Johns Creek High School Marching Band Wins Award as Silver Division Sweepstakes Grand Champions

JOHNS CREEK, GA— The Johns Creek High School Marching Band and Color Guard now can add the title of Silver Division Sweepstakes Grand Champions to their many awards. On October 18, 2014 the Gladiators traveled to Tallapoosa, Georgia to compete in the Golden River Marching Festival. There they performed their show “Dante’s Journey.” The Gladiators competed against several bands throughout the state of Georgia to receive this coveted award.

Other awards received that evening included:

· Silver Division Sweepstakes First Runner Up Grand Champion Color Guard

· Class AAA Best in Class, First Place Band;

· Class AAA Best in Class, First Place Color Guard;

· Class AAA Best in Class, First Place Front Ensemble (Pit);

· Class AAA Best in Class, Second Place Percussion; and

· Class AAA Best in Class, Third Place Drum Majors.

The Gladiator Marching Band is under the direction of Al Estep, band director, and Marcia Laird, associate director. The Color Guard director is Alyssa Dickens. Percussion instructors are Will Kester and Morgan Crews.

Students serve in leadership roles within the band. The Drum Major is Jackson Bowers. Assistant Drum Major is Joey Park. Band Captains are Akash Hegde and Patrick Shinn. Brass Captain is Akhil Upad. Woodwind Captain is Bennett Farina. Percussion Captains are Caitlin Strong and Will Hensley. Color Guard Captains are Ashley Hunter, Paige Innes, Jordan Moran and Anna Park. The Uniform officer is Sami Gold. Operations Officers are Megan Sussman, Sean Kim, Sam Ward and AJ Hutcherson.

The Gladiator band believes that these awards are yet another example of their motto: “the Pursuit of Excellence.”