Atlanta bands, Band of Champions shine at UIL contest

By Tim Emmons
temmons@casscountynow.com

Last week bands from around the area met at Pleasant Grove High School for a UIL Concert and Sight-Reading contest.
Atlanta’s middle school Symphonic band (directed by Kristen Thompson), high school Concert band (directed by Daniel Hawkins) and high school Symphonic or Varsity band (directed by Keith Sanders) all received first division ratings, which earned them Sweepstakes trophies and honors.
The AMS band earned ratings on stage and sight-reading while the high school bands received ratings on those plus marching contest.
At the high school level, UIL Sweepstakes is earned by making a first division at marching contest as well as concert and sight reading.  
For both the AMS and AHS bands it’s their eighth consecutive Sweepstakes. 
The historic measure for the middle school band is that no AMS band has ever competed at the high school level, and this group dropped in as the only middle school band present at the competition and garnered straight 1s.
This means the band was judged by high school band directors.
The AMS band is the first middle school band in the region to make a sweepstakes. Middle school UIL is scheduled for Thursday, April 6.  
Queen City’s Band of Champions received straight 1s in marching band, concert band and sight-reading, which earned them another Sweepstakes trophy.
The Band of Champions will perform next on Wednesday, March 22, at The Sounds of Spring Concert Festival at Princeton High School.