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In light of the recent pandemic, many people have come to realize some of the everyday things we take for granted. Things like time with family, friends and some simple pleasures are foremost in our minds these days.

Polk County is full of tight-knit groups that are realizing what’s been taken for granted. One of the simple pleasures that may be missed this upcoming fall is the music provided to the community by the Polk County High School Cadets. With no concrete news about football games, marching band competitions, and other community gatherings, the band students are in limbo like the rest of student groups.

What is not commonly known to members of the community is what goes on during the course of an academic year for band members. Besides the obvious rehearsal time, the students discover their talents, realize the satisfaction of hard work, the thrill of competition, the challenge of leadership, the importance of responsibility and the appreciation of their audience. The impact of these opportunities for students cannot be understated.

On this note, The Polk County High School Band would like to express their appreciation for the generous grant awarded to the band for the 2019-2020 academic year. This grant allows any student to become a member of the band free of any fees normally required to join the band. The grant also provides funds so that the students are able to attend a two-week summer camp in preparation for the many upcoming community activities for the marching band.

Additionally, the PCHS Band would like to acknowledge the generosity of the community members that made this grant possible for the students. As a show of appreciation to the Polk County Community Foundation and the Polk County community, the PCHS Band participated in the following community activities in 2019:

Home and away football games, the Homecoming Parade, marching band competitions, The Charters of Freedom Dedication Ceremony, Polk/Rutherford County Honors Band event, Columbus Christmas Parade and the Tryon Christmas Stroll.

The Friends of the Band would like to recognize the 2019 Polk County Cadets to the community.

• Flutes: Itzel Avellaneda Cruz, Grace Lucas and Yuridia Montego Hernandez
• Clarinets: Jeanine Jackson, Kasey Trzemzaiski, Elianna Gerbos, Jayden Ross and Chesnee Thomas
• Alto Saxaphones: Andrew Krouse, Layla Paulsen and Elizabeth Seaman
• Trumpets: Alycia Olivares-Cruz, Tori Snipes, Kennedy Huddleston and Autumn Mazzerella
• Baritones: Tori Strickland, Henry Gardner and Sabrina Ballard
• Tuba: Joe Nichols
• Percussion: Erin Heston, Anastasia Ballard, Lee Paulsen, Lindsey Marcello, Jesse James, Thaddeus Ruff, Gavin Patterson, Laura Packer and Jeremiah Petoia
• Synthesizer: Adelaide Gardner
• Guard: Sadie Rogers, Nikki Frantz, Chloe Patterson and Victoria Worthington

In advance of the upcoming academic year, the Polk County High School Band would like to gratefully acknowledge the generous grant recently awarded by the Polk County Community Foundation for the 2020-2021 academic year.

This fall, please come and enjoy one of the simple pleasures of music by some dedicated musicians.

Submitted by Lori Nichols