Betsy Band does it again
Published 11:24 am Friday, November 8, 2024
Photo contributed by Keith Kreative/Members of the EHS color guard hold the state championship trophy.
Photo contributed by Keith Kreative/The Betsy Band waits anxiously for the final results of Saturday's Tennessee Division II State Marching Band Championship in Smyrna at Stewarts Creek High School.
Photo contributed by Keith Kreative/EHS band director Jonathan Valentine gives final instructions before the Betsy Band takes the field to compete.
Photo contributed by Keith Kreative/A band member keeps a watchful eye to ensure she comes in on time during a performance.
Photo contributed by Keith Kreative/A member of the Betsy Band percussion section maintains laser-sharp focus while performing at the state championship.
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By Ivan Sanders
Star Correspondent
The state of Alabama has the Crimson Tide, Los Angeles has the Dodgers, and Elizabethton has the Betsy Band – all with one thing in common: they have multiple championships in their respective areas of expertise.
Elizabethton’s Betsy Band added to its trophy case on Saturday, Nov. 2, when it captured the 43rd Annual Division II State Marching Band Championship in Smyrna. Stewarts Creek High School hosted the championship.
The win marked the third consecutive state title for Elizabethton, following victories in 2022 and 2023, also at Stewarts Creek High School.
It was the seventh title for the band since 2010, with previous wins in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2016.
Band director Jonathan Valentine has led the band to victory in three of his four years as director after taking over for Perry Elliott in 2021.
“It was, as always, a tremendous effort at a high level in what we do,” Valentine said. “This is the first four-year group that I have had, and the kids have put in the work. They continue to create a culture in the way they rehearse, practice, and perform.”
Valentine added that his students have shifted their thinking and are now taking on the same mindset as their director.
Entering the state championship knowing they had won the past two titles, Valentine was asked if his students felt pressure to win a third.
Valentine expressed pride in how his students do not dwell on past performances when they take the field, whether the last one was excellent or fell short of expectations.
“We don’t think in terms of ‘pressure,'” Valentine said. “We want to be the best version of a band that we can be. We don’t bring the past with us. We want to put forth a good effort out there, and that is due to the kids’ commitment to excellence.
“Coming up with a great idea for a show is the most pressure-filled thing for me. But I have an awesome team that I surround myself with during the creative process, and it’s cool to watch that initial spark of an idea evolve into a concept that creates an atmosphere people can see and feel.”
In the end, Valentine said it is all about designing a great show that allows the students to showcase their skills — something they continue to do year after year, bringing back busloads of hardware along with the title of state champion.
