Germantown High School Band wins 7A State Championship
GLUCKSTADT — Germantown High School Band members are again state champions after winning the 7A 2024 State Marching Band Championship held at Northwest Rankin High School last weekend.
Band Director Justin Harvison said this is the fourth state championship for the band and the second in three years.
“Our kids worked really hard,” Harvison said. “They loved and enjoyed what they were doing and I am happy to see that pay off for them in the way it did.”
GHS also took home first place in Colorguard, General Effect, Music Performance, and Visual Performance, as well as third place in Percussion.
GHS last won the state title during the 2022 marching season when the school competed in 6A. GHS was the 7A State Runner-Up in 2023. Previously, they took first-place in the 5A State Championship in 2013 and 2017.
Their 2024 field program is entitled Wild Card and features the music of Henry Purcell, Frank Ticheli, Jules Massenet and Billie Eilish.
“You get a good variety over our nine-minute show,” Harvison said. “It included music from the Baroque to songs that were on the radio just last year.”
Harvison said the show was a crowd favorits at their various competitions. He said in addition to the musical variety, the show included some “unexpected” set pieces like slides that were incorporated into the performance.
“It had a really whimsical feel to it,” Harvison said.
The community is invited to attend a victory performance of Wild Card on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Germantown High School stadium. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., and admission is free.
Harvison said the marching season is a long process that begins with tryouts in April and continues into the fall for the 166 band members. He added that it would not be possible without his band staff, which includes six assistant directors, several adjunct staff, and the support of the Germantown community.
“This success is a team effort,” Harvison said.
The band received a number of awards this season. They took a number of awards and were named grand champions at the Conquistador Classic at Olive Branch High School. They were a finalist and took fourth place overall in the Bands of America Memphis Regional, as well as Outstanding Visual Performance and third place in Class 2A.
In addition to scoring All Superior ratings at State Evaluations, they also claimed the Governor’s Cup at the Pearl Invitational.
The GHS band also finished the Bands of America St. Louis Super Regional in the top 15 of 70 total bands.
Harvison said in addition to the accolades his students have had an “experience to last a lifetime.”
“The championships are great,” He said. “But its the experience and the activity that really makes it worthwhile. It is what means the most to me and what the band is all about.”