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Highlands Today

AP High Band Earns Bid At State

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By MARC VALERO

Highlands Today

Published: November 13, 2008

AVON PARK - A number of years have passed since the Avon Park High School Marching Grenadier Band earned an invitation to the state band championships, but that wait is over.

The 41-member band will be performing its three-song "Latin Fury" show in the Class A semi-finals on Nov. 22 at Lakewood Ranch in Manatee County.

A total of 32 bands qualified in the Class A division (1-30 wind instruments) statewide with 25 choosing to compete. The top five bands will move on to the finals on the evening of Nov. 22 at Tropicana Field.

"I think we are headed in the right direction for an upswing in the program," said Band Director Anthony Jones. "The kids are excited about finally doing something and getting some recognition for it."

After teaching band for 22 years and living in Indiana all his life, Jones is in his first year at Avon Park High.

It been about six or seven years since they've been to an invitational competition, he said.

Senior Michael Gergen plays the tuba or the sousaphone, depending on the performance season, with the Grenadier Band.

The 17-year-old has been a band student since sixth grade.

"I think we are doing pretty good this year," he said. Comparisons with previous year's bands are difficult because the music changes year-to-year.

Gergen and one other student comprise the tuba section.

"It's not easy to hide; you have to know your part," he said. "I've seen high schools, like at the most recent competition we went to, that had nine tubas."

Gergen said the advice Jones offers before a competition includes "play your part; be clean and just do your best."

The band includes: 23 wind instrumentalists, seven percussionists and 11 in the color guard.

Marc Valero can be reached at 386-5826 or mvalero@highlandstoday.com

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