THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: Band Director Paige Smith during the last school year at Georgetown-Ridge Farm
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GEORGETOWN — When Paige Smith became the Georgetown-Ridge Farm school district’s band director a few years ago, her goals included increasing the marching band numbers and once again traveling to area parades and events.
“We haven’t because we’ve been so small,” Smith said of the travel aspect.
This week, however, the Buffaloes are ready to hit the road.
The band will be performing “You’re a Grand Old Flag” at Thursday’s Champaign County Freedom Celebration Fourth of July parade in Champaign and Urbana. Also scheduled to perform during the 11:05 a.m. event: Champaign Edison’s jazz band.
The G-RF band has 29 high school members and continues to grow. Very soon, the marching band will be up to 60 to 70 members, Smith said.
“We’ve got a large group from the junior high coming up,” she said.
She’s band director for sixth through 12th grades at Georgetown-Ridge Farm. She travels between the junior high and high school for band classes and smaller group lessons.
Smith said this week’s parade is new to her as band director, but the band participated in it in the past under previous directors.
“It’s getting us out there,” she said. “It will be a good opportunity to get out and play for the community and show off our band.”
This parade had cut out bands during the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith said, but marching bands are now back.
Smith, who plays alto saxophone and got her first instrument at age 9, has televised marching band experiences herself.
She marched in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., in 2022, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City in 2023.
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