Best high school band
YOUR PICKS
You say, “I really tip my hat to Hillgrove for putting creative and amazing shows on the field, and also for growing and maturing so fast. Good job Hillgrove.”
3) Southwest DeKalb High School
5) Kennesaw Mountain High School
OUR PICKS
1) Southwest DeKalb High School
We say, “This powerhouse organization has a list of accomplishments miles long, including performing at the opening ceremony at the 1996 Olympics, starring in a reality television show and the movie ‘Drumline,’ and playing at the Tournament of Roses and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parades.”
2) Kennesaw Mountain High School
4) Martin Luther King Jr. High School
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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
425 comments Add your comment
Black Panther (Huey Newton)
August 24th, 2009
4:30 pm
S.W.D!!!!!!!!!! Marching Panthers the best band in the land. S…….W……D SWD WE ROCK THE HOUSE
Andrea
August 24th, 2009
4:31 pm
I have to go with the Mays Raiders!!! On point every game.
Marching Band Lover!
August 24th, 2009
4:33 pm
ALL SOUTH DeKalb County High bands rock the house ALL DAY LONG. Much love and respect to Lithonia, Miller Grove, Stephenson, SW DeKalb, MLK, Redan and Stone Mountain! These kids all work hard and they play and perform like no one else.
Decatur's Finest
August 24th, 2009
4:34 pm
Ok Lithonia Mom, you are a hater. I’ve witness the transformation of Dekalb Co. High School bands since the days of the old Walker High and Columbia High bands would slug it out @ Avondale Stadium in the 80’s. Since the 90’s and still today, SWD has been the best. I’ve witness all of Dekalb Co. Bands @ the annual Spring jamboree and it has been no contest, SWD continues to ROCK THE HOUSE!!! Horn holders are @ Stephenson High, where they have a Big Band with no sound. Lithonia has come up but is not ready for the Big Time. Only Redan and MLK can provide a challenge to SWD but like in previous years, SWD has knock their banner down!!!
3 Stacks
August 24th, 2009
4:37 pm
Redan Raiders go “Blue Thunder”!!!
sam hudson
August 24th, 2009
4:42 pm
Rome High ,donot count out the country schools,they are small but loud. GO WOLVES
LA Transplant
August 24th, 2009
4:44 pm
@ Decatur’s Finest: There is room in DeKalb County for other bands besides SWD. Just because SWD was featured on a lame reality show doesn’t make them the best. Some of the other bands in the southern part of DeKalb County are pretty good, too! I agree with Lithonia Mom –bands with horn holders are prepetrators . . . and SWD DOES have some horn holders. You’d better ask somebody!
Mum
August 24th, 2009
4:45 pm
Druid Hills. They might be small, but they sure can play.
Ola Mom
August 24th, 2009
4:45 pm
Ola High School Marching Band.
Go Mustangs!!!!!
Sleeper
August 24th, 2009
4:51 pm
Druid Hills?!?! MUWHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Oh stop! You’re killing me!
Dr. B
August 24th, 2009
4:52 pm
Heritage High School in Conyers!!
AW
August 24th, 2009
4:57 pm
J C Young Middle School’s jazz band could take any high school. We aren’t talking dancing, we are talking crisp, clean sound.
Marla J.
August 24th, 2009
4:59 pm
Everyone is rightfully proud of their own high school marching band. I’ll tell you who REALLY rocks: BAND PARENTS! W’re the ones who pay the astronomical band dues and support our band programs in any way possible. We’re in the stands cheering even when the football team sucks. So let’s hear it for Band Parents ALL over Georgia, and even all over the U.S.!!!!!
mackenzie
August 24th, 2009
5:02 pm
milton high school #1
mackenzie
August 24th, 2009
5:05 pm
Enter your comments here
Decatur's Finest
August 24th, 2009
5:06 pm
@ LA Transplant. I know all about the bands on the southern part of Dekalb Co. Unlike you, I’m a true ATL Alien and I speak the true and nothing but the truth. So if SWD was featured on a LAMO reality show, where does this leave the other bands??? You are speaking to a Graduate of FAMU and section leader of the Drums. I know what it takes to become an excellent band. Now you ask somebody!!!!
Ex-Band Nerd
August 24th, 2009
5:09 pm
Marla is right ALL bands are great in their own way! Parents: thanks for supporting your kids by giving them something POSITIVE to do. ALL HS BANDS ARE THE BEST! And band nerds will one day rule the world!
LA Transplant
August 24th, 2009
5:13 pm
@ Decatur’s Finest: So what? You went to FAMU. Big friggin’ deal. I stand by my comment. BTW, for a college graduate your grammar and punctuation SUCKS. They must not teach that at FAMU, Mr./Ms. band section leader. I’m glad my kid turned down the scholarship he was offered to FAMU. I’d rather he get a QUALITY education than be a part of the (in)famous Marching 100. And THATS the “true and nothing but the truth.” Loser.
TMG
August 24th, 2009
5:15 pm
SouthWest Dekalb!!!! The rest DONT compare!
Love the Bands
August 24th, 2009
5:17 pm
I agree with the vote for Hillgrove. A new band with outstanding directors and dedicated students that also excel on the marching field and in the classroom.
ashley
August 24th, 2009
5:24 pm
Hillgrove High School has a great band.
