gphs marching band

Follow writer Ella Hayes as she reports on the GPHS Marching Band, and how the band is making a comeback as COVID-19 restrictions are slowly being lifted.

Band season starts up again!

By Ella Hayes

The GPHS band after the NWAPA Championships in November of 2019 / Photo courtesy of Jeff Borngasser

The GPHS Marching Band and Color Guard, the award winning marching band that took 1st place at the Northwest Association for Performing Arts (NWAPA) Championships in 2018 and 2019, was unexpectedly hindered last year when the entire competitive season was shut down as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions put into place over the last year.

The band, directed by new teacher, Lewis Norfleet, and assistant director, JJ Sutton, had an uncertain future throughout the 2020 fall season in the midst of new state restrictions and limited contact. Despite these many setbacks, however, the band powered through. Though the NWAPA cancelled all competitions and new state regulations changed by the week, the band managed to stick to a practice schedule in order for all band students to return to music, however limited that may be. All thanks to the hard work of the GPMB staff and students, the Grants Pass Marching Band was one of very few marching bands that practiced and performed during the fall of 2020.

In early November, the band performed their show, State of Mind, as a finale to the hard work they had put into the trying season. The show was recorded and a professional video was produced by Jacob Deming that was made available to friends and families of band members. However, many band students have wondered since November: what does the future look like for the marching band? Will the band be able to practice, travel, and compete like any other year, or will further COVID-19 restrictions prevent another year of competition? After many months of waiting for any news regarding the future of the band, students are finally getting a glimpse of what is to come over the next year.

In March, the entire band was invited to play at the GPHS final football game of the season. This was the first time the band had been together since the ending of the fall season. Since then, the band’s Wind Ensemble, the top ensemble of band musicians, have been rehearsing and preparing for a concert in June. Additionally, marching band leadership has been meeting weekly at the school to discuss plans for the future season. Some of their goals include getting new members involved and acquainted with their instrumental section, and getting to know the new show in order to prepare for the upcoming rehearsals. As restrictions are being changed and more open to student gatherings, practices and rehearsals were able to be scheduled. Starting in early May, the entire marching band (current 8th graders to 11th graders) will be able to start practicing on a regular basis, outside on the field.

The Tuesday/Friday Wind Ensemble group rehearses during school / Photo courtesy of Ella Hayes

These new developments in the program have been exciting for band members who have been waiting for months to get back to doing what they love. "We are most excited for our students to experience performing again and want them to be able to do the things they enjoy," Director Lewis Norfleet expressed in an interview. "We (are) excited about the possibilities for next year and are looking forward to seeing our awesome students rise to the occasion."

Though last year had its unique challenges, this year has many more opportunities for the band and for music students. "We have an awesome show planned for the marching band along with excellent experiences ahead for our concert, percussion, jazz and guard programs," Norfleet said. "If there are similar challenges ahead, we will be prepared to meet them." Members of the marching leadership team have already begun to practice and get to know the new show music, which the entire band will be able to play together at the first practice on May 3rd.

The 2020 band leadership team and the gifts they prepared for the Phoenix High School Band in September of 2020 / Photo courtesy of Grants Pass High School

As for another exciting event in the band, the marching band was recently nationally recognized through the Heart of the Arts Award. According to KTVL, a local news station that reported on the band’s achievement, the award was given to groups that showed heart through their participation in the arts. The marching band was nominated due to their efforts in preparing gift packages for all members of the Phoenix High School Band after the devastating Almeda Fire in September of 2020. Norfleet stated in a press conference on April 21st, "We are proud of our students for their awareness of what people in their community were experiencing and their enthusiasm for wanting to help however they could." Norfleet hopes to see the Phoenix band return to the field at GPHS' own Pride of the Northwest band competition.

Despite the many setbacks that all students have experienced throughout this last year, band students can now say things are looking up again. Norfleet's final statement about the upcoming season sets the tone for the next several months:

"We have the best students around and know they are destined for great things next year and beyond. It is time to fire it back up and do this! WE ARE GP!!"

See the band's 2020 performance, State of Mind, here.

Page updated

Report abuse