Georgia Military College Prepatory College won various awards at the Oconee Classic Marching Band Competition held annually by Baldwin High School.
Assistant Principal of GMC Prep and High School Band Director Clint Raburn founded the competition when he worked at Baldwin High School in 2011.
Now, BHS Band Director and the Baldwin County School District Fine Arts Department Chair James McMillan oversees the competition. The competition began small with participants from the Central Georgia area and slowly expanded with more participants from around the state.
“This year a total of 16 bands participated, with about 1,500 student performers,” said Raburn.
“Sixty-five students in grades 8 through 12 make up our band and I was very happy with their performance.”
The Oconee Classic is one of the first band competitions in the season. Bands compete in multiple categories, including band, color guard, drum major, and percussion, categorized into one of five major classes: A, AA, AAA, AAAA, and AAAAA.
The band programs are assessed in a caption-style contest across three major categories: music performance, visual performance, and music/visual effect.
The Oconee Classic was GMC Prep's first competition, and the marching band began preparing during a two-week band camp starting the second week of July.
“We worked on music and marching band drills along with general choreography for the band and colorguard,” said Raburn.
“Marching band is more than music; it takes concentration and practice to do everything simultaneously and as a team.
There are many critical elements that must come together to create a unique performance.”
Practice continued once the school year officially began and Raburn applauded his students’ “dedication” and “commitment” to their performance.
“Many of our students are cross-curricular, meaning they take part in multiple extracurricular activities that need their focus. They manage each of these clubs, classes, or organizations and its meetings and practices on top of preparing for competition,” said Raburn. “That takes skill, concentration, and dedication.”
For their first competition, GMC Prep scored an 83% score overall, receiving a variety of feedback that Raburn stated “will gradually increase the score as the season progresses.”
“That overall score is considered an excellent score,” said Raburn.
GMC Prep also won several individual awards.
The color guard, drum major, and percussion each received a superior rating. During class AA awards, out of seven bands, the color guard placed second, drum major placed fourth, percussion placed fourth, and the marching band placed fourth.
The overall winners were Jones County High School in the Silver Division and Jefferson High School in the Gold Division. Baldwin High School’s Band of the Braves closed out the night with an exhibition performance titled “Winging It.”
GMC Prep will compete next at Harris County High School Oct. 18 and then conclude the season Nov. 1 at Wayne County High School.