Alachua County Takes Home a Gold, a Silver & a Bronze

Let's give a SHOUT OUT to our students, to Mr. Pirzer, and to our fantastic Alachua County Bands!

The Gainesville High School Hurricane Marching Band took home the Olympic Bronze Medal at the Florida Marching Band Championship competition at the Tropicana Field last night. It's no easy feat taking the Bronze. It's time for us to celebrate our Hurricane accomplishment and placement!

Let's take a look at this accomplishment: Florida has 67 counties, all with schools and bands. 280 of these bands participated 32 regional Florida Marching Band events this season. 77 of these bands qualified for, and competed in, the Florida Marching Band Championship semi-finals this Saturday. 16 of these bands competed in the Class 3A division. 25 outstanding bands and their precision performances moved on to complete in the 2009 Florida Marching Band Championship Finals at Tropicana Field.

Of these exceptional bands, Alachua County boasted FIVE schools that qualified for semi-finals and THREE schools that moved on to the finals. Santa Fe High moved to the finals in Class 2A, Gainesville High moved to the finals in Class 3A and Buchholz High moved to the finals in Class 5A. All three schools placed in the top three of their Class. Santa Fe took home the Gold; Buchholz grabbed the Silver; Gainesville landed the Bronze. Newberry High and P.K. Yonge completed in Class 1A semi-finals, but did not move on to the finals.

This continues a tradition. Our Alachua County schools have competed in the State finals every year since its inception in 1998. Santa Fe High School took the Gold in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005 and in 2009. Gainesville High School took the Gold in 2000, 2001 and 2008. We have a lot to look back on and a lot to look forward to!

None of this could happen without the quality music programs we have here in Alachua County. It couldn't happen without our dedicated and impassioned band directors. It couldn't happen without the students who start marching in June for the State Championship competitions in November. Nor could it happen without the support of the parents who raise funds, maintain uniforms, staff the pit crew, donate supplies and who simply love their students in a big way.

Let's raise our glass to Mr. Pirzer , to our Marchers, to the Boosters and to ALL the parents who support their children and our band program to make these achievements happen! Let's give a Shout Out! to the Hurricane Marching Band and our Brethern bands!

WE SALUTE YOU!!!!