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Gilmer High School Buckeye “Sweepstakes” Band tradition of success comes from hard work

On March 13 at the Gladewater High School auditorium, the Gilmer High School Buckeye Band earned their eighth consecutive First Division UIL Concert and Sightreading Award and their seventh UIL Sweepstakes Award in the last eight years.

Performing three concert pieces on stage the judges wrote, “You show that you are well prepared and taught” You have every right to be very proud of this organization! You are a credit to your school and you entire community. Congratulations and keep up the great work!”

From there the band moved into the sightreading room where the director had 8 minutes to explain a new piece of music to the students and then the band had to perform that piece for another set of judges.

The comments from that panel included, “Wow! Awesome! Bravo! Thanks for loving music, keeping your grades up and being such a mature group! This was a very musical performance, you have been taught well. Congratulations to a fine band!” First division awards in the marching, concert and sightreading contests hosted by the UIL result in the “Sweepstakes” award for high school bands across Texas.

“Obviously we are very proud of our kids and their accomplishments. To perform consistently at a very high level like our kids do is an attribute to them, but we also must pass along congratulations to the parents of these wonderful students as well as the administration at GISD that makes everything we do possible.

“I mean these guys hit the ground marching Aug. 1 and don’t finish until everything is put up after Pomp and Circumstance is played about eight times as the class of 2008 is about to graduate. Then they can take a few weeks off before it all starts again,” stated high school band director Eric Gray.

“Right now we are preparing for our spring concert, band banquet, state solo & ensemble, graduation performance, in addition to next year’s all region and marching music. There is always something coming up, another performance to prepare for. You can’t be in the Buckeye Band if you don’t have a really strong work ethic and I believe that is one of the things the kids that graduate from our program can take with them into everything they do.”

This Thursday, April 24, the Sixth Grade Band, the Jazz Band and the High School Symphonic Band will be presenting their Spring Concert at 7 p.m. in the Gilmer Civic Center. The concert is free and the public is invited to attend.

The Gilmer High School Band Awards Banquet will be held this Friday, April 25, at 7 p.m. in the Gilmer High School Cafeteria. Johnny Carino’s is catering the meal; followed by UIL awards, pictures, scholarship recipients, Junior & Senior awards, presentation of letter jackets. Tickets can be purchased from the Band Office at the High School.


Courtesy Photo
THE GHS BUCKEYE BAND for 2007-08 is pictured.


Courtesy Photo
GHS BUCKEYE BAND seniors are pictured with the Sweepstakes trophy the band won last month in Gladewater. From left are Chasmine Brooks, Kat Loftice, Director Eric Gray, Shelbi Daniel, Jaclyn Taylor, Josh Hall, Kassie Oller, Stuart Butler, Phil Scheid, Lacey Hux, Jenny Smith and Colton Shaver. The band’s annual Spring Concert is tomorrow night at the Civic Center.

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