I’d like to honor and celebrate the remarkable contributions of two outstanding individuals who have left an indelible mark on our band program. It is my privilege, as their director, to speak about the invaluable impact that Zyon Height and Kristen Holmes have made during their time with us.

For the past six years, Zyon has been an integral part of our band family. Her dedication and unwavering commitment to her craft, as a saxophonist, has been truly inspiring. Zyon’s musical journey has been a testament to her talent, perseverance, and love for music. She has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill, musicianship, and leadership. Zyon’s participation in our band classes, our advanced wind ensemble, our marching band, and her inclusion in the prestigious Dublin – Laurens Arts Council Honor Band has showcased her exceptional abilities as a saxophonist. Moreover, her leadership and mentorship over the years have had a profound impact on younger band members, inspiring them to strive for excellence. Her six years of dedication and musical prowess has enriched our band program beyond measure.

Though her time with us has been shorter, her impact has been no less significant. In just three years, Kristen has proven herself to be a dependable performer and a remarkable asset to our band program. Her growth and development as a musician has been fascinating to witness. Her achievements in our band classes and our wind ensemble are a testament to her talent and hard work. Her inclusion in the Dublin – Laurens Arts Council Honor Band, with only three years of experience on trumpet, is evidence that Kristen exemplifies the zeal and determination we strive to teach to all of our scholars. Despite her relatively brief time with us, Kristen has made a lasting impression on our band, showcasing her dedication, teamwork, and willingness to continuously improve.

As we bid farewell to Zyon and Kristen, we celebrate not only their musical accomplishments but also the profound impact they have had on our band program as a whole. Their talents, leadership, and commitment have set a standard of excellence for all future band members to aspire to. They have shown us what it means to be passionate, disciplined, and supportive, inspiring us all to reach for our fullest potential.

Zyon and Kristen, as you embark on the next chapter of your lives, know that you carry with you the memories, friendships, and invaluable skills gained through your time in our band program. You have become not only exceptional musicians but also remarkable individuals. We are immensely proud of your accomplishments, and we have no doubt that you will continue to thrive in all your future endeavors.

On behalf of the entire band program, I extend our deepest gratitude for your contributions, your dedication, and the beautiful music you have shared with us. Congratulations, Zyon and Kristen, on your well-deserved achievements. May your musical journeys continue to bring joy and fulfillment.

Thank you!

Ernest Stackhouse

Director Of Fine Arts/Band Director,

Twiggs County Public Schools

PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND SUPPORTERS REGISTER IN THE REMIND APP TO STAY ABREAST OF EVERYTHING THAT THE FAST MOVING COBRA BAND WILL HAVE GOING ON THIS SUMMER AND IN THE FALL AS WE KICK OFF BAND CAMP AND THE UPCOMING MARCHING SEASON!

FOR STUDENTS

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FOR PARENTS AND SUPPORTERS

JUNE 14TH – JULY 26TH

Jeffersonville, GA – It gives us great pleasure in announcing that these hardworking band students have been selected to participate in the annual Dublin Laurens Arts Council Honor Band hosted in downtown Dublin, GA on April 27th (Thurs) and 28th (Fri). The Honor Band includes over 200 of the best student musicians from Dublin High School, East Laurens High School, Twiggs County High School, West Laurens High School, Bleckley County High School, Dublin Middle School, East Laurens Middle School, Bleckley County Middle School, Twiggs County Middle School, and West Laurens Middle School.

