It takes time, preparation, team work and of course talent — from students and instructors.

All of those aspects of a successful marching band are not any more evident than right here in Union County with the achievements of the Union County High School Marching Band.

Fresh off a competition in Chesnee last Saturday where the band placed third overall competing in a field of 21 bands, the marching band — under the direction of veteran instructor Paul Wilkes — has spent this week preparing for its fifth competition of the season, the Upperstate AAA Band Championships at Clinton High School, this Saturday.

“This year’s band has all the ingredients for success,” Wilkes said of his 117 member ensemble. “We are very fortunate to have a supportive school administration, financial and moral support from the UCHS Band Aide Club, a knowledgeable and hard-working staff and talented students who are willing to give their time and dedicate themselves to be the best.”

The high school marching band has a rich history of success this year’s group is only continuing.

“Over the years, all bands in the Union County School District have been recognized for outstanding achievement,” Wilkes said. “The Union County High School Band, formerly Union High School, has a proud marching band tradition that goes back many decades.”

Since the 1960s, Union County bands have racked up more than 250 Superior ratings, 30 Grand Championships and numerous top-five finishes in state competitions.

This year’s marching band won second place in its class at the Boiling Springs Festival of Bands in Spartanburg on Sept. 26, best drum major, best colorguard, best pit crew and garnered a Superior rating; made the finals and captured a sixth-place finish overall at the Olde English Festival of Bands in Rock Hill on Oct. 3 competing against some of the best bands in the state; and took that third-place finish in Chesnee last weekend with a Superior rating and score of 93.89 points.

“The Union County High School Marching Band had an outstanding performance at the Chesnee Eagle Classic Marching Band Competition held this past Saturday,” Wilkes said.

Drum Major Blake Fowler also won first place overall and the colorguard and percussion were second overall at the Chesnee competition and the band won first place overall for most outstanding visual performance.

