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The one constant in Grove City history is the excellence of our beloved Marching Band. Even in the early years the band won competitions and were recognized as a very special group. Since the first meeting in 1909 there has been a band representing Grove City High School. According to some historians GCHS had the very first marching band of any Ohio rural school.
The formation of the band is traced back to Mrs. Rolla White who gave music lessons in her home and at the Methodist Church. Her quest to keep the spirit of music alive in the Grove CIty community led to the formation of a 16 member marching band that on November 23, 1910 marched two blocks from the East Park Street School to the new high school located on Park street.
According to a letter received from Mr. Grover Davis, a student from 1907-1911, the band first marched in 1910 under the direction of Sergeant Dumas from the Columbus Army Barracks. Mr. Davis and an interested student group had requested from the barracks commander, help in getting the GC band formed. The Sergeant was assigned and taught the students how to read notes, showed the trombone players how to watch their slides according to their notes and helped choose the best instrument for each member. After six months, Sergeant Bivins took over the band assignment and stayed several years. The main events for the band were local celebrations including Independence Day events, street concerts and summer Sunday evening concerts at Beulah Park. The band received their first uniforms in 1913.
There wasn't an employed band director until A.K. Germanson was hired as the school's first music teacher in the fall of 1933. From that position, the marching band was completely organized and the sympohonic and concert bands eventually evolved.
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1933-1935 |
A.K. Germanson |
1935-1937 |
Fred Mayer |
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1937-1939 |
Albert Myers |
1939-1943 |
Herbert Murphy |
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1943-1960 |
Richard Harris |
1960-1964 |
James Johnson |
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1964-1968 |
Allen Zinn |
1968-1971 |
Bill Theis |
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1971-1973 |
David Snapp |
1973-1987 |
James Swearingen |
1987-Present George Edge
The accomplishments of the band through the years is vast! Click here for a list of honors through the years.
From the Richard Harris era, where a new routine was introduced every week to the 1990 coup by George Edge that rallied the community to send the band to the 101st Tournament Of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California to the bands overwhelming amount of Grand Championships defeating in competition Marching Bands from all over the United States,
The Grove City Marching Band has proven time and again to be one of the nations Premiere Marching Band organizations.
7-time Winner Of The Ohio State Fair Marching Band Competition under the direction of Dr. Swearingen
1984 Grand Champion of the Music Bowl Regional Band Competition at Cincinnati Nippert Stadium
The band has won over 100 Grand Champion awards. Nearly 70 Grand Champion awards in the George Edge era alone.
Some significant accomplishments under Mr. Edge's direction include the band recently being named the 2006 Grand Champion of Musicfest Orlando, a national competition in Florida with bands competing from all 50 states. This is the third time the band has won this national competition. The two other times were 1993 and 1997.
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As has been mentioned, the band marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade in 1990 and the band made a return trip in 2000.
Grove City was named Grand Champion band at the 2000 Pasadena Bandfest.
A national competition with bands competing from all over the United States.
In 1996 and 2002 The band was selected to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. Only 6 High School bands in the world are selected each year to perform at this prestigious event.
The 2005 Grove City Band performed in the New Years Day Parade in London, England in the presence of
The Lord Mayor Of London and The Lord Of Westminster. This trip generated memories that will last a lifetime for band members and boosters alike.
The Band has performed for Presidents and Presidential candidates and other dignitaries many times over the years.
The GCHS band holds the record in Ohio as the only Marching band to receive superior ratings every year since the inception of the Ohio Music Education Association State Marching Band Finals.
In 1991 the band began a new tradition at GCHS. In honor of the football team "The Dawgs", the band began what has since become a homecoming tradition and a trademark routine. The incomparable "Script Dawgs" has become an event that draws thousands including many alumni to the stadium every year just to be a part of this great event. It has been compared in scope and excitement to the famous Ohio State Marching Band tradition "Script Ohio".
The excellence of the marching band will certainly continue in the future as has become expected from this great band. Grove City fans always look forward to the fall marching season when the band entertains at football games and plays at numerous competitions all over the state. The GCHS Band Boosters are known state wide for their ability to raise funds and for the following they provide to the band. Their efforts pay for this band to take trips all over the world so that they can represent their community with pride. They have allowed the band to become a spectacular that ranks with the best in music and marching.
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