TWIGGS COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL HONOR BAND PARTICIPANTS
Deshauny Warren – Flute
Jomylee Melendez – Flute
Destiney Singleton – Clarinet
Ava Walker – Clarinet
Sa’Myjah Quainton – Clarinet
Kyle Deaton – Alto Sax
Londyn Smith – Alto Sax
Trinity Coley – Trumpet
Etavious Marble – Trumpet
Eyan Barron – Trumpet
TaNiya Hubbard – Trumpet
Ellis Height – Trombone
Jutony McIntyre – Euphonium
Rhaje Brown – Tuba

TWIGGS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL HONOR BAND PARTICIPANTS
Destiny Bender – Clarinet
Ashlyn Bennett – Clarinet
Shafrasia Young – Alto Sax
Zyon Height – Alto Sax
Cameron Peterson – Trumpet
Jorelle Melendez – Trumpet
Kristen Holmes – Trumpet
Rodriquez Williams – Tuba
Kayla Holmes – Tuba
Surayburn Height – Percussion
Trinity Hicks – Percussion

The Honor Band Concert was held at Theatre Dublin at 7pm on the evening of April 28th.

Congratulations to these hard working students!

Jeffersonville, GA – Mark your calendars! On July 12th the Cobra Band will begin Band Training Camp. The band will host new and returning members in preparation for the 2021 Football Season. Anyone interested in joining the band should attend and all returning members are required to attend. Visit this link for more information: 2021 Cobra Band Camp

Jeffersonville, GA – On Wednesday, May 6th our band students were excited to welcome Dr. Donovan Wells, Director of Bands at Bethune Cookman University, to the Twiggs County High School campus!

Dr Wells, was midway through a recruitment tour in which he visited schools in Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida. He made a special stop in Jeffersonville, Georgia to audition students at Twiggs County High School.

Dr Donovan V. Wells is a 1984 graduate of Bethune-Cookman College and a 1995 graduate of Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia. Dr Wells served as Band Director at various high schools in the Hampton Roads area of Southeastern Virginia where his bands won numerous state and national awards. He has served as guest conductor, clinician, keynote speaker and adjudicator for high schools and institutions throughout the East Coast of the United States. He became an assistant band director at Bethune-Cookman University in 1996 and was promoted to Director of Bands a year later.

Under his direction the Bethune-Cookman University band program has enjoyed twenty five years of musical excellence. Dr Wells supervises the productivity and recruitment of the marching, concert and symphonic Bands. The Marching Wildcats is comprised of 300-plus band members and is ranked as one of the top performing collegiate bands in the nation.

The Marching Wildcats have performed nationally on NBC, BET, ESPN, UPN, MTV Super Bowl Special, opening ceremonies for the Daytona 500, NBA Halftimes, EA Sports 2005 and 2006, NCAA Football, ABC Walt Disney World Christmas Special 2003, 2004 and 2005; Honda HBCU Invitational Showcase for a record 13 years, NFL halftime performances for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins, the nationally-televised “Ellen Degeneres Show” and had a guest appearance in the 20th Century Fox film, Drumline.

The Marching Wildcats were featured in a commercial for the 2006 Cadillac DTS. The NFL selected the Marching Wildcats to perform pre-game for the 2009 Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida and the halftime entertainment for the 2010 Pro Bowl in Miami, Florida.

Major League Baseball invited the Marching Wildcats to Los Angeles, California in February 2009, 2010 and 2011 to perform for the MLB Urban Sports Initiative. ESPN featured the Marching Wildcats and Mr. Wells in the reality TV show called the “The Battle,” which aired six 30-minute episodes during the 2010 football season.

Not many schools can boast their own TV series, but Bethune-Cookman University Marching Band was featured in the hit Netflix original series “Marching Orders.”

The Marching Wildcats’ legacy continues as the band strives to bring the finest in halftime performances to viewing audiences.

Jeffersonville, GA – Twiggs County Fine Arts Teachers have been hard at work preparing for the new school year. Virtual Learning has presented new challenges for our fine arts department but we are facing those challenges head on! Mr. Ernest Stackhouse, our Fine Arts Director, introduced a new learning platform to the district called Smartmusic which is assisting our teachers and students in meeting that challenge.

SmartMusic is the leading browser-based music education platform used by music educators around the world. It consists of a suite of music education tools that support; instrumental and vocal practice, playing/singing assessments, and music literature for all levels of musicianship.