For the first time this semester, students at DeKalb County High School and DeKalb Middle School showcased their talents in concert.

“This year in my instruction with the DCHS Fighting Tiger Band, I taught everything from a classical genre, to John Philip's Sousa marching music to songs from the 1940s through the 1970s,” Assistant Band Director Don Whitt explained.

“I picked out many pieces of music, but I noticed that the students were gravitating to the 1960s/1970s genre. They really liked those songs we played in our performance.

We actually covered everything from Aretha Franklin's version of “Respect” to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Southern Rock classic, “Free Bird.” I could have actually made the musical performance an hour and a half long.”

Whitt says several of the songs were recorded in the historic Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and Fame Studio where major artists including the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Duane Allman, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Bob Seger, Rod Stewart, and Willie Nelson made music. It was in that musical hotbed area where Whitt and Band Director Tracy Luna met while studying music at the University of North Alabama  

“Most of the music was inspired by my mentor and friend Tracy Luna,” Whitt said. “Because of this season of having to deal with the trials of COVID-19 and Mr. Luna finding that he had pancreatic cancer, my desire was to uplift and encourage others and give them hope.”

Whitt also directed the middle school band in three song selections for their concert that was held April 29 in the high school gym.

“My goal is to teach students to produce sound with a good tone, and to play together as a unit,” Whitt said. “I had picked out “The Greatest Showman” for the 6th and 7th graders, however, I was looking more for a better blend with every band member.

I think we achieved that.”

“The 6th-7th grades meet at different class times. We worked hard after school on Wednesdays to be able to perform the concert. They did an outstanding job.”

Originally, both bands were slated to perform on the high school football field, but the rainy weather caused the concert to be moved into the gym. Other than a brief warm-up prior to the concert, neither band had the opportunity to rehearse in the gym, which can present an acoustic challenge.

Featured soloists were Josh Moon on trumpet, Charlie Ford and Victor Luna on alto saxophone, BJ Mosely, tenor saxophone, Savannah Warren, Owen Warren and Skylar Southard. low brass.

Performers in the DCHS Band were the following: Flautists: Serenity Burgess and Amy Nokes; Clarinets: Gage Cote and Aaron Maple; Tenor Sax: BJ. Mosely; Alton Sax: Charlie Ford and Victor Luna; Trumpets: Josh Moon, James Tramel, Mallorie Hamilton, Ayden Jones, Alexis Stanley, Jaden Wildes, and Adriana Lubig; Low Brass: Savanna Warren, Jasmine Wagner, Skylar Southard, and Owen Warren; Percussion: Kyle Holmbeck, Gavin Conger, and Serenity Patterson.

Performers in the DMS Band were the following: Alto Saxes: Cameron Ramsey, Alejandro Godinez, Candace Orcutt, and Kianna Driver; Trumpets: Peyton Coots, Lake Moser, Elizabeth Mosely, Gracelynn Mckeown, Chloe Boyd, Jordan Cook, and Katherine Inglis; Trombones: Austin Pack and Christopher Southard; Tubas: Ethan White and Rayna Johns; Percussion: Kaydance Cobb, Sean Dickerson, Alyssa Frederick, Candice Rico, Ellie Moss, Bethany Dillon, Austin Myer, Justin Myer, Landon Fults, and Landon Scruggs.