GRHS band brings home superior rating

For the first time in history, the Green River High School Marching Band received a superior rating at state.

The Wyoming High School Activities Association State Marching Band Festival recently took place and the GRHS band was ready for it.

"It's super exciting," GRHS band director Quinn Kalinski said. "This is my first year out of college."

For a director who just graduated from college not too long ago, the superior rating was something he wasn't sure was possible this early in his career.

However, the students' dedication and hard work paid off. As soon as school started, the band met from 7-8:30 a.m. every school day. They also had an additional Monday night practice from 6-8 p.m., each week.

The 42-member band performed songs from Aerosmith, including "Dude," also known as "Looks Like a Lady," "Walk This Way," and "Dream On." While performing these songs, the band conducted a field show as well.

Kalinski said the band not only participated in the festival, but watched the other bands perform. After the each band performs in front of a group of judges, they are given a rating: superior, excellent or good. The superior rating is always the highest.

The students had been working toward the superior rating all year, he said. They were excited when they found out they achieved their goal.

"It's kind of like when a sports team wins the championship game," Kalinski said. "I was really proud. It was a bunch of emotions all at once."

Even though the band is pretty well balanced in the woodwinds, brass and drum areas, he would like more to join the band. Kalinski's hoping some of those who dropped out of band will see what the band has obtained and rejoin.