The Bainbridge Middle School eighth grade band  honored outstanding  musicians at their annual spring concert  and awards program Thursday night at the school band room.
The the top two awards were the John M. Long Award, won by Claudia  Luevano, who plays the flute, and Herbert L. Clark Award, won by Blake Daughtry, who plays the alto saxaphone.
The eighth grade John M. Long Award recognizes a musician who displays leadership, dependability, loyalty, cooperation, musicianship, and other qualities of conduct which school instrumental music programs strive to impart.
The award is named for Doctor John M. Long, dean of the school of fine arts, director of bands and distinguished professor of music emeritus at Troy University and one of  America’s greatest bandmasters.
The John M. Long Award is one of the top awards in the Decatur County band program. It is designed to promote the entire band by encouraging musicians to greater achievement and enthusuasm while providing an inspiring stimulus for potential instrumentalists.
The eighth grade Herbert L. Clark Award for outstanding musicianship is  named for a musician who was acknowledged to be the greatest cornet player of his time.l He was also an accomplished violinist a highly talented band arranger and a most distinguished band conductor. He also wrote several study books for musicians that are still used today.
The eighth grade directors award went to Ethan Holley. Outstanding eighth grade woodwind awards  went to Natalie Edmunds and Kamerin Timmons and outstanding eighth grade brass awards went to Paige Stegall and Jesus Juarez.
The outstanding eighth grade percussion award went to Eiawanta Levatte. Instrumental Magazine Merit Awards were presented to Joey Mathis, Robert Hayes, Chelsea Hall and Lacey West. And Instrumental Magazine Musicianship Awards were presented to Jacob Brown, Jacquaarious Davis and Ryan Burgess.
Special recognition went to the eighth grade students who attended the Southeastern United States Band Clinic at Troy University in December. They included Paige Stegall Lacey West, Alissa B rown, Claudia Luevano, Natalie Edmunds, Kamerin Timmons, Jacob Brown, Robert JHayes, Nicholas Johnson and Jesus Juarez.
The band under the direction of Bainbridge Middle School band director James Sewell, played Karl L. King’s The Alamo March, and James Swearingen’s Flight of Valor a composition dedicated to the heroes of United Fligh 93  who tragically lost their lives in a Pensalvania field on September 11. 2001.