By John Staser
    The Seymour High School Band, under the direction of second year director Rhett Butler, wrapped up their 2009-2010 year with an amazing concert on May 18.
     Among many exciting events of the night was a presentation of a $2,000 donation to the band from Cameron Norris.
     Norris is a 2006 alumni of Seymour High School and former drum major for the Seymour High School Marching Band and currently attends Vanderbilt University.
     He was the 2010 recipient of the Julia Burke Award for Character and Excellence in the American Debate Association.
     The award comes with a $4000 scholarship, $2000 of which goes towards his tuition at Vanderbilt and $2000 of which is designated to go to the charity of his choice.
     Norris said, "Given the massive influence the SHS marching band had on my growth as a person and the sense of truly hard work and dedication it instilled in me, it was an obvious choice for my donation."
     The band said farewell to 13 seniors, Andrew Arlinghaus, Philip Arlinghaus, Bryar Cagle, Chris Cannon, Jessica Cowan, Greg Folta, Cody
Foster, Kristen Galloway, Rebecca Hatmaker, Aaron Large, Kristine Sharp, John Staser, and Tosha Wyrick at the annual Band Banquet on Saturday night.
     Key note speaker, Bill Wilson, Class of '82 Percussion Captain, spoke to the band about the incredible advantages performing in Seymour Band gives you in life after high school.
     Among several awards given at the banquet was the prestigious "John Phillips Sousa Award" given to band captain Cody Foster.
     The 2009-2010 school year was very exciting for the Seymour Band.  
     The marching band was the third largest band in school history, just short of the mark set in 1981 and 1982 when SHS was grades 8 through 12.  
     Band members competed in several local and regional competitions including the BOA Super Regional in the Georgia Dome, one of the largest competitions in the nation.
     The winter programs including Indoor Percussion instructed by Al Schneider and Winter Guard instructed by Jason Franklin, proved themselves a force to be reckoned with after only two years on the circuit. Both units won several awards throughout the state of Tennessee and in North Carolina.
     The 2010-2011 Seymour High School Band is expected to be the largest band in school history and will again be competing at the highest level.
     Butler said, "We are very excited about next season. There are definitely going to be some programs you won't want to miss."
     To help support the Seymour High School Band in any way, contact Butler at (865) 573-6191 or John Staser, Seymour Band Booster President at (865) 742-0394 or email seymourbandboosters@gmail.com.

... read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.