Sparkman High School Competition Band Crowned 7A State Champions and Makes History at the National Level

Sparkman High School’s Competition Band has been crowned 7A State Champions at the Alabama Marching Band Championships held earlier this month at Jacksonville State University. The band achieved a string of awards, including Most Outstanding Visual Performance (for the second consecutive year), Most Outstanding General Effect (for the second straight year), and Most Outstanding Percussion for an incredible sixth year in a row. Additionally, the band secured the highest overall score of any classification in the competition. This marks Sparkman’s second state championship title, the first since 2018. The band director’s staff includes Brenton Nash as the Head Director, Katie Manker as the Assistant Director, and Pierson Gilreath as the Assistant Director and Director of Percussion.

Sparkman High School Principal Todd Dreifort praised the band's dedication: “Our students have shown exceptional talent and unwavering dedication. It’s an incredible achievement not only for the band but for our entire Sparkman High School community.”

The band’s accomplishments extended beyond state lines, making national waves at the Bands of America Birmingham Regional on October 12th, where they earned 3rd place. This historic placement marks Sparkman's highest ever and the first time an Alabama band medals in a Bands of America regional. Bands of America (BOA) is recognized as the most prestigious and competitive national contest circuit for high school marching bands.

“Our students have made history for our state at the national level this year, and I am excited for the kids,” said Brenton Nash, Sparkman High School Director of Bands. “The students have begun to buy into the process of improving every rep of every day, and it's starting to pay off. I’m extremely excited about the future success we can achieve if we keep on this path.”

The 2024 show The Pipes Are Calling featured a stunning mix of classical pieces, including Johann Sebastian Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Danny Boy's Organ Symphony, and Camille Saint-Saëns’s Organ Symphony. With 206 students participating, the performance was a masterclass in musicality and visual artistry.