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Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

Northside band earns high marks at Hawkinsville Invitational fest

Northside High School’s Blue Wind Band marched right into victory in its first competition of the season.

The Blue Wind Band performed at the Sept. 26 Hawkinsville Invitational Marching Festival. Northside joined 16 bands from across Georgia in the marching festival.

At the competition, the Blue Wind Band earned an overall superior — the highest rating — from the band judges. The percussion section and color guard also received superior ratings. In addition, Northside’s drum majors received an overall excellent rating. Northside was one of only eight bands to receive an overall superior rating for the day.

Two weeks later, at the Lowndes County Battle of the Bands, Northside also picked up all superior ratings and finished fourth out of 19 schools.

“We have been working hard to raise our level of performance,” band director Paul Guilbeau said.

While football crowds judge a band on its music, judging at a band competition is based on much more than that, Guilbeau said.

“It’s about how you move, where you place your feet, as well as the music,” he said.

Northside’s show for the 2009 season celebrates the 70th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz” with music from both “The Wizard of Oz” and “The Wiz.” Titled “The Wizard Meets the Wiz,” the show opens with “Mean Ol’ Lion” and “Ease on Down the Road” from “The Wiz.”

The performance also features “The Wizard of Oz” story line in “If I Only Had A Brain,” complete with Dorothy, The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion, The Scarecrow and The Wicked Witch of the West performing on the field.

Northside’s next competition will be Saturday at the Old South Marching Contest in Newnan.

Contact Alline Kent at allinekent@cox.net or 396-2467.