.::Media Links::.

Avon Invitational Video (WS)
Contest Video

Greenwood Invitational Video
Contest Video

Marching Bands Prepare for District
Roger Moon
Bedford Times-Mail

Small Town Photos from Avon
Amy Drake

Small Town Photos from Greenwood
Amy Drake

Form Views from Avon
Trevor Apple

Photos from Greenwood
Trevor Apple

Behind the Scenes at Greenwood
Nancy Nigg

Photos from Greenwood
GHSBand.org

Brigade Blows Judges away at Greenwood Invitational

By: Jermaine Williams
info@blackhawkbrigade.com
SV Brigade Media Relations

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – The Springs Valley Blackhawk Brigade represented the fine marching tradition in Indianapolis this weekend, capturing second place at the Mejier’s Avon Invitational and first place at the Greenwood Mejier’s Invitational. The Brigade also brought home caption awards for best percussion, general effect, visual, and auxiliary.

Under way at 6:00am, the Brigade traveled north on IN-37 to compete in a tune up for this weekend’s ISSMA District competition. At Avon, they participated in Class “D” competition and performed a good quality show. “We seem to always have a less par performance at the morning contest of a double contest weekend,” Director of Bands at Springs Valley Luke Aylsworth commented. “However, this year, the students made a point to have a good performance at the morning show. They performed very well and we felt good about the enthusiasm.” The Brigade finished second, just behind Tri-West. They were awarded with best percussion, auxiliary, and general effect. “We had some mental errors in the performance,” Aylsworth added. “The students are trying to focus more on the details. However, I feel the judges still really enjoyed the show and gave us credit for executing a difficult program.”

The afternoon show was just on the southeastern tip of Indianapolis at Greenwood High School. Again in Class “D” competition, Springs Valley was compelled to rock the house and they did just that. Not only did the Brigade have the best score in Class “D” competition, they also scored better than all of the Class “C” bands. “I try to convey to the students that it is not about beating another band,” stated Aylsworth. “This activity is about getting better every performance and every season. At Greenwood, the students performed ten times better than the morning show. I was very happy with their warm-up, performance and attitude.” Again, the Brigade picked up best percussion and general effect awards as well as best visual.

The “state tournament” for Indiana marching bands begins this weekend with the ISSMA District Contest. Springs Valley, along with the other area bands, will compete at Alumni Stadium in Jasper, Indiana. To advance to the regional contest, each band must qualify by meeting a certain scoring standard set by the ISSMA board. When discussing this weekend’s District Contest, Aylsworth stated that “Just six years ago we were having a hard time making it out of Districts. So, this contest is very sentimental and special for our program. It was the first step to restoring our tradition. We look forward to going back and performing as a returning state finalist for the first time since 1995. I applaud our students, administration, staff and band parents for their hard work and support.”

Springs Valley takes the field at 12:52pm. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for prime seating for the event. Gates will open at 10:30am with the show beginning at 11:00am. If the Brigade is to advance, they will perform at the ISSMA Regional contest in two weeks at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana on October 13.

NOTE: Article published in the Springs Valley Herald and Bedford Times-Mail.

Contest Results can be found at:

Indiana Marching.com and/or
Simply Instrumental.com