History of the GCHS Bands

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE!

One of the Finest High School Bands in Ohio, The Mid-West, and the Nation!

The Grove City High School Bands!

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. 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 symphonic and concert bands eventually evolved.

The Grove City High School Band Department prides itself in having well rounded and balanced instrumental music program. The Symphonic Band has performed in 1996 and again in 2002 at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic held in Chicago, Illinois. Each year there are only 5 United States Bands that are selected to perform for the huge convention of music educators and musicians from all over the world. The Grove City High School Symphonic Band has received a Superior "I" Rating at the OMEA State Concert Band Adjudicated Events since 1975. With this past spring's superior rating this marks the 37th year in a row in Class AA this band has received consecutive Superior Ratings at the OMEA Concert Band Contest. Concert Band I has also received consecutive Superior Ratings since 1984 at the OMEA state concert band adjudicated event (1984-1999 in Class B and 2000-present in Class A). For the Past three years, Concert II has received consistent Superior Ratings at State Concert Band Contest in Class C.

The Jazz Program has received many top awards in Music in the Parks and Music Fest competitions. Every year Jazz Bands 1 & 2 host a Dinner Dance which is typically sold out by mid-March. Jazz Band 1 has performed with Allen Vizutti, Mike Tomoro, and many other guest soloists as well as hosted a Jazz Festival for over 20 years.

The Marching Band is known not only in the Mid-West, but throughout the world! They have won championships in Florida, Arizona, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Marched three times in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parades (1990, 2000, and 2017) and marched in the 2005 London England New Year's Day Parade. In 2009 the Band was the Sweepstakes Winner of the Fiesta Bowl Parade and was the Reserve Grand Champion of the Blue Cross Blue Shield National Field Show at the Fiesta Bowl. In 2012, the Band returned to Phoenix where it won both the Fiesta Bowl Parade and Field Competition championships, receiving the highest scores ever awarded any previous Grand Champion. In last 25 years the band has won over 80 Grand Champion Awards! The phenomenal record of accomplishments and Directors over the years can be seen below.