New Band Director

Dear Band Family!

I am pleased to announce that Mr. Brett Cox has accepted the position of Band Director at Northwood High School, and started August 1^st, 2014.  

Mr. Cox graduated from University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC with a degree in Music Education.  Prior to accepting this position, he served as the marching and low brass instructor and drill writer for the West Stanley High School Marching Band and he served as a substitute instructor at Randolph County Schools.  Mr. Cox brings experience and enthusiasm that will be invaluable in meeting the goals and objectives of the Northwood Instrumental Music Program.  I would like to thank all of the band students, parents, band boosters, and administration who were so helpful and supportive in the selection process.  Your commitment, desire, and participation have been superior!  Please know that your efforts are deeply appreciated.   

 

I am confident that Mr. Cox will be an excellent match for our program and a strong asset to the Northwood Instrumental Music Program.    

Beverly G. Gore,

President, NHS Band Boosters

 

Farewell to Mr. Cottrell

Dear Northwood Band Family,

It is with sincere gratitude that I thank you for your dedication, effort and support over the last 15 years.  I must let you know that I have accepted the position at Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines.  The first reason that may come to your mind probably has to do with money.  I can assure that money has no bearing on my decision to move to this next chapter in my life.  In fact, I will actually be making slightly less even with a 12 month contract.

The main reason for my departure is the fact that I need a change in my life to remain happy.  I love my wife and kids and my house is almost paid for so neither of those is going to change.  The challenge of a new school and implementing my high standards into a different program is one that I welcome at this time in my life.  I have found that I really enjoy building the well oiled machine.

I will always cherish what we have built here at Northwood.  The hard work, the big wins, the laughter and all of the parents and students that forever enriched my life here will remain with me for as long as I live. Me leaving Northwood is no reason for you to quit band or to quit supporting the band.  In fact it's more of a reason to display your pride in what you have helped to build.  I wish all of you the best of luck and continued successes in your future with the bands here at NHS.

From the heart,

MrC

Eugene Cottrell

2011 Jackson Parkhurst Award Recipient
2005 Mr. Holland's Opus Award Recipient
Director of Bands
Northwood High School


A message and invitation from Band Boosters:


As you have just read, Mr. Cottrell has a new job opportunity to help other students by sharing his Love of Music at another school.  We are very Thankful for all that Mr. Cottrell has done for Northwood for the past 15 years.  We want to celebrate Mr. Cottrell with a Farewell Reception in the band room this Thursday, June 5^th from 4:30 to 5:30.  All students, parents and alumni are invited to attend; to thank him and to wish him the very best.

2014 Memorial Day Concert & Dessert Reception

Join the Northwood High School Concert Band on Thursday, May 22, 2014 for our annual Memorial Day concert and Jazz/dessert receipt that follows.

Practice, Practice, Practice!!!! 2014 MP3 opener & 2nd tune

To all 2014 Marching Chargers, 

Please follow the link below to obtain the MP3 audio files of the 2014 show.  Currently the show opener and 2nd tune are published.

UPDATE:  5/13/2014 - Song # 3 has been added to the Audio Site.

Chargeraudio/mp3 site

If you have problems e-mail madean@duke.edu.  I'll see if I can help you out.

Brick Capital Classic - November 2, 2013

I have delayed as much as possible positing about this competition, not for any specific reason but that it was the last competition and I am truly saddened like many others, to see the end of the season.  

The season ended with an "All Superior" year which our Marching Chargers haven't done in a few. We also rallied to make our Band Director, Eugene Cottrell, "The Best Band Director" at the competition.  It was orchestrated by both Alumni and current band members and truly showed how not only the students, but the parents feel about the Director and the music programs. 

The night was topped off, in a rare occasion, when Mr. Cottrell spoke to the students back at the school and included the parents.  Writing this it still makes me tear up at how proud he is of the students and how they, along with the parents fell about him.

Awards for the Night

Best Band Director
Superior Rating

1st Place Percussion
1st Place Visual Ensemble

2nd Place Drum Major
2nd Place Music
2nd Place Marching
2nd Place AAAA Band

Viking Classic - Union Pines High School

The Marching Chargers had a season ground breaking performance at the Viking Classic.  They returned from the competition with yet another 1st place Trophy in the AAA Class and achieved a 90.25 Superior Rating.   There were additional changes made in the show from our first competition, so make sure that you check out the video below.

