In its first year with Director Brandon Rhinehart at the helm, UC High’s Music Department has continued to soar to new heights through competition, consistent practices, and upcoming events.
The Centurion Sound, UC High’s marching band, has closed off another successful season.
“We received first at every competition and sixth place out of thirty two at Championships,” said Senior Irina Roudenko. Rhinehart said, “Our kids placed 6 out of 12 groups at the championship competition. In order to even make it to Championships, our group had to place in the top 12 out of 32 bands at the preliminary competition a week before. In addition to that, any group invited to preliminaries has to have performed in at least 3 competitions in the SCSBOA circuit this season.”
He continued, “There are a large number of bands that choose to not even attempt to go to competitions due to the difficulty performing in that capacity or the lack of resources to pay the fees and buy all the props, drill, and music. The groups are mostly assessed on their ability to perform visually and musically with some sub categories that are less important. Our students
earn points based on their ability to execute the drill and music seamlessly.”
“The community of the music department is absolutely amazing. Everyone is always there for each other,” said Roudenko
“So far, [UC High Orchestra] has performed at the Singers and Strings Concert and we’re getting ready for another exciting Winter concert with all three ensembles (Choir, Orchestra and Band),” said Junior Kailey Shim.
Shim said, “What we really want to do is to spread the joy of music in our community, and to bring a bit of happiness into the hectic lives of each individual.”
Senior Color Guard Captain Katelyn Timple said, “This [last fall] season went pretty well. I think we were a little apprehensive at first because of the almost completely new staff, but they’ve been amazing at both developing our skills and boosting morale.”
Timple’s greatest memories from the program are those from showing off her skills. She said, “I’ll miss the excitement about the performances most for sure. I love learning new tricks and skills, but the performance thrill is unrivaled!” Moving on from the fall season, UC High’s music department looks forward to their winter season. Timple said, “Winterguard is where we perform in gymnasiums. Unlike the fall season, it’s just Color Guard. It’s a little nerve wracking, but a lot of fun.”
Rhinehart said, “I believe Winter Guard will be an excellent showcase for the strength our guard program possesses. The kids work incredibly hard, and I think we are all excited to see what they will achieve this season. With all the great things happening at our school, one of the biggest challenges is finding space for guard to get into the gym…. Another challenge we face with our sudden bump in numbers is finding ways to budget and pay for all the additional equipment our students need to practice and perform together.”