Percussion Ensemble 3rd at State Finals
By: Jermaine Williams
info@blackhawkbrigade.com
SV Brigade Media Relations
INDIANAPOLIS – Since December, members of the Springs Valley High School Winter Percussion Ensemble have been working on their 2010 show titled, Dystopia. This past Saturday, Springs Valley earned a historic third place medal at the Indiana Percussion Association (IPA) State Finals at Ben Davis High School.
"I am extremely proud of our students for this achievement,” said Director of Bands Luke Aylsworth. “It is the first time in school history that one of our winter ensembles has received a medal at state finals. A great deal of after school practice and weekend time was given to get to this level."
This is only the third year for Springs Valley’s participation in the IPA organization. In the previous years, 2004 and 2005, the group placed sixth both years at finals. Springs Valley is only one of five ISSMA Class D bands to participate in IPA State Finals and the only one to medal this past weekend in any class.
"It is a challenge to compete in the winter circuits,” added Aylsworth. “We were by far the smallest school in our class. The group in second place had 1,000 more 9-12 grade students when compared to our school. It is pretty impressive that we can even compete at this level."
What is also impressive is the ensemble is large in size and with the number of other activities going on in the spring, finding practice time is hard. “We never practiced or performed with our entire group at the same time,” mentioned Aylsworth. “Spring break trips, athletic events, scheduling conflicts, and other factors never allowed us to have everyone at the same time.”
Springs Valley’s group was roughly 25 members each week, a quarter of the full marching unit of the Blackhawk Brigade. It still took a great deal of work to get the group of students from here to there each week. “It was basically a mini version of marching season. Our adult help is second to none. I would like to thank our bus and semi drivers, chaperons, parents and Dee Skaggs for helping us all season,” concluded Aylsworth.
Season Results
Feb. 27 at Greenfield Central | 2nd Place
Mar. 6 at New Albany | 1st Place
Mar. 13 at IPA Prelims | 5th Place
Mar. 20 at IPA Finals | 3rd Place |
