The Greenville High School Band recently earned some high honors.

The band, under first-year director Chris McMillan, competed against nearly 30 other bands at the Southern Music Showcase on Oct. 11, 2008. Held in Dothan, the event was co-sponsored by Dothan and Northview High Schools.

It was the band’s first juried competition in several years, as well as the first under McMillan’s direction. The results boded well for the school’s band program.

“We were competing with bands from all over the Southeast, with the judges scoring us on several aspects of our performance. There were four categories: poor, fair, excellent and superior. We received a superior rating for all our scores,” the band director said with pride on Thursday, as his students rehearsed their tunes and their moves in the school parking lot.

The band’s acclaimed performance at the competition “felt really good” for director and band members alike, McMillan said.

“We do keep it all in perspective. It’s a first step, but it’s definitely leading us in a successful direction. We are trying to rebuild the band, and having a success like that in a competition gives us something good to build on,” he said.

This Saturday the GHS Tiger Band will be in Troy for Band Day at the university.

“This is not a competition, but a chance for a lot of high school bands to perform along with Troy’s South of the South – which is an awesome band. It’s a great recruiting tool for the university,” McMillan said with a smile.

As he works to help build an awesome band in the Camellia City (“I want our school to be in that class where both the football team and the band are doing really well”), the GHS band director asks the community to help the band students raise funds for an exciting opportunity coming in April 2009.

“Our kids will be going to perform at Disney World next spring, and we want to get the word out,” McMillan said.

“Right now we are selling oranges and grapefruits by the box to help them raise funds for the trip. We have 20 lb. and 40 lb. boxes for $25 and $35, respectively – and we appreciate your help.”

As football season winds down, the band is already beginning its transition to concert band, with its annual Christmas Concert set for Dec. 15

“You will also get to see and hear us in the city’s Christmas parade on December 4,” the band director said.

For more information on the Tiger Band Fruit Sale, call the school office at 382-2608 or contact any GHS band member.