At the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) last weekend, the Greensburg Community High School Band played their best and proved that practicing pays off.

They walked off the stage at Columbus North High School with a gold rating in their division at the band competition.

The contest consists of two separate but equally important parts. The band first played some pieces they had been practicing for months, and according to band director Matt Clifford, one of the judges scored the students just one-half point away from a perfect score.

With the first section of the competition over, the band and their director were relocated to a gym where they performed very well in the sight-reading portion of the day. For that part of the contest, the students were given a new piece of music they had never seen. After just a few minutes of instruction and opportunity to look at the music sheets, the band is asked to play it for the judges.

The GCHS Band competed in division two, with division one being the most difficult pieces of music and the lowest division, five, being less difficult. For their excellent performance, the students were given a plaque, which they all signed.

“I was a little nervous,” freshman percussionist Ian Frink explained. “I hadn’t been to contests since seventh grade.”

Frink added that he had always enjoyed playing for fun but was worried when he was going to be judged for it.

“We were all really excited,” he said.

Frink also had some kind words for his teacher.

“He’s a good teacher, but he’s also your friend,” he said. “Our percussion class is just a really fun, good class.”

Before the entire band, winds and percussion, traveled to Columbus, several students attended the solo and ensemble ISSMA competition in February earlier this year. All of the band members who competed in that contest also won gold medals for their performances. One group consisted of three young ladies - Heather Schwipps on the flute, Gina Ricke on the clarinet and Ellen Weigel also on the flute. The trio competed in division two.

“I was a little freaked out, until I got into the room and started playing,” Schwipps said.

Also at the event was soloist Chelsey Moore, a flute player who earned a gold medal in division two.

“I was super confident going in,” Moore said.

Junior Sabrina Smiley came to the contest with her cello and competed in division one. She wowed the judges with an incredible performance. She walked away with an excellent score and a gold medal in division one, which gave her the opportunity to travel to the state competition in late February.