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Atlanta Wrap Up

Caylee Loomis, Editor

January 10, 2024

December 26th at 7 P.M. the Alliance band took off to the Denver International Airport. Arriving at the Denver International Airport by 3 A.M with a couple of gas station stops along the way! The airport consisted of hours of waiting at the gate for the flight to Atlanta, Georgia. After many hours of waiting the band advanced onto the plane where they took roughly 2 hours and 37 minutes to arrive at the Atlanta Airport. Getting to the hotel by dinner the band began to wind down with a simple pizza party at the Atlanta Airport Marriot Hotel.

December 27th the band loaded the buses provided by Eagle Christian Tours to Centennial Olympic Park. The band had roughly an hour to explore the park where the 1996 Summer Olympics were held! With many recognitions for all the different athletes and multiple beautiful waterfalls. By 12 P.M the band was set to go to the Atlanta Aquarium, where they got to tour behind the scenes and many other fun activities. The night ended with an amazing meal at Over The Top Burger Bar in Buford, GA.

December 28th the Atlanta Airport Marriott held a competition for 8 different schools, to perform their Jazz Music, Concert Music, and Percussion. AHS concert band performed first out of all schools, and to jazz band performed last. The judges had lots of great feedback after every performance to ensure the band knew what they needed to work on. The night was coming to an end where the band had an opportunity to go to the Mercedes Benz Stadium to watch The Field Show Festival.

December 29th every school that came for the Atlanta Peach Bowl came together for mass band practice by 9:15 A.M. Performing The National Anthem, Centuries, and Catchy Song outside in the cold where they eventually went inside into the Mercedes Benz Stadium to find their spots on the field. After many hours of practicing the band went back to the Marriott to change and get ready for the awards banquet that was held at the Georgia International Convention Center Hall C. The night was filled with an amazing meal and shortly after the awards were announced. In division one AHS got 1st place for concert band, 1st place for marching percussion, and 2nd place for Jazz band. Following after awards a dance was held in place for the rest of the night.

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On December 30th the band had an early morning at 5:00 A.M. loading the bus to depart for the parade staging area. In full marching band uniform the band got in their marching blocks to take off for the parade at 8:23 A.M. The parade went through downtown Atlanta stopping at the Mercedez Benz Stadium. Shortly after the band part took in Fanfest where they got to watch OleMiss perform their marching music! At Fanfest the second division of the awards was announced, 1st place marching band and grand champ marching percussion, was earned by the AHS band. Approximately an hour after Fanfest all the bands took place in their field show, where they performed the music they have been all working hard on. After the field show the band packed their bus and headed back to the airport for home! The SPUD would like to congratulate the Alliance High School band on their accomplishments!

About the Contributor

Caylee Loomis, Editor

Caylee Loomis was born and raised in Alliance, Nebraska. She went to school from preschool to her seventh-grade year in Alliance then transferred to Hemingford her eighth through freshman year. She transferred to Hemingford because Caylee struggled in school and her mom thought it would be a good change. Caylee transferred back because she didn’t like Hemingford, and is now graduating from Alliance! Caylee said, “I am very excited to be graduating school I want to go out and do my own thing.” In school, Caylee is involved with the band playing the cymbals and learning the trumpet. Caylee said she chose band for an activity because the majority of her friends were in band and Mrs. Mangas offered to teach her the cymbals and trumpet. Caylee stated, “For my last year at the high school, I would love to get awesome grades and a good GPA of 3.3.” She also wants to explore more job opportunities before leaving high school. When Caylee goes out to explore different jobs there is also more to life than just one job. Before Caylee leaves for college she would like to go to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to visit. She wants to know if that is really where she wants to live when she moves away. The reason she wants to move to Lancaster is because of the environment and she wants to get out of Nebraska. Outside of school, Caylee works as a dishwasher at Ken and Dales. During her time away from school and work she loves to spend time with her family and friends, bake, and read fictional books. After high school, Caylee would love to attend WNCC ( Western Nebraska Community College) and major in education. Caylee said, “I chose WNCC because of the financial aid, and it is cheap, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to go there.” After college Caylee wants to be an English teacher in Pennsylvania. The person who inspired Caylee to be a teacher was Mrs. Gustafson because of how she interacts with the students and her teaching methods. Caylee's parents and her friends have inspired her to accomplish her dreams. Caylee has one quote she wants everyone to remember, “Just cause your writing sucks, don’t ever give up.” Caylee wants everyone to know this quote because her writing once sucked and she never gave up now she is chief editor of the high school newspaper.