The Thomas County Middle School Band Program recently received the 2023 GMEA Exemplary Performance Award (EPA), the highest honor awarded by the Georgia Music Educators Association. The award is presented annually to programs that achieve outstanding results in all areas of performance sponsored by GMEA.
“It’s truly an honor to receive the Exemplary Performance Award, and we are so very proud of our student musicians for an outstanding school year,” TCMS Band Director William Majors said. “This award represents the culmination of years of steady growth as well as incredible support from our entire school system, board of education, staff, parents and community. We appreciate everything our stakeholders do to help us become a program of excellence!”
TCMS was outstanding in the areas of Large Group Performance Evaluation, Solo and Ensemble Performance Evaluation, All-State, and District Honor events. The EPA committee also considers program/school population rates and performance results in other festivals and competitions. Additionally, the committee, consisting of highly qualified music educators from around the state, listens to recordings of eligible bands as part of the selection process.
Representatives from state GMEA will attend an official TCMS Band event this fall to present the award.
Majors added, “The last time we received this award was in 2009, the inaugural year of the EPA. The application process is fairly extensive and requires successful participation in every aspect of GMEA performance, including All-State Band. Programs receiving this award must wait four years before being eligible again.”
The TCMS Band Program serves approximately 300 students grades 5-8. The band program consistently earns high ratings at state and national festivals and competitions and regularly participates in District, Region and State Honor Band events. TCMS band members have the opportunity to perform in many different settings including concert band, jazz band, pep band, parades, and solo and small group ensembles.