Lassiter marching band wins national band competition

Staff photos by Marie Nesmith

11/18/02
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By Mike Sampogna

Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer

Lassiter marching band members celebrate their

EAST COBB — The celebration was on in full force as the Lassiter High School marching band returned home Sunday night from its latest national conquest.

Hundreds of supporters braved the chilly night to meet the Marching Trojan Band, which was returning home after winning the Bands of America Grand National Championship on Saturday at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

The supporters, armed with balloons and sparklers, cheered raucously as two tractor-trailers and six charter buses filed into the school parking lot. Band members say the weekend in Indiana provided memories they will never forget.

“It was amazing,” said Karen Lindsey, a senior member of the band’s color guard. “It was like the experience of a lifetime because nothing like this is ever going to happen again.”

Karen, 17, is the daughter of Ken and Joan Lindsey of east Cobb. She said it was hard to describe the pride she felt in her school’s accomplishment.

“I can’t even really say how proud I feel,” she said.

It was a repeat performance for Lassiter — band’s second consecutive triumph in the competition, which has been characterized as the “World Series” of high school band competitions.

“It would be like our baseball team winning the national championship,” said school board member and Lassiter band parent Laura Searcy.

In reality, the competition is more like the Olympics or the World Cup because it’s held once every four years. Lassiter remains on top after showing steady improvement in previous trips to nationals. Lassiter’s band placed fifth in 1990, captured third in 1994 and took home the brass ring in 1998.

The 245-member band beat out 90 other bands from across the country in the RCA Dome and earned a score of 95.55.

Competitors were judged on music, marching and general effect. Lassiter was tops in both the music and general effect portion of the competition, to win the grand prize. The band’s program, “Liturgical Sketches,” featured “Exaltare,” “Requiem,” and “Lassitare.”

More than 700 band boosters from east Cobb were in Indianapolis, cheering the band on. It appeared most of them were waiting in the parking lot of the school on Shallowford Road when the band arrived home at about 8:30 p.m.

“It’s a thrill,” said Barbara Schmidt, whose son, Eric, is a senior alto saxophone player. “It’s just a thrill. The kids have worked to hard. It’s a testament to (band director) Alfred Watkins and his dedication to the students.”

Because the last Grand National Championship was held in 1998, the entire personnel of Lassiter’s band has turned over. Watkins, who has led the band for more than 20 years, said last weekend’s effort is a testament to the quality of the program.

“We have a tradition,” Watkins said. “There’s a process we follow to be successful. The students take pride in their work, and that is able to take us up to the next level.”

Watkins said that everyone, from the students, to the faculty, to the parents, played a role in the band’s success.

“It’s a community effort,” Watkins said. “There were two semi trucks full of equipment, and a number of people who worked on props. There are 20 staff member who work with the children. The success speaks for itself.”

Watkins, who has been attending the grand national events for the past 18 years, said this year’s competition was the strongest he has seen.

The band will give an encore performance of its award-winning program tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in the Frank Fullman Football Stadium.

Lassiter’s band was not the only Cobb County band to make an impression in Indianapolis. Kennesaw Mountain High School’s band made it all the way to the finals before finishing seventh. The accomplishment is make more impressive by the fact the school was not in existence the last time the grand national competition was held.

“That was one of the most fantastic feats in the history of Cobb County bands,” Watkins said. “We saw their semifinal performance and their finals performance. We are so proud of them for what they accomplished.”

Kennesaw Mountain’s marching band is directed by David Sarnes.

msampogna@mdjonline.com