May 30, 2014
The Plymouth Community School Corporation and the “Pride of Plymouth” band program at PHS have been notified that they have earned the prestigious “All-Music Award” from the Indiana State School Music Association for the eleventh consecutive school year. This award is only presented to the top music programs in the state and you must meet a series of struck requirements to earn this award.
“This award is something that our students take very seriously each year,” said band director Bryan Ames. “Our students work to their fullest potential each year knowing that we have to excel in everything we do. We can’t just be good in one area of our music program. To earn this award, we have to achieve the highest rankings in all the different areas that we perform in. Recognition for this prestigious award helps push us and motivate us to be the best we can be each school year.”
To be eligible for this honor, the band program has to earn Gold Award ratings at every ISSMA event during a school year. This includes:
Gold Award for marching band performance at the Regional competition.
Gold Award at the ISSMA Jazz Competition.
Gold Award at the ISSMA Concert Band Competition.
State Finalist participation in the Solo Division of the Solo and Ensemble Competition.
State Finalist participation in the Ensemble Division of the Solo and Ensemble Competition.
Only a small percentage of the high school music programs in the state earn this award as you have to be highly successful in every division of the state competition series. The Plymouth Band is one of a small group of schools that have achieved this award on an annual basis for over a decade.
“This is not an easy achievement to earn on an annual basis. Some great music programs never earn this award because their focus is on specific parts or areas of the band program. At Plymouth, we try to remain well-balanced and offer great experiences in all areas of the instrumental music programs. Im really proud of this year’s senior class. This is the eight consecutive senior class to have earned this award all four years of their high school career! This class has been special to the music program in leading our band to new levels of achievement.”
Congratulations to the Plymouth High School Band on another highly successful year and congratulations to this year’s senior band members on their many achievements in music.
Pictured with the state recognition banner are senior members of the PHS Wind Ensemble class: Ira Tillman, Shelby Haisley, Shannon May, Jessica Beagle, Tyler Wagner, Ben Piazza, and Zach Lee.