Mo
August 24th, 2009
5:24 pm
SWD All the way!
Decatur’s Finest – dont argue with the haters! I was proud marching Panther as well. Horn Holders? LMAO! Everyone has SOME excuse as to why SWD isnt a great marching band….
Now I wont take away from MLK, Stephenson..they have some great programs there as well. Lithonia…still creeping on a come up.
MS. E. S.
August 24th, 2009
5:29 pm
okay, SWD has always been everyone’s vote. you take chapel hill, chapel hill middle and swd and combine. lol. Lets be real. All the schools are not their own schools. None. We all need to stop and be real. Now interesting enough when it comes to money, lets talk about MLK – and then even Miller Grove. Money wise they raise and they do for their students.
Dana Dane
August 24th, 2009
5:33 pm
I haven’t seen Miller Grove mentioned. For a relatively new school, they have a great program. They look and sound good on the field. Keeping my eye on them.
Skinner
August 24th, 2009
6:25 pm
Druid Hills High School Red Devils are absolutely the very best ever
Red Devil Mom
August 24th, 2009
6:31 pm
Druid HIlls Red Devils and their band director, Ms. Monica Fogg Go Red Devils all the way.
Bill
August 24th, 2009
6:58 pm
I wonder if this competition shouldn’t be divided into corps-style bands and show-style bands. You just can’t compare the two. Apples and oranges. (This does not mean “white” bands vs. “black” bands, since there are black musicians in corps bands and white musicians in show bands.)
Druid Hills High School Marching Band
August 24th, 2009
7:07 pm
A small band with a big sound. The mighty Druid Hills band gets down!
#1 Fan
Tracey
Bill
August 24th, 2009
7:32 pm
No votes for the Granite Bowl?
trying hard to be patient
August 24th, 2009
7:39 pm
Can you all say: “GHETTO FABULOUS” They all stink!!!!
Band Mom
August 24th, 2009
7:43 pm
Norcross is awesome!!! Especially the drumline!
Union Grove HS Band
August 24th, 2009
7:51 pm
Union Grove HS Marching Wolverines!
B Abrams
August 24th, 2009
8:01 pm
SWD class of 1997!!! Yeah baby
Cheryl
August 24th, 2009
8:02 pm
Southwest Dekalb Marching Band is the Best because they set the standard that all other bands measure themselves by.
John
August 24th, 2009
8:05 pm
The Mighty Marching Astros of Douglass High
Dog Fan
August 24th, 2009
8:05 pm
George Walton Academy Marching Bulldog Band from Monroe, GA
USSBA Southern States Championship – Chattanooga, TN – 2008 Class 5 1st Place Open Champions.
USSBA National Championships – Annapolis, MD – 4th in Class 5 Open with overall Score of 96.7;
10th Overall in the entire Championship!!
Out of school
August 24th, 2009
8:08 pm
Stephenson High School
CCS
August 24th, 2009
8:08 pm
Go Big Blue! Norcross HS band & color guard!
4 jacks
August 24th, 2009
8:10 pm
South Paulding High School, only 4 years old, but a darn good band with great music and precision marching…not dancing…this ain’t no disco.
Tony
August 24th, 2009
8:10 pm
Carrollton Trojan Band!!!!
Traci
August 24th, 2009
8:11 pm
Forever the Booker T Washington Marching Band !!!!!
C
August 24th, 2009
8:18 pm
Lassiter. Can’t believe this is even a question?
2 National Championships, with two other top five finishes? That’s NATIONAL championships.
This topic should be split into show bands and corps style though. Two totally different types of bands.
Terrie
August 24th, 2009
8:27 pm
My favorite is Hillgrove High School band. They have come a long way in just a few years.
Former Band Mom
August 24th, 2009
8:27 pm
As several have tried to point out…it all depends on the marching style of the band. Bands of America sponsors corps style marching that emphasizes marching technique as well as musicality. Cobb County Schools had winners for a long time in Lassiter and Sprayberry. Now Kennesaw Mt., Harrison, McEachern, Kell and others have joined in to provide more competition from Cobb County. Gary Markam was the head of bands for Cobb County schools and did a fabulous job. I’m not sure if he’s still with the County or not. Loved my days as a band mom and made many fantastic memories on the trips that I chaperoned!
julie c, band mom extraordinaire
August 24th, 2009
8:29 pm
GWA MARCHING BULLDOG BAND!!!
J
August 24th, 2009
8:32 pm
NORCROSS HIGH SCHOOL!! YEAH BLUE DEVILS!!!
Brent Scott
August 24th, 2009
8:36 pm
http://www.jeff-davis.k12.ga.us/~tfbrown/
The Jeff Davis High School Marching Band in Hazlehurst, GA.
Cindy Harrell
August 24th, 2009
8:37 pm
The Marching Pirates of Brunswick High School, Brunswick, GA
Courtney
August 24th, 2009
8:39 pm
Always will be NHS! Norcross!!!!
SteveR
August 24th, 2009
8:39 pm
Kennesaw Mountain has the best marching, but their band director is a sadist who over-works the kids. Harrison has the best music and their entire program won the internationally awarded Sudler Flag of Honor (one of only 50 something programs in the world since 1983). They have a music program that produces excellence in all their programs, not just marching.