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• Grant County Marching Band Wins 4A East Regionals

  On Saturday, October 31, 2009 the band performed at AAAA East Regionals at Madison Southern in Berea.  Competing against some tough competition, the band knew it needed to come out strong.  After an hour delay due to weather conditions, the competition got off to a great start.  Grant County finally took the field at 1:45pm.

  The band entered the field with determination and drive, and when they left the field at the end of their performance, they had no doubt in their mind that they had just performed their show "Four" to the best of their ability.  Each member gave 120% despite the slick and muddy field.

  Grant County Marching Band won 4A East Regionals with a distinguished score of 88.  The band advances to Semi-finals on November 7, 2009 at South Oldham High School drawing the 9th slot of 16. 

• GRANT COUNTY MARCHING BAND FINISHES REGULAR SEASON AT BOONE

October 24, 2009

Mud and white pants are not usually a good combination, however put those two together on a cool October Saturday and you have a typical marching band competition that is accompanied by a rainy season.  Grant County Marching Band completed its regular season Saturday at the Boone County Rebel Classic.  During preliminary competition, the band competed against former 5A band, Montgomery County.  Although the field was not in favorable conditions, the band succeeded in sweeping their class and earned another distinguished performance. 

During finals competition, all of the bands stepped up to the plate to fight for the top spots and gave crowd pleasing performances.  Grant competed in finals with 9 other bands including Adair, Beechwood and Williamstown.   At the end of the night, Grant County Band finished 4^th overall with a distinguished score of 86.75.  “I am really proud of the kids, they have had a wonderful season so far, but it’s not over yet.  Now that we enter into Quarterfinals this weekend, it is time for them to kick into high gear and really show what this band is made of”, said band director David D. Owens.

 

• Grant County brings home Governors Cup from 38th Annual Northern Kentucky Marching Band Festival at Campbell County
  September 19, 2009

When Grant County Marching Band took the field at the 38^th Annual Northern Kentucky Marching Band Festival held at Campbell County, they had one goal….be undeniably a better band than they were the previous week. With great pride, they not only accomplished their goal, but they won Grand Champions and brought home the much sought after Governors Cup. 

In preliminary competition, Grant County was the only 4A band to compete in its class and brought home 1^st place in all captions.  At the end of preliminaries, Grant County was sitting 0.6 behind Milford High School, the band became the little engine that could. 

In finals competition, Grant County performed immediately following Milford High School, and when they came off of the football field, you could see the excitement that was emulating from them all the way from the top of the bleachers…They knew what they had just accomplished, they knew they were bringing home the Cup.

The band will have a weekend off this weekend, but that doesn’t mean they get to rest.  It just gives them an extra week to take their performance to yet another level.  The following weekend they will be hosting their 9^th Annual Marching Band Contest (October 3, 2009) at Grant County High School.  All Grant Countians are encouraged to attend and show their support as Williamstown Band of Spirit competes and Grant County Marching Band performs in exhibition.

 

• Grant County earns Reserve Grand Champion at Beechwood
  September 12, 2009

Led onto the field for the first time by new field commander Lucas Hampton, Grant County Marching Band started the season off with a bang as they brought home Reserve Grant Champion behind a fellow Grant County band, the Williamstown Band of Spirit.

They performed their repertoire “4” at 3 p.m. at the 19th annual Beechwood High School Festival of Bands and later competed in finals among 10 other bands.

“It was great to see success early, considering our show isn’t even finished.  We need to continue getting stronger and cleaner, but the kids have worked extremely hard and it’s nice to have a payoff.  Now, it’s back to work,” band director David D. Owens said.

This was a proud moment not only for the Grant County Marching Band, but for Grant County.

Brad Johnson, Grant band booster vice-president, shared in the excitement of the bands celebration.

“I think it is wonderful that Grant County has so many quality musicians that two bands within Grant County are able to bring home Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion. Both bands had a wondrous weekend and I can’t wait to see them both at Papa John’s Stadium,” Johnson said.

In addition to Reserve Grand Champion, Grant also won first in its class during preliminary competition.

Grant County Marching Band will be traveling to Campbell County Middle School in Alexandria on Sept. 19. Grant County will host its ninth annual Marching Band Competition at Grant County High School on Oct. 3.

• New Band Director Announced
  June 20, 2009

  David D. Owens is entering his first year as the Director of Bands at Grant Co. High School, joining the faculty in July 2009.  Mr. Owens hails from Corbin, Kentucky and was a 1997 graduate of South Laurel High School in London, Kentucky.  Mr. Owens earned his Bachelor's of Music Education degree from the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.  Mr. Owens also holds a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from Xavier University. 
  
  In 2001 he was a member of the Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps from Lexington, Kentucky.  In the fall of 2002, Mr. Owens student taught at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, under the tutelage of Mr. Jeff Hood.  Previously, Mr. Owens was the Director of Bands at Beechwood High School in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.  During his tenure there, the band received numerous awards.  They consistently rated "Distinguished" in every KMEA Concert Festival Assessment and "Superior" at the 2009 Dixie Classic National Adjudicators Invitational in St. Louis, as well as the marching band being named the Class A "State Runner-Up" in 2005, 2007, and 2008.  In 2006, the Beechwood marching band was named the KMEA Class A State Champion and BOA Class A National Champion.  In 2008, they were also named a National Semifinalist for the second time under the instruction of Mr. Owens, placing 3rd in the nation in Class A.  Mr. Owens was named "District 6 High School Teacher of the Year" for the 2005-2006 school year and again received the award in 2007-2008.  In 2006, he was awarded the University of Kentucky's College of Education "A Teacher Who Made a Difference" award and in 2007 was awarded the "Certificate of Merit for Marching Excellence" by the National Band Association.  He was also named a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Ernie Fletcher in 2005.
  Mr. Owens is married to Grant Co.'s Middle School Band Director, JoAnn, and is a proud father of their  1 year old son, Grant.  They are expecting their second child in December 2009.

  Grant County Bands welcome Mr. Owens and look forward to many great years with him.

• Grant County Band Booster, Inc. becomes Tax Exempt
  May 2009
  Grant County Band Boosters are now a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization.  Donations made to the organization are now eligible for Tax Deductions.  If you would like to donate, please contact our Treasurer, Annette Crimmins.
• Grant County Middle School makes History
  March 11, 2008
  On March 11, the GCMS band traveled to Northern Kentucky University to perform at the annual District 6 Kentucky Music Educators Association Middle School Large Group Assessment where the band earned a Distinguished rating and was chosen as an Exemplary Band.