Drum Major

News!

Announcing the 

Golden Knights Marching Band Drum Major 

for 2013-14.  

Congratulations 

Melissa Shevitz!

Note to subscribers... not sure why, but the other day you may have gotten an email about The St. Patrick's Day Parade.  Sorry about that.  It was a glitch.

Marching Band Open House

Golden Knights Marching Band Open House

SCHS Band Room 

June 10, 2013

6:30 - 8:00 pm 

2013 Field Show Announcement, Reading Session, and Color Guard Clinic

This is for high school students AND 8th graders who plan to participate in (or are just entertaining the idea of) Marching Band for the 2013-2014 school year.

Please spread the word to anyone you think may be interested.

Thanks to the Robbs

Senior Night with Alex

My wife and I met Lana Robb at the first band parent meeting of the 2012-13 school year.  She was taking notes, as this was her second year serving as secretary of the Band Boosters.  There was a request for help for the football games, so Tina and I showed up at the next game.

Lana holding banner (right side of picture).
St. Patrick's Day Parade 2012

We had no idea what boosters did, so we followed the lead of Lana and Jeff and the other boosters during the preparation for the games.  While Lana and others finished cleaning up the meal before the game, Jeff would typically start the process of setting up the bleachers for the home games, or loading the trailer for away games. They both hustled around equipment, and spurred the band into motion if necessary.

Jeff had the sometimes nerve wracking task of pulling the trailer to games and parades, as he had the previous year.  We often rode with the Robbs, and were thankful Jeff was driving in the unfamiliar territory with a trailer in tow.  But he was always at ease in this, having had lots of practice in the pulling of trailers with his irrigation business.

Lana was a mother of sorts to the whole band.  She would make sure everyone was properly attired.  Despite her efforts, once in a while someone would show up at an event without their jacket or some piece of equipment.  At the St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2013, she hiked blocks and blocks from the staging area to where the bus was parked to retrieve some band equipment which had been left on the bus.

The Robbs were always there.  They were always willing do whatever needed to be done.  They worked tirelessly and cheerfully.

Jeff at the St. Patrick's Day Parade 2013 w/ Ms. Snarsky

The Robbs made being a band booster much more than just work.  They became our friends.  They added a dimension of camaraderie to being a band booster that we had not anticipated.  Tina and I said many times during the year "We are really going to miss The Robbs next year."  We didn't just mean we would miss their effort.  We would miss their friendship.

The Robbs will continue going to football games, but those will be Alex's college games with East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.



Thank you Jeff and Lana.  Your heart to serve and your love for the students has been a pleasure to witness.  You have taught us well.  You will be in our minds for years to come.  We wish you well in the next chapter of your lives.


Brent Timmons
Band Boosters

2013 Band Banquet

In celebration of a fantastic year, we gathered on May 15 for a meal, fellowship, and a time of showing appreciation towards our entire band program.  There were many people to acknowledge, including the band members, the color guard, our new director Mr. Nicholas Greeson, and the final year of two faithful boosters, Jeff and Lana Robb.

We will miss our seniors.  At the same time, we look forward to the new freshmen who will be joining us.  Next year we will continue to build our band, entertain the masses, cheer on our football team, stand as a proud face of Sussex Central High School, and have a blast in the meantime.
 
Not everyone is included in the pictures. Sorry.

Lana and Jeff Robb

Everyone chipped in for the meal.

Seniors - Color Guard

Jessica Brumbaugh was recognized by Mrs. Snarsky
for 4 years of service in the color guard

.

Seniors - Band

Special Awards

Patrick Harrold received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award.

Alex Robb received the John Philip Sousa Award.

Director Nicholas Greeson

We gave our director, Mr. Nicholas Greeson and his wife Gina, a Lowes gift card for their new home.  
 Thanks Mr. G. for a great first year with us.

Trip to New York City

Comments from Katherine and Sarah regarding the trip:

"There are a LOT of people in New York City!"
"There was some ballet in Phantom of the Opera"  (Katherine and Sarah do ballet, and were impressed.)

