Tom Finigan
PRESS RELEASE - Springfield, GA - The Colleton County High School Band of Blue placed third overall out of sixteen bands at the 2022 Coastal Empire Classic Marching Contest at Effingham County High School in Georgia this past Saturday. The Band of Blue scored a 94.375, earning a superior rating, and competed with 16 bands from Georgia and South Carolina.
The group was 2nd in Open Class, 2nd in Music Performance, 3rd in Music Effect, 5th in Visual Performance, 2nd in Visual Effect, 2nd in Percussion, 1st in Guard, and 4th in Drum Major Color Guard this past Saturday, October 8, 2022. Richmond Hill took top honors, with Southeast Bulloch placing second and Colleton County in third. Ashley Ridge High School, a bigger 5A South Carolina Band placed 10th overall. A huge crowd from Colleton County followed the Band of Blue to this Georgia event.
The Band of Blue’s performance of Saints and Sinners is a crowd favorite! The capacity crowd reaction was overwhelming to the pre-show vocals and characterizations.
Director Tom Finigan and staff were very proud of the effort this past week during practice.
“Our band cleaned up visually and worked on music for five straight days after being held up with Hurricane Ian,” Finigan said.
Nick Infinger, Associate Director and arranger for the band, added a lot of corrections in music and visuals, and the band handled them well.
“The crowd response to our Southern Gospel - Mardi Gras style show has been super!,” he said. “The guard costumes, the props, the drill, and the music really gets you involved.”
The Band of Blue is continuing to work on a few minor things this week and is headed to Aiken to Silver Bluff High School for their contest this Saturday.
The Band of Blue will also travel to Columbia where White Knoll High School will play host to the SCBDA Lower State Championship Saturday, October 22nd. The Band of Blue will march at 4:00 pm in an afternoon performance.
The 2022 Band of Blue show “Saints and Sinners” features music composed by Nick Infinger and Clif Walker.
The Band of Blue Is under the direction of Tom Finigan. Finigan is in his 36th year with the Band of Blue program.
The Associate Band Director is Nick Infinger, and our Assistant Directors are Cathy Meshach, and Clay Blackwood. Color guard choreographer/instructor is Jason Johnson. Band staff is Cody Dalton, William Finigan, Travis Smalls, Dyneira Brown and Lexi Lee, Chandler Ballew, Jacob Havers, Peyton Taylor, Dooley Hiott, Tyquan Ferguson, Fantasia Hodges, Sierra Smart, Kashawn Lambright and George Ritchie.
The Band of Blue Booster Club is now selling Fresh Florida Citrus to help the band students to travel to New Orleans in February 2024. They are also selling Southern Sheets Bed Linens for $40 a set. See any band member this week to place your order in time for Christmas.
THANK YOU to Colleton County for your support of YOUR Band of Blue!
Scores from the Effingham Coastal Empire Classic:
Richmond Hill 96.25, Southeast Bulloch 95.528, Colleton County 94.375, Appling County 93.938, Camden County 93.688, Fernando Beach 93.625, GMC 93.313, Jenkins County 93.063, South Effingham 93.00, Ashley Ridge 91.875, Fernando Beach 91.625, West Nassau 88.750, Metter 88.438, Liberty County 82.75, Savannah Christian 82.375, Tattnall County 76.375
