Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Band Dominates Contests

Gurdon's High School Marching Go-Devil Band has been following the football team's suit.

As the Devils have been demolishing opponents on the gridiron, the band has been doing the same to other bands during competitions.

So far, the GHS band has been to three contests, returning home with three titles and a trio of superior ratings as well.

The first contest in Texarkana resulted in all ones, or superior ratings. Next up was Ashdown, where more superior ratings were garnered, along with the band being named best in class by the judges,

Henderson State University in Arkadelphia was the site of the third assault. At the Region III contest, Gurdon continued showing its dominance.

The percussion section and drum major received individual superior ratings at Region III, while the color guard garnered excellent ratings.

Overall, according to Band Director Alan Wimberly, the GHS band has faced nine judges and has returned home with nine ones. "It's as good as it gets," he said.

Wimberly credits the band's success to the help he receives from assistant director Bruce Burson. "He's done an outstanding job," Wimberly said. "I'm also pleased with Katrina Lorinc, our student intern from HSU."

Wimberly thanked the GHS band boosters for the group's continued support of the program as well.

At this time, he is working with students in the band, helping them prepare for all region tryouts. He further praised the booster club for aiding individual students and helping them get private lessons from HSU.

The band will continue playing at halftime of Devil football games as long as the Devils keep winning. Conceivably, this could be until Saturday, Dec. 12, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock where the team would be in the title game.

In the meantime, though, the band is also getting ready for its annual holiday concert season and is working on performing at some of the GHS basketball games as well.

The band will be featured at the half of this week's homecoming game as the Devils host Horatio for the final regular season contest.