Student Opportunities

Leadership Positions for Band Students at GCHS

Band Librarians - responsible for maintaining and cataloging the GCHS library of music.

Section Leaders (Guard Captains) - responsible for being exemplary role models in all aspects and for providing guidance to younger or less experienced members of our organization.

Band Captains - typically two members of the marching band chosen by their peers for outstanding leadership skills and helpful, positive attitudes.  These are chosen at the end of band camp and everyone is eligible.

Drum Major - the position with the highest level of responsibility entrusted to a student.  Responsible for being an outstanding role model to students, being the first to arrive and last to leave, providing a source of time and style while exemplifying true showmanship and unmatched pride.

Special Ensembles, Clinics, Events and Activities (many are available to both GCHS and GCMS students)

Asbury All-Star Band Clinic - recommendations are made by Mr. Dale for interested GCHS band students.  This clinic rehearses from Thursday to Saturday one weekend in November and gives a final culminating performance on Saturday.  There is a fee to participate and students are boarded in college dorm rooms. 

Morehead State University Middle School Tri-State Honor Band Clinic - takes place one Saturday in November.  GCMS band students are recommended by their director and are selected by the university.  Students arrive on Saturday and rehearse all day with a culminating performance that night.  There is a fee of $25.00 (typically)

 Eastern Kentucky University Middle School Honor Band Clinic - takes place one Saturday in November/December.  GCMS band students are recommended by their director and are selected by the university.  Students arrive on Saturday and rehearse all day with a culminating performance that night.  There is a fee of $25.00 (typically)

 All-State Band - the state of Kentucky’s highest performing honor band. Try-out music is handed out very near the beginning of school and interested GCHS band students audition in a two-level process to be selected.  The first round (district level) is usually held in early November at Boone County High School.  If they pass round one, they move on to a second level audition that is usually held in early-mid December.  If selected for All-State Band, student will travel to Louisville in February during the KMEA conference on Wednesday and rehearse until they perform on Saturday.  There is an audition fee and a participation fee if selected.  The band program typically covers the hotel costs for selected students (though not a guarantee every year).

 Morehead State University Band Clinic - held at MSU from Thursday-Sunday one weekend in February.  Interested GCHS band students submit tapes just before Christmas break and are selected by the university.  There is a culminating concert on Sunday afternoon.  There is a fee to participate and students may be asked to divide the cost of their room with other students.

 Eastern Kentucky University Band Clinic - held at EKU from Thursday-Saturday one weekend in February.  Interested GCHS band students are recommended by their director and are selected by the university.  There is a culminating concert on Saturday evening. There is a fee to participate and students may be asked to divide the cost of their room with other students.

 NKDBA District 6 Select Band - held each year at NKU, interested GCHS and GCMS band students are given audition music to practice in early November and audition for these ensembles in early January.  Selected students will rehearse at Northern Kentucky University on a Wednesday-Saturday in March and give a culminating performance on Saturday afternoon.  There is a audition fee and, if selected, a participation fee.  Although directors are present at the event to supervise, students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the event each day and for adhering strictly to the publish rehearsal/performance schedule.

 Northern Kentucky University Tri-State Honor Band Clinic - held for the first time in January 2008, this clinic is held at NKU on a Friday and Saturday one weekend in January.  Interested GCHS band students are recommended by the director and are selected by the university.  There is a culminating concert on Saturday afternoon.  There is a fee to participate (approx. $25.00).

 Solo and Ensemble Festival - held each year on a Saturday in March at Northern Kentucky University.  GCHS and GCMS band students are encourage by their directors to prepare solos or ensemble for performance at this event.  Students who have prepared well and have performed their piece for their director and received approval may then attend this event and perform it for a judge.  Students are given ratings:  I - Distinguished (highest rating), II - Proficient, III, or IV.  Students have an assigned time that they can get from their directors as we near the event and more detailed information is given to participants the week before.  There is a fee for this event.

 Spring Festival - for the bands at both GCMS and GCHS, this is the culminating performance of the year.  Ensembles prepare 2-3 works and perform them for a panel of three judges at NKU on a weekend (Friday or Saturday) in March.  Each judge gives each band a rating.  The band then moves into a separate room and sight reads a piece of music they have never rehearsed.  The judge in this room gives them another rating.  Based on a composite of these four scores, each of our bands received a final rating:  I - Distinguished (highest rating), II - Proficient, III, or IV.  This event is required for all Grant County Band Students.

 Pit Orchestra for the Spring Musical - this group is selected from GCHS band students by the recommendation of the director.  Instrumentation is fairly small (usually one on a part).  Rehearsals start in January or February and the musical usually is performed three/four times in late March or early April.

 Band Trips - Students in the Grant County Band are often given opportunities to travel and perform at fun, unique venues.  Recent past performances have been in St Louis, Missouri (Six Flags), Orlando, Florida (Disney World), Sandusky, OH (Cedar Point), and this year (pending approval), Chicago, IL (Six Flags Great American) and Cincinnati, OH (Kings Island).  Students will have the opportunity to fundraise to earn fee money for these trips.