In the spring of 2009, the GHS Band formed their first ever Winter Percussion Ensemble, composed of both regular percussionists and students from the rest of the band as well. The ensemble was formed to learn the piece “Millenium”, which is a Class 1 percussion ensemble on the UIL list, and prepare it for the Region and State UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest. The ensemble also performed in the concert percussion division at two NTCA (North Texas Colorguard Associaton) contests this semester. At our first NTCA contest on January 21st, the group placed second out of three ensembles with a score of 70.3. At the NTCA championship contest on March 27th, the group placed fourth out of four ensembles with a score of 70.5. (Our ensemble learned a second piece, “2001: A Mallet Odyssey”, to add to our performance at the NTCA championships.) In between these two NTCA contests, the Winter Percussion Ensemble performed at the UIL Region Solo and Ensemble contest on February 21st and earned a 1st Division rating with very positive comments from the percussion judge, earning our students the right to perform at the UIL State Solo and Ensemble Contest in San Marcos on Monday, June 1st. |
| GHS WINTER PERCUSSION 2009 |