The beginning of the school year leaves plenty of time for stress and exhaustion. Despite the inevitable feeling of being worn out, Millbrook High School’s band has made their first quarter with a new director, Ms. Shelton, a phenomenal one.
Near the end of the last school year, the program announced that the current band director, Avery Payne, would be leaving Millbrook Highschool at the end of the year and replaced by Ms. Georgia Shelton. Ms. Shelton is a recent graduate of East Carolina University with her masters in Music Education. Since the beginning of the school year she has worked hard to keep the Millbrook band program alive and active in the school community.
During their most recent concert many impressive songs were learned and played two months into the school year. No arts program hosts concerts during the first quarter of the school year, Millbrook High School’s band a recent exception. Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Percussion Ensemble worked tirelessly in those two months to perfect the pieces they had received just two months prior. One song at the concert that stuck out to listeners was “Chips and Salsa” by Ed Kiefer; this piece was performed at the fall band concert as well as Millbrook High School’s Hispanic Heritage show. Another piece from the concert that stood out to the audience was “Melodious Thunk” by David Biendenbender. The trombone section was easy to pick up and performed greatly, despite the difficulty of the piece.
On October 3rd Millbrook High School had its first pep rally of the year to get students pumped for the Homecoming game that night. The band program had multiple performances but the one that stood out most to Millbrook students was when the MHS Drumline came out and performed “Jig 2.” Millbrook senior, Will Davis, was notably held by his peers while he played the drums, but this time, upside down. Senior Ashton Johnson said, “The focus and control required even drumming upright is taxing enough but with all the blood rushing to your head at the same time, I can’t imagine how difficult that would be.”
On Saturday October 25th, Ms. Shelton and the Millbrook High School Marching Band attended Sanderson High School’s band competition. The Marching Band placed 3rd in finals out of all bands there and 1st in Music Visuals, general effect, and overall in class 2A. The MHS Marching Band was even able to outperform larger marching bands in the 3A and 4A categories.
This isn’t the first time Millbrook High School’s band has impressed people though. In the last four years Millbrook High School’s band has placed at around fifteen different competitions and received a “superior” ranking at the Music Performance Adjudication. Receiving a “Superior” ranking means receiving the highest possible score at MPA, similar to receiving a grade “A”.
In 2023 the band program was invited to the Presidents Cup National Invitational in Virginia, which is an extremely distinguished band festival for bands at the high school level. The event is invitation only and very exclusive to what are considered to be “most accomplished high school music programs.” Participants are adjudicated by current and retired members of the US Army Band, able to attend workshops, and perform at the festival. One band each year receives the Presidents Cup and in 2023 it was Millbrook High School Wind Ensemble.
In 2024, the Wind Ensemble was invited to the Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis. The festival’s mission is to “create, provide, and expand positively life-changing experiences through music for all.” Senior Isabella Laboy said, “There was a student social where we met a bunch of other band kids. In a clinic, I learned about the science behind music waves and there was lemonade for every meal.”
Most recently, in 2025, the Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival hosted by Georgia State University. The band was able to take masterclasses, view concerts and be a part of their own featured concert.
Millbrook High School’s band program is constantly turning heads and leaving their mark on the Millbrook campus.
