Best in Show -- True Champions Have Heart!
Yesterday, our high school marching band hosted a contest, where 10 bands competed in different classes. It was a great time! But, the actual best moment of the entire day/evening, was at the very end...
First a brief history of what has happened in high school band, out and about in the state, the past couple of weeks:
- One of the county band's directors was found to be having an affair with a 15 year old student. He was sacked, along with his wife, who was his assistant, and helped cover up the affair. This poor band is now out of most competitions, as they have no one that can 'cover' for the band director.
- Another county band, known to be "the one to beat" in Western KY, was quite rude about their loss last weekend. They are accustomed to walking away with all the prizes, and they lost all but one, tying with us for first place in Overall Visual Performance. (We won.) After the contest, the director of the other band got into a huge screaming match with one of the judges, putting on a show of pure rage for all the kids to see...
Our band was not competing yesterday, but put on an exhibition show-- solely as entertainment. As hosts, we did not compete, but all the kids and band parents worked together to extend hospitality to the bands who joined us in the competition.
Bands came, performed, and went, mobbing us at the concession stands, and enjoying the various 'goodies' at the souvenir tents. And then, there was Grayson County.
Grayson County contains the little town of Leitchfield, Kentucky, just off the Western Kentucky Parkway. The whole county seems to act as a lightning rod for tornadoes, because any time there is a tornado, it seems to touch down in Leitchfield, or nearby. During the ice storm of 4-6 years ago, Grayson County had the highest death toll. It isn't a wealthy little county, but it does have two nice lakes nearby, Rough River Lake and Nolin Lake, both of which have really great recreational facilities and camping sites!
Grayson County band blew their hearts out and won the competition! I was so proud of them! They looked sharp and sounded wonderful! Every single kid or parent who came through the lines at the concession stand were polite and friendly, and it was a pleasure tomeet them, as well as the parents and kids in all the other bands!
It may have been a competition, but all of the parents cheered for each other's kids, clapped after the performances, and extended the hand of friendship to other parents. Compared to the last event we attended, it was as if everyone was determined to show that rivalry does not mean meanness!
But the best part, was that with all the rivalry, the fights, the dirty deeds, when Grayson County was announced as winners, our band cheered and yelled, then stormed the field and the band, showing a unity of spirit that was MOST impressive! The bands mingled and thumped each other on the back and were lovely to one another! Then they posed for a great picture:
This was true sportsmanlike conduct, and an especially moving moment for all of us! Their band director told our band director that he had never, in his entire career, seen such a wonderful showing of unity between bands.
There is a lesson here for all of us. It's not who wins the competition, that is important. It's more a matter of sharing the joy, all for the love of each other, that matters!
Thanks so much for visiting!
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This was a true showing of the fellowship of musicians! What CAN be, rather than what some parents make it out to be.
Band competitions are not life and death, unlike how some bands behave. They should be a celebration of the love of music, of the willingness of these teenagers to work hard for something that matters to them! Band kids are good kids, and in this case, I can see that there are also good band parents!
This restored my faith, which was badly shaken during the past couple of weeks... It isn't an ideal world we live in, but on occasion, we DO get to see a brief, shining moment of goodness!
Looks like everyone had a blast. You should be proud of Peep and his band mates. What fun.
It was an absolute blast!!! Even working the concessions and adding $.75 cents here and there, it was great! UGH, I can't add!
A few kids bought food they didn't have money for, so I got them their dinners. My treat and my privilege.
Exactly what I thought! The "mean" band did NOT attend, and we were all happier for it. There has been some talk on the Kentucky Band network thingy about trying to educate parents in proper contest etiquette, which says something about the lack of, being so prevalent. I think grownups tend to lose sight of what is really important sometimes: Working hard and having fun!
Oh yes, I do know what you mean. In the bands, it is all a maneuvering as to who plays where and which competitions they attend, etc. Most of the losing bands are harangued by their directors afterwards-- blah, blah, blah. I listened for a moment to the band from Grandma's home town, while I walked by on the way to my car, and EGAD, what a tongue lashing they got! I found one of the parents who was quietly loading up on the side and bragged and bragged on their polite, sweet kids, and what a fabulous job they had done! I begged him to tell the band director what I had said, and to say that they had one Big Huge Fan who believed in them!
Yeah, sometimes, kids need to have their tails jerked, but sometimes, they're doing the best they can, and further yelling only frustrates them. Our Band Director always tells the kids that he loves them, even when they screw up-- and that is the most important thing, I think!
Take care!
And EVERYONE had fun. That's the important thing.
YES!!! If they are not having fun, what is the point of working so hard? It has to be something they enjoy!!!
THAT is a wonderful story and I can only hope and pray that no one ever asks me to coach anything... I would have no idea how to begin!
You did great, dearest sister of my heart! Just great!
That is very beautiful! Our instruments are passed down, as well, and they "mean something" if only because loving hands have used them as well.
I'm so sorry about your son. I know that you think of him every waking moment.
I loveyou, dear friend. I think the tone gets better with love and care, through the years.
Yes, I truly believe, with all my heart, that your son is with you every moment of every day, until you meet again. I know he loves you very much! Love never dies!!!
Take care, my sweet friend.
Here is the article that appeared in the Leitchfield paper:
Three-peat for Grayson Co.
He is shy about it, and doesn't think it's a big deal. From a parent's viewpoint, it WAS a big deal, especially after the other band was so mean to us. Now, I hope that if the mean school wins, we can be just as happy for them!
I love you! My sister!!!