Johnson band makes history
On November 12, the Johnson High School Band made history, and as a four-year-old school, was named a Bands of America Grand National Finalist at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana finishing 8th overall in the competition.
Bands of America Grand National Championships is the premiere marching contest for bands in the United States and is considered the “Super Bowl” of high school marching band. The Johnson Band competed in the Grand National Championships over the course of two days, with Preliminaries on Friday Nov. 11, Semi-finals on the morning of Nov. 12, and Finals that evening, all held at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts.
Through the preliminary competition, 93 bands performed and competed for 30 spots in the semi-finals. From semis, the top 12 scoring bands earned positions in the Saturday night Finals competition, one that showcased the finest high school marching bands in the country. Traditionally, bands from Texas that compete at Grand Nationals attend every other year, or every third year, due to the expense of traveling up to Indianapolis. This year, The Woodlands High School and Spring High School bands from the Houston, TX represented Texas along with Johnson. Johnson’s success this weekend continues North East ISD’s rich heritage of Grand National Finalists. Historically, Reagan High School finished 11th during its first trip to Nationals in 2002, and was 2nd twice on returning trips in 2003 and 2005. Churchill High School has attended nationals five times, finishing 9th twice and 10th twice.
"Johnson’s eighth place finish at nationals as a four-year-old program is especially impressive given the history of the other finalists at the competition," said Jarret Lipman, Johnson band director.
During the finals awards, Johnson was recognized as the youngest school in finals, placing ahead of former Grand National Champion Lawrence Central High School (9th) from Indianapolis, Mason High School from Ohio (10th), Lafayette High School from Louisiana, and Wando High School from South Carolina (12th). The bands who finished ahead of Johnson are perennial Grand National finalists, with Broken Arrow High School from Oklahoma winning the 2011 Grand National Championships.
The Johnson Band has been recognized by judges as an "exciting new face" in the Bands of America Circuit and has been praised for a “fresh” and “creative” approach to design and performance. In addition to a successful finish overall, the Johnson Band also took home a perfect percussion score in the contest. "Congratulations to the drumline, front ensemble, Percussion Director Manny Maldonado, and Instructor Kris Hartman on this exciting accomplishment," added Lipman.
The Johnson Band’s competitive show for 2011 was entitled “Lincolnshire Posy: A Collection of Musical Wild Flowers” and featured the music of composers Percy Grainger and Carol Brittin Chambers. “Lincolnshire Posy…” brought to life a variety of English folksongs set for band by Grainger and adapted for marching band through Chamber’s brilliant arrangement. Through the use of color and “flower” motifs throughout the show, the band paid homage to its namesake Claudia Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson and her work with wild flowers.
Prior to traveling to Indianapolis, Johnson competed at the Bands of America Houston Regional and Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional where it placed 6th and 5th respectively, the highest finishes in school history and in NEISD for the 2011 season. In addition, the band competed at the Woodlands High School Band’s “Lone Star Preview Competition” in mid-October, where they were named Grand Champion overall and took home the award for Best Music in the show.
The Johnson Band is under the Direction of Mr. Jarrett Lipman, with Assistance from Alan Sharps, Manny Maldonado, Darryl Pemberton and Kris Hartman. The band is made-up of 196 woodwind, brass, percussion and colorguard students in grades 9-12.
Posted on December 5, 2011