Awards for the Night

1st Place AAA Band

Superior Rating
1st Place Music
1st Place Marching
1st Place Percussion
1st Plast Visual Ensemble

2nd Place Drum Major

Late Night With Roy

    After several years away from UNC Basketball, the Chargers are back, for a few games in the Dean Dome.  With the students out of school Friday we were able to work the annual start of the college basketball season.

Central NC Band Festival - W Alamance High School Elon, NC

The Marching Chargers returned to the Central NC Band Festival at the Western Alamance High School in Elon, NC on Saturday, October 19th after being away for several years.  Our last performance here was as a AA band in October of 2010 with our show "Amusements".   At this competition we were classified as a AAAA Band and competed against Chapel Hill and Glover Garden Charter School from Burlington.  

Directors and Coaches starting at the left: Eugene Cottrell-Band Director, Ryan O'Daniel-Percussion Assistant, Alan Wiley-Color Guard Instructor, and Zack Ferguson-Assistant Director.
Class Representatives and Captains on the field (left to right starting in the front): Jaqi Akridge, Sarah White, Allory Bors, Gabby Vasquez, Kelsey O'Daniel, Kierra Robertson, Madison Ponder, Tyler Johnson, Evan Seagroves, Eli Emerick, Nick Dean, Hudson Moore, and Clayton Condrey.  Not pictured; Max Gore

Awards for the Night

1st Place AAAA Band

Superior Rating
1st Place Music
1st Visual Ensemble
1st Place Percussion

2nd Place Drum Major

Runner Up Grand Champion

Drum Line practicing on the field before before departing for the Central NC Band Festival.

Don't forget to check out the WillysOneGoodEye YouTube Channel link to the right for video's of our performances and some of the bands we competed against.

Wildcat Invitational - North Gaston High School - Dallas, NC

The Marching Chargers second competition this season was in Dallas, NC, about 30 minutes West of Charlotte, Saturday October 12, 2013.  They were able to do so in charter buses due to the success of our second mattress sale held in early September. 

Awards for the Night

1st Place AAA Band

Superior Rating
1st Place Music
2nd Place Marching
1st Place General Effect
2nd Place Percussion

2nd Place Drum Major
2nd Place Color Guard

Some of our Band Students had the opportunity to see Bessemer City High School perform. They were quite impressed with them as A Band.  The were the only band Under AAA that received a Superior Rating at the competition.

2013 Competition Schedule

Marching Chargers
 2013 Competition Schedule 

09/28/13 Band Fest 2013 - Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, NC

10/12/13 Wildcat Invitational - North Gaston High School in Dallas, NC

10/19/13 Central NC Band Festival - W Alamance High School in Elon, NC

10/26/13 Viking Classic - Union Pines High School in Cameron, NC

11/02/13 Brick Capital Classic - Lee Senior High School in Sanford, NC

Join us at any of the competitions to cheer on your Marching Chargers.

The Chargers celebrate the birthplace of Jazz when they present "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans".  Directed by Eugene Cottrell and led by senior Drum Major Allory Bors, the band performs Way Down Yonder in New Orleans, Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? and Basin Street Blues.  Brad Pearson arranged this year’s program, as he has for the past six years and Austin Greene created the drill.  The show opens with a Dixieland quartet featuring Kelsey O’Daniel (clarinet), Tommy Lorbacher (trumpet), Eli Emerick (trombone) and Wyatt Kellam (tuba).  Tommy, Eli and Kelsey are featured later on in the show as well.

2013 Senior Night

The 2013 Marching Charger seniors were honored during pre-game ceremonies at the September 28th home football game against Orange High School. Each of the seventeen seniors, yes I do mean seventeen, were individually introduced along with their attending family members. We appreciate all of you and the hard work and dedication you have given to the marching band!

