A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE Catawba Ridge High School indoor percussion and indoor winds ensembles, directors, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR A REMARKABLE SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2024 WGI world CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Catawba Ridge High School indoor percussion and indoor winds ensembles of York County garnered first place at the WGI competition held during April 2024 in Dayton, Ohio; and

Whereas, to the delight of their devoted followers, the Catawba Ridge indoor percussion and the indoor winds each took on a fine field of comers to capture two WGI gold medals at the world championship; and

Whereas, the Catawba Ridge percussion show was entitled "Beneath Our Soles," and the winds show was entitled "The Dark Side Experience"; and

Whereas, the students only started to learn the shows they would successfully perform after they had returned from London in January, just over three months before the world championship competition. The indoor winds performances produced the first ever win for the Scholastic Open Indoor Winds for a South Carolina school and only the second time Catawba Ridge had competed in the event. The school had finished fourth in its first appearance there in 2022; and

Whereas, the members of the two ensembles and directors only had approximately twenty-four hours from the time they received feedback from the judges at the semifinals until their finals performance. The Catawba Ridge ensembles used a local church gymnasium, a local high school, and even the hotel parking lot between performances to make the adjustments needed to win; and

Whereas, the ability of the directors to know how to improve the show and the musicians' ability to relearn something so fast and under the stress of the situation was an impressive feat; and

Whereas, in a discipline that demands talent, practice, and more practice, the Catawba Ridge directors maximized their own musical experience and training to produce a nationally-recognized, award-winning program in less than four years. At the same time, they have taught these musicians lessons that will prove invaluable through life both inside and outside of competition halls; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives values the pride and recognition that the members of the Catawba Ridge indoor percussion and indoor winds ensembles have brought to their school and their community, and the members look forward to following their continued achievements in the days ahead. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Catawba Ridge High School indoor percussion and indoor winds ensembles, directors, and school officials for a remarkable season and congratulate them for winning the 2024 WGI World Championship title.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Barry Ledford and the Catawba Ridge High School band directors.

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