Local Bands Make Strong Showings at Competitions

An outstanding competition season for Alachua County High School Marching Bands is coming to a close, with local high school bands bringing home numerous awards in the last few weeks.

Recently both Buchholz and Gainesville high school bands competed at the Southern Showcase of Champions FMBC Competition hosted by the Santa Fe HS Band.  Alachua County bands finished on top, winning their divisions in preliminary competition and finishing 1^st and 2^nd in finals competition, with GHS winning Grand Champion and BHS named First Runner Up.  This is the fourth year in a row that Gainesville High School was awarded Grand Champion at this competition.  Santa Fe High School performed in exhibition at the end of the show.

Earlier in the season, Buchholz, Gainesville and Santa Fe High School Bands all competed in the Echoes of Excellence Florida Marching Band Coalition Competition (FMBC). In finals competition Alachua County bands swept the top three spots, with Buchholz being awarded Grand Champion, Gainesville First Runner Up and Santa Fe Second Runner Up.  Each band was a class winner with Buchholz winning class 5A, Santa Fe winning class 4A and Gainesville winning 3A.

“This competition defined a new path in the Buchholz Band's history,” said Lisa Avery, Buchholz Band Senior Woodwind Colonel. “We worked hard and will continue to work hard as we move onto the State Championship.”

Nine “Best In Show” awards were given in finals competition and Alachua County bands took seven awards, including Best Percussion, Best Brass, Best Woodwinds, Best Drum Major, Best Music, Best Visual and Best General Effect.  “It was definitely one of the best first performances for GHS and BHS,” said Cindy Sterling, GHS senior and band captain. “I also enjoyed watching Santa Fe’s Band.  They were awesome!” 

The Newberry High School Band competed at the Tri-County Invitation in Chiefland, winning class 2A for the show, achieving a Superior rating and taking a “Best In Show” award for percussion. 

Just a week later all four bands participated in the FBA music performance assessment at Union County High School.  Buchholz, Gainesville and Santa Fe all took home straight Superior ratings and Newberry earned an overall Excellent rating.  Alachua county bands took three of the four straight Superiors that were earned that day. 

All four bands have been working since June on their marching shows.  The directors, staff and students have spent hundreds of hours practicing drill, guard routine, and music to perfect their show.

"In my first two months at Santa Fe High School I have been absolutely amazed at the extreme desire to succeed among all members of the marching band program,” said Nathan Bisco, band director at Santa Fe High School. “The Raider Regiment has a long tradition of excellence which we continued at the Middleburg Competition with our 3rd place finish.”

Bisco also pointed to the district’s overall success in band this season.

“The top three scoring bands all hailed from Alachua County,” he said.  “This is a prime example of what is 'right' with our schools, something the public is often not aware of."     

Buchholz, Gainesville and Santa Fe have all qualified for and plan to enter the State FMBC competition on November 22^nd.  Santa Fe is a six-time FMBC State Champion and Gainesville is a three-time FMBC State Champion.