"Your 2013 Seniors"

Jaqi Akridge

Allory Bors

Courtney Cleveland

Clayton Condrey

Gabe Duff

Wyatt Kellam

Chelsea Korynta

Josh Lyman

Alex McLaurin

Ryan Millis

Shelton Moser

Kelsey O'Daniel

Madison Ponder

Evan Seagroves

Cameron Terrell

Gabriela Vasquez

Alex Watkins

Band Festival 2013 at Pinecrest High School - 9/28/13 (Chargers take Grand Champions)

The Marching Chargers started this seasons competition with a very big "BANG".  The day began on practice field at noon with some clean up work then an hour long bus ride and arrival at Pinecrest High School - 2013 Band Fest around 3:30 pm.  Follow the link to see their competition schedule for the day.  The students got the opportunity to see some of the other bands perform before getting dressed and warming up for their performance around 7:15 pm.

The Chargers hit the field with a very creative and impressive entrance by our Drum Major that we hadn't seen the night before at our home football game.  Click below to watch the performance.  If you are interested in seeing Cary High School or any of the Chargers past years, find the Link on the right to "WillysOneGoodEye" YouTube channel at the right.

Awards for the Night

1st Place Percussion

1st Place Drum Major

2nd Place Visual Effects

1st Place Music

1st Place Marching

1st Place AAA

Superior Rating

Grand Champions
(over all classes including three AAAA bands)

What have the Chargers been up to?

Wow, it has certainly been a long time since our last post. The Marching Band and the Booster organization has been extremely active since the season started with Band Camp on August 12, 2013. We currently have 89 members in the band, making us a large 3A or a small 4A for competitions. Here are some of the things we have been up to since the season started.

• 8/23 was a parent preview and picnic followed by our first home football game.
• 8/23 we kicked off our first fundraiser, Innisbrook
• 8/26 was the first day of school and our students started with Monday and Tuesday after school practices.
• 8/30 was our second home football game (FYI the Chargers are 4-0 right now, looking to be great season)
• 9/7 was our first UNC Concessions for the year and we are up to 2 full stands and a Lemonade stand.
• 9/14 we held our 2nd Mattress Sale Fundraiser at the school.
• During this time we have also renovated the equipment trailer and built some props for the show.

Speaking of the show this year, the Chargers celebrate the birthplace of Jazz when they present "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans".  Directed by Eugene Cottrell and led by senior Drum Major Allory Bors, the 89 member band will perform Way Down Yonder in New Orleans, Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? and Basin Street Blues.  Brad Pearson arranged this year’s program, as he has for the past six years and Austin Greene created the drill.  The show opens with a Dixieland quartet featuring Kelsey O’Daniel (clarinet), Tommy Lorbacher (trumpet), Eli Emerick (trombone) and Wyatt Kellam (tuba).  Tommy, Eli and Kelsey are featured later on in the show as well.

Though many of us are not ready to accept that our band student is a senior in high school and will be performing their last “first” show as a Marching Charger, we will proudly recognize the 18 seniors this Friday evening at the football game at 6:15 pm.  Come and join us.

Our Competition Schedule for 2013

09/28/13 Band Fest 2013 - Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, NC

10/12/13 Wildcat Invitational - North Gaston High School in Dallas, NC

10/19/13 Central NC Band Festival - W Alamance High School in Elon, NC

10/26/13 Viking Classic - Union Pines High School in Cameron, NC

11/02/13 Brick Capital Classic - Lee Senior High School in Sanford, NC

Marching Chargers Take First Place in 3A Division

The Marching Chargers gave a superior performance at the Brick Classic last night in Sanford.  With an overall score of 92, the Marching Chargers finished first among the seven competing bands in the 3A division.  Additional accolades in the 3A division include first place in the drum major, percussion, general effect, marching & execution, and music categories.  What a way to end the season!

Congratulations to each of the seniors.  We wish you the best in your endeavors and will miss you!

 

 

 

Marching Chargers are Runner-up Grand Champions!

Despite the dreary and blustery weather conditions from Hurricane Sandy, the Marching Chargers gave an outstanding performance at the Viking Classic at Union Pines High School.  With a score of 89.3, their highest overall score this season, the Marching Chargers achieved their third straight Superior rating and were named the Runner-up Grand Champions.  Their performance also earned them first place overall in the 3A division, a second place finish in visual ensemble and first place finishes in the percussion, drum major, music ensemble, and marching categories.

Next week, the Marching Chargers will perform in Sanford at Lee County High School's Brick Capital Classic.  Come and watch them as they perform at their last competition of 2012 season.