KINGSPORT, TN -- For the past five months, one could hardly drive past the intersection of Eastman Road & Center Street without witnessing the exhaustive practice sessions of the Dobyns-Bennett Band and witness the parental support system in action. The hard work paid off! For the first time in East Tennessee and in the school's history, Dobyns-Bennett High School Marching Band was named the Grand Champions of the 2006 Contest of Champions competition held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee,Oct. 28.
The event, hosted by Middle Tennessee State University, is considered the premier invitational marching band competition in Tennessee. More than 21 bands competed for the coveted Grand Champion Governor's Cup, considered the highest honor a Tennessee marching band can receive.
The Dobyns-Bennett High School Marching Band includes more than 380 members and is the largest marching band in the state of Tennessee. The Band is directed by Lafe Cook, with assistant directors Ryan Gilbert and Jason Walsh. Phil Ledford is the Color Guard director. Their competitive show, entitled "Symphonies of Gaia," is based on a new work written for concert band and was adapted by Gilbert for marching band. The percussion music was arranged by Walsh. Ledford choreographed the Color Guard.
Dobyns-Bennett High School's Band was recently invited to participate in Pasadena's 2007 Tournament of Roses Parade. The band was also named as a 2006 Grammy Signature School by the Grammy Foundation, and was awarded the Sudler Flag of Honor by the John Phillips Sousa Foundation in December 2005. The Sudler Flag of Honor is the highest international honor a band can receive. The Dobyns-Bennett Band is the first and only band in the State of Tennessee to receive this prestigious award.
For more information on the Dobyns-Bennett High School Band, contact Director Lafe Cook at (423) 378-8400 or www.dbband.org.
