June 29, 2013
07/01/13 In June, the Plymouth Community School Corporation administration received notification from the Indiana State School Music Association that the Plymouth High School band program, under the direction of Bryan Ames, had received the prestigious “All-Music Award.”
This award is presented to only the music departments in Indiana that successfully participate in all facets of yearly competitions and events hosted by the state music association (ISSMA). To receive this award, a high school music program must earn the top ranking, a Gold Award, in marching band, concert band and jazz band. The program must also advance a soloist and and ensemble to the state finals solo and ensemble competition. Out of nearly four hundred high schools in Indiana, only forty-six high schools in Indiana received this award for band.
“It takes a special program to get this award. Many schools focus their energy in one area of music. They may have a highly successful concert band, but a weak jazz program. It takes a very active program to be successful in all of the different areas of the music program. The Plymouth students take a lot of pride in this award and go the extra mile each year to make sure that we are well-rounded and successful at everything we do,” said Ames. “How many programs in Indiana can say they have gone ten years and never received anything but Gold Award ratings?”
The first “All-Music Award” was presented to the Plymouth band in the 2003-04 school year. The band was under the direction of Mrs. Cindy Wagoner. “Wagoner was known for having a very well-rounded and strong music program. It was one of the biggest reasons I made the move to Plymouth in 2007.” Now, ten years later, the program is still going strong. This past decade has seen the Pride of Plymouth perform in Disney World, Universal Studios, the Bahamas, and represent Indiana in the 2010 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington D.C. The winter guard won their first class championship in 2010 and the winter drumline has made the I.P.A. state finals the past four consecutive seasons. The marching band made their first-ever state finals performance in 2010 and Plymouth was named as one of “America’s Top 100 Communities for Music Education.” To make the tenth year even more special, every band in the Plymouth school system (grades 7-12) earned Gold Awards at the concert band competition and, additionally, every band earned the prestigious “With Distinction Award” for nearly perfect scores.
“This truly has been a decade of success for the band program. We still have a lot of work to do and continue to set our goals high each season, but for now, we can look back and celebrate the work of hundreds of students, parents, and community supporters for a decade of outstanding achievements.”
To follow the band program and to keep up to date on current events, check out the Pride of Plymouth website at www.prideofplymouth.com
Photo attached: band members (l-r) Eric Jung, Ben Piazza, Sarah Iwinski, Wes Seidelmann, and Blake Keefe