Perfection is a goal that many bands strive for.  But a few weekends ago, the Greenville High School Marching Band achieved it not once, but twice in the same day.

Tiger pride was abundant as the band traveled to competitions in both Rehobeth and Daleville on Saturday, Sept. 24.

On the eve of competition day, the band found itself in Wetumpka for a football game, meaning many of its members didn’t get home until 1 a.m. Barely five and a half hours later and they were up again, practicing mere moments before catching the bus at 8:30 a.m.

But the hard work paid off; the band scored a superior rating of 1—the highest rating possible—in every category it competed in. 

Those categories include dance, majorette, color guard, percussion, drum major and band overall.

“We did both of them last year, and last year’s outcome was similar, but they weren’t as good as this year’s results,” said Brett Johnson, band director of the Greenville High School Marching Band. “We had more superior and No. 1 ratings than in any other year in the band’s history.

“And the same outcome happened in Daleville later that day.  We got the highest rating for our marching band in every category you can compete in.”

Johnson said that he and his band felt a blend of exhilaration and exhaustion all at once, but he added that band’s notable accomplishments are being noted.

“We had an outstanding year last year, and some of our peer schools are starting to recognize us not only at the local level, but at the state level as well,” Johnson said.

“Last year, we had five students we recognized with scholarships, and that’s something that we haven’t had here in a long time.  And we’re having all-state level musicians.  All of those considerations will be made again this coming January, and I think we’ll have some prospects this year at the all-state level. 

“It’s our goal to put Greenville on the map.  When you think of Greenville, I want you to think of the band program.  It’s a slow go sometimes, but good things sometimes take a little bit of time to get there.  But we’re definitely heading in the right direction.”

The band’s success is not only encouraging for its current members, but also its prospective future members, as well.

“Success breeds success, and it’s also appealing for others on the outside looking in,” Johnson said.  “So we can actually build from this on the recruiting side of it, and when you start looking toward the middle school kids who want to do band in high school, they see the success of the band program and say ‘I want to be a part of that.’ If we can keep rolling with this kind of success, only good things are to come.  Hopefully, we can build something that continues to build upon itself, and that Greenville and the school will be proud of.”