Over the years, Claiborne High School’s marching band has often been overlooked in all those football games — some said good, but not great. Under the direction of Caleb Howard, the group was able to reach new heights. Upon Howard’s arrival in January of 2014, the potential band members immediately started seeing the passion that was being brought to the program.
Howard took the small group of players and turned them into a fifty-plus group of musicians. The community saw a big change this year from the opening night of the season as the band walked proudly between the gates at Bulldogs Field and simply wowed the crowd. The Claiborne High School Band was back. Not only do they grab attention at the games, but now are a force to be reckoned with at competitions.
The band recently attended the Walden Ridge Marching Festival in Harriman and earned Superior ratings in all categories (Band, Percussion, Auxiliary, and Drum Major). This was their first year competing in the larger “AA” division at marching festivals as they participated in the smaller “A” division last year. The Claiborne High School Band also earned first place in color guard and first place in drum major. Their awesome show this year featured classic songs from the Beatles. They played “Get Back,” “A Hard Days Night,” “Let it Be” and “Hey Jude.”
Howard directs a marching band with over 50 members including twirlers and flags. Howard is even making an impact at the middle school level with a great showing of younger kids interested in the program. Howard has taken a good band and made it great in just two short years, but he will be the first to give the members most of — if not all the credit. The list of members and their duties include:
- Flute – Rhiannon White;
- Clarinet – Katie Rednour, Tori Taylor, Brittany Cruz, Courtney Kibert and Kylie Mullins;
- Saxephone – Gabe Stanley, Robbie Dooley, Grayson Howard, Conner Buis and Brighton Randolph;
- Trumpet – Jimbo Jones, Patricia Curry, Tori Ramsey, Emma Selvey and Kelly Middleton;
- Trombone – Allen Hillier, Austin Lawless, Benjamin Keck and Forrest Brown;
- Baritone – Daniel Covington and Noah Partin;
- Tuba – Casey Grandstaff and Hayden Venable;
- Percussion – Bradley Thornsbury, Jon Sutton, Jeremy Warf, Jillian Maggard, Kalup Lorens, Austin Lane, Trevor Mize and George Collier;
- Color Guard – Alexis Evans, Randi Roy, Johnny Wells, Kristen Samples, Cameron Green and Sydney Morelock;
- Majorettes – Grayce Shockley and Wynston Seal;
- Front Ensemble – Summer Clem, Aries Hurd, Kellan Smith, Christopher Boyd, Sarah Blankenship, Gavin Green, Kenny Ramsey and Josh Pressnell;
- Drum Major- Clarence Arnwine.
Reach Allen Earl at 423-254-5588 or on Twitter @pitchadude.
