The Shadow
LEWISBURG, W.Va. – Fifteen members of the Class of 2012 of Greenbrier East High School were honored during the final concert of the Spartan Marching Band and the Greenbrier East Symphonic Band Thursday in the Greenbrier East gym.
James Allder, director of instrumental music at GEHS, directed the two groups and presided during the awards presentation where Sam Romine, field conductor and drum major for the Spartan Marching Band, was presented the Bob Johnson Memorial “Spirit of the Bands” award, the highest honors given members of the Spartan Bands.
Other awards presented included the musicianship awards to Will Scott who has been a record setting member of the WV All-State Band for four years and Jacob Essig-Beatty who has been selected for the All State Band three years.
The dedication awards were presented to Bobby Bordelon, Ashley Ferrell, Jeremy Feury, and Aaron Graham while the leadership awards went to Rachel Curry and Romine.
A new award, the service award, was presented to Nima Shahab Shahmir who has photographed the Spartan Bands through the year.
The director also presented special recognition to GEHS faculty member Mike Williams who has served as “Voice of the Spartan Marching Band” for 43 years and is retiring this spring. Leaders of the Greenbrier East Music Boosters also recognized Williams along with Margaret Hefner, volunteer extraordinaire with the instrumental music program, Sabrina Morgan who has headed the Spartan Stadium concession stands for the past two years, and Director Allder for all their work with the students in the program.
New officers for the 2012-13 school years were announced for the Greenbrier East Music Boosters. They are Kim Ayres, president; Lisa Burns, vice president; Secora Sutphin, secretary; Ronda Floyd, treasurer; Margaret Hefner, second treasurer; and Mary Essig, second treasurer.
The concert featured the program the Greenbrier East Symphonic Band presented in the recent adjudication by the state and the music of the field show presented during the fall competition season by the Spartan Marching Band.
Members of the Spartan Bands who are also members of the Class of 2012 are Rachel Curry, Melissa O’Sullivan, Sarah Semper, Ariel Collins, Jacob Essig-Beatty, Bobby Bordelon, Will Scott, Nate Turner, Jeremy Feury, Aaron Graham, Sam Romine, Ashley Ferrell, Silas Wade, Matt Mullens, and Nima Shahab Shahmir.
Graduation exercises for the Class of 2012 will be held at the grandstand of the State Fair of West Virginia June 2 at 7 p.m. and for the first time, tickets will be required for admission. Admission is free, but tickets can be ordered by contacting the office of Greenbrier East High School, One Spartan Lane, Lewisburg, W.Va. 24901 and including a telephone number or e-mail address.
