is an interesting group, in that you don't have to be a percussionist to play in the band," said Turnmyre. "Most of our steel band students come from the ranks of the wind instrument players." Also in that respect, the Flag Corps students most often come from students who are not already musicians.
Students who are interested in joining band have their choice of four classes they can take during the regular school day. The classes include Marching Band, Flag Corps, Symphonic Band and Steel Drum Band.

This three-part series honors the Ashe County High School Band for all their awards and the pride they bring to their director, school and community. Next week the final installment of this series will look at the band's community participation and all those who work behind the scenes to assist them.