The Polk County Cadets are celebrating yet another amazing marching season thanks to the Polk County Community Foundation’s All Thrive 365 Grant. This generous grant enables students to participate in the band without any associated fees, allowing any and all interested students to join without financial burden.

This is especially helpful for families with more than one student participating in band.   The support from the Community Foundation enabled directors Cindy Gilbert and Matthew Putnam to organize an intensive, exhausting, creative, fun and incredibly productive two weeks of band camp over the summer. It was here that the foundation for this year’s season was laid and where the students began to learn the performance standards and strong character it takes to be a cadet.

The hard work and dedication of the students, directors, clinicians, volunteers, parents and the Community Foundation paid off as the cadets have had a busy and brilliant marching season. The cadets supported the football team at home and away games, participated in the Homecoming parade, played at pep rallies and school events and honored veterans by marching in the Veterans Day Parade.

The cadets also participated in three marching band competitions this season winning 12 first place awards and eight second place awards in their competitive season.

Upcoming performances for the cadets include: Tryon Christmas parade on Dec. 13, joint Christmas concerts at PCHS on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. with the high school band and choir and concerts at all four elementary schools of Polk County Schools on Dec. 19 and 20.

Again, the Polk County Cadets continue to strive for excellence in character, as well as performance. These goals become easier to reach with outstanding support from the All Thrive 365 Grant from the Polk County Community Foundation.

The Polk County Cadets would like to thank the Polk County Community Foundation for their continued support and their love of music in our county.

– submitted by Julie Grigg, President Polk County Friends of the Band