Granard band, chorus students take top honors
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Granard Middle School band and chorus students are shown at Busch Gardens last weekend. The school's show choir, jazz and concert bands won first place while competing against several Virginia middle schools at a showcase in Williamsburg,

Granard Middle School band and chorus students turned in a winning performance last weekend at a music showcase in Williamsburg, Va.

Band director Elliott Rawls and chorus teacher Dawn Dover took 40 students and adult chaperones for a Friday night music showcase at Busch Gardens. Granard competed against eight Virginia middle school band and choral programs.

The Granard jazz and concert bands won first place for their performances of songs such as "Blues is Loose," "Ants in the Pants," and the "Peter Gun" theme. The band was named Grand Champion and selected the best percussion line.

Band members Brooke Ramsey and Cheyanne Phillips were named outstanding soloists.

The Granard show choir took first place in the chorus middle school contest. The chorus performed selections from the Disney Channel's High School Musical.

Local residents can hear an encore performance when the Granard Middle music programs hold their spring concert May 1 at 6:30 p.m. The band and chorus will perform selections from their appearance at the music showcase.

"Our students had a really good time. They got to compete against several band and chorus groups from Virginia and spend an entire day at Busch Gardens," Dover said. "The trip turned into a history lesson on our way to the contest Friday. We stopped at Colonial Williamsburg where the students got to see the old villages and people dressed like they were in Colonial times."

The music showcase awards program was held Saturday evening at Busch Gardens. Sections of the amusement park were divided into different countries where students could sample food and get a taste of life in Germany, England, France and Italy.