Me:  "Did anybody get lost?"
Katherine:  "Only Nino...we came out the Shake Shack, and he was left inside getting a drink, and we were like - where's Nino!?"

Mr. Greeson took this picture.  I think he may have actually been trying to get a picture of the red Mini in the background.

Anyone want to write a short article or anecdote about the trip?  Send it to Brent's email if you do.  Thanks.

Spring Concert 4-26-13

The Sussex Central Jazz Band, Concert Band, and Choir performed on April 26. Thank you Mr. Greeson, Mr. Tsavdar, Sussex Central High School and IRSD.  And thank you students.  We appreciate your talent, your dedication to your craft, and your desire to bring life to song and music.

(note:  blog is best viewed from the website, and pictures will enlarge if you click on them.)

Mr. Tsavdar was joined by Mark Marvel and an ensemble from the Band.

Senior Highlights: Alex Robb

My Experience in SCHS Band

Alex Robb 

 

Dover vs. Sussex Central

What made you decide to join the school band?

I had joined band in 4th grade and instantly loved it! It was challenging and expressive and just a lot of fun, not only the playing aspect but all the great friends and teachers that I got to play along with. So when High School rolled around I knew that I had to keep playing. (Plus Drumline starts in high school…The thing every drummer looks forward to.)

The Upside Down Trick

St. Patrick's Day 2013

What do you play in the band. Do you play any other instruments?   

I’m a member of the percussion section. I can play it all from Timpani, to Drum Set, to Marching Percussion.

ECU vs. Marshall

What kind of music do you like (band music or other music). Do you ever play your instrument to music that isn’t necessarily meant for the band?

I have an appreciation for almost all genres of music and my interests change almost daily but my favorite type of music to play would have to be either Jazz or Blues though I practice snare drum to a lot of upbeat pop songs.

What do you plan to do after high school? 

After high school, I plan to study Pre-Dentistry at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. Go Pirates! Arrg!

Will you continue playing your instrument? Where?

I think High School is just the beginning! I plan to audition for the ECU Marching Pirates Drumline this summer and become a part of a collegiate drumline. I think of all the trouble we got into with just 12 guys, now there will be 30 of us…Fun times ahead! 

 

Why would you encourage other kids to be part of the school band?

Well first of all, Band is sooo much fun. I have no idea why anyone would quit band before high school, high school is where the fun begins! Secondly, you have to spend four years of your life in high school, you might as well make the most of it and be a part of something and band is the most profitable organization of them all. You get all these experiences like football games and trips, you get an artistic talent you get to keep your whole life, and you get a class that otherwise would be replaced with a much harder one. Lastly, you have already invested so much money and time into band already, why quit now before the payoff? To graduate you need 3 years of an elective class anyway, so it’s silly to give up Band for something totally foreign to you or to waste your time in woodshop because you think you are going to reinvent yourself in high school all of a sudden.

Sussex Central vs. Smyrna '12

What will you miss about the band?

I’m going to miss all my friends. What made band fun was getting to play alongside some great people and thanks to them I never had a dull moment. Plus with a smaller band I feel we all really got to bond into a close knit group and we really stuck together like a family.

Senior Night with parents Lana and Jeff

What is your favorite memory about the band?

I couldn’t even begin to answer this question because it seems like every time we get together we have a new story to add to the collection.

 What would you like to see happen to improve the band.

I would like to see our band family grow. Central’s band has always been small yet talented, and though that is an amazing quality it can be a struggle not only musically but in trying to have push as an organization. It is hard to acquire support and get attention as an organization when you only have a few members. But I truly believe that we are finally back on the right track and it is a matter of time before Central’s band is a real force. I wish I could be around to see it!

Anything else you would like to say about your experience with the school band?

It was just so much fun and I am so proud to have been a part of it. We might have struggled as a department in the past, but I have a lot of faith that we are back on the right track and I look forward to seeing our hard work live on through our fellow band members. The torch has been passed, don’t let us down!