Congratulations to Nation Ford High senior Megan Sibley and Fort Mill High senior Matthew Krieger who were selected and performed in the All American Band at halftime during the 2009 Army's All American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, this past January.
It is the highest honor a high school band member can receive. Only 97 students from across the country - including 7 from South Carolina (Fort Mill HS, Nation Ford HS, Clover HS (2), Wando HS (2) and Lugoff-Elgin HS) with 4 of the 7 coming from York County - were selected to participate. For the second year in a row, two Fort Mill School District students were selected as members of the U.S. Army's All American Band. Both students marched with saxophones - Sibley on the tenor sax, Krieger on the alto sax.
In addition, Nation Ford High School band director Martin Dickey was selected to be an assistant band director for the event.
Dickey and Fort Mill band Director John Pruitt helped the students apply and prepare for the program. The application process involved each musician performing two pieces of their choice solo and playing a piece specified by the Army while marching. Nearly 500 band members applied for 97 spots in the band. The All-American Bowl was created in 2001. Ninety of the top 400 high school football players are selected to play in the game. This is the second year it has included high school band students.
Sibley and Krieger arrived in San Antonio during winter break on January 30th and had only a few days to learn and practice the marching choreography for the half-time show on January 3rd.
Want to see the show? Follow these links -
Official Video
www.banddirector.com/article/army-all-american-2009/2009-army-all-american-marching-band - Official video released by MENC showing the halftime performance and the Friday evening dress rehearsal.
Unofficial Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26T9GEBRtLg - Unofficial YouTube video of halftime performance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF-QF6EcjU0 - Unofficial YouTube video showing part of dress rehearsal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbjaHuaSbnI - Unofficial YouTube video showing part of dress rehearsal including the "body movement" section
Congratulations Megan and Matthew!!!
