(This story is borrowed from ActiveDayton.com)

Jazz Band Named Grand Champion

By Katherine Ullmer
Dayton Daily News
Thursday, October 24, 2002

CENTERVILLE--Against tough competition, the Centerville Jazz Band brought the audience in a packed Massillon stadium to their feet Saturday, electrifying the crowd with its 2002 show, Patterns in Jazz.

The high school band was named grand champion at the Bands of America Regional Championships in Massillon, at which 28 bands from five states competed.

"We weren't expecting it at all," band director Wayne Markworth said.

Meanwhile, two other local bands wowed the crowds in the BOA Regional Championships Saturday in St. Louis. The Northmont High School marching band, under director Reginald Richwine, won grand champion with its show, Strength and Honor, with music from the filmThe Gladiator.

The Bellbrook High School Marching Eagles, under director David Carbone, was Class AA champion with its show Prodigies--Heralds of a New Age, with original music by Mike and Barb Siler.

It was a repeat performance for Centerville--the band's second BOA regional of the 2002 marching band season, and its second victory as grand champion (Toledo BOA Regional Sept. 28).

Student drum majors Caitlin Arnone, Laura Ball and Craig Schwable lead the band, whose show featured music from Fanfare for the New , by Hugo Montenegro; Interlude, by Andrew Markworth; and Prelude, Fugue and Riffs, by Leonard Bernstein.

All three bands will compete in the BOA Grand Nationals Championships Nov. 14-16 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

Contact Katherine Ullmer at 225-2341 or by e-mail at katherine_ullmer@coxohio.com.

Copyright © 2002, Cox Ohio Publishing. All rights reserved.