Senior French horn player Kylie McGlincy won the prestigious John Philip Sousa Award, highlighting Bainbridge High School band awards at Tuesday night’s Decatur County School System Bands Spring Concert and Awards program at the new Bainbridge High School Gymnasium.

McGlincy also received the Paschal Ward Music Scholarship, established by the Decatur County Band Boosters and named for the Decatur County School System Director of Bands.

Under Ward’s leadership, the Bainbridge High School concert and symphonic bands have won superior ratings for 25 consecutive years.

The scholarships are awarded each year to senior members of the band who have demonstrated musical talent and expressed an interest in pursuing a career in music education or education.

The Sousa Award, named for the most well known and distinguished bandmaster in history, is given annually in recognition of outstanding achievement and interest in instrumental music. And for singular merit in loyalty and cooperation and displaying those high qualities of conduct that school instrumental music requires.

The prestigious John M. Long Award, one of the highest honors in the BHS band program, was won by senior trumpet player Bobby Forrester.

The award was named for the dean of the school of fine arts, director of bands and distinguished professor of music emeritus at Troy University and goes annually to young musicians displaying leadership, dependability, loyalty, cooperation, musicianship and other qualities of conduct which school instrumental music programs strive to impart.

Senior trombone player Fernando Galnares and senior alto saxophone player Griffin Reynolds were co-winners of the prestigious National Patrick Gilmore Award.

The Sousa, Long and National Patrick Gilmore Awards, which honors band members for musicianship, dedication and best overall performance, are the top three honors a BHS bandsman can receive. They are named for three of the nation’s greatest musicians and bandmasters.

Senior tuba player Tim Wade and senior baritone player B.J. Guest were co-winners of the Directors Award.

Senior clarinet player Chelsea Marty received the Optimism Award, which is annually presented to a band member who has displayed loyalty, perseverance and musicianship.

The inaugural Emory Edwin and Kathleen Ivey Johnson Music Scholarship was presented to senior clarinet player Haley Hubbard.

The scholarship program was instituted in honor and recognition of Emory Edwin and Kathleen Ivey Johnson by their son, Emory Johnson, and his family in 2009 upon the celebration of Edwin Johnson’s 90th birthday. The Johnson family settled in the area of Climax in 1855. The scholarship, in honor of the Johnson’s love for music and continued support of fine arts, will be used to continue to benefit students involved in music at Bainbridge High School.

Following the scholarship presentation, Emory Edwin Johnson, Emory Johnson and Dorothy Johnson were named lifetime honorary members of the Bainbridge High School Band.

Flute player Savannah Barber, tenor saxophone player Kevin Dew and baritone player J.D. Poole received outstanding concert band member awards.

Tuba player Sedarious Hightower received the National School Marching Band Award. Instrumental Merit Awards went to Leo Vazquez, Will Dozier and Quinterious Mitchell.

Tanner Jackson and Codie Long received outstanding freshman band member awards, Alyssa Bardwell and Emily Ward received outstanding sophomore band member awards, and Ashley Johns and Abby Davidson received outstanding junior band member awards.

Retiring Decatur County School Superintendent Ralph Jones and Bainbridge Middle School band director Joy Grimsley, who will be leaving at the end of the school year, were given honorary life memberships in the Bainbridge High School Band.

Whitley Porter and Shelby Miller were outstanding color guard and dance line members. The most improved color guard member was Megan Brock and the most improved dance line member was Anye’ Miller.

Special recognition was given to graduating band officers Bobby Forrester and B.J. Guest, who served as transportation officers; Allison Howard, who served as chaplain; Deltrice Turner, who served as a drum major the last two years; Tim Wade and Sedarious Hightower, who served as band captains the last two years, and Griffin Reynolds, who served as lieutenant the last two years.

Billy Poppell, who drove the uniform bus and the band bus, helped with every band booster activity and been an integral part of the band’s success, was presented a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the Decatur County band program, both past and present.

Roger and Tana Smith, received the Joe Crine Award named for “The Post-Searchlight” sports editor Joe Crine for their continued support of the Decatur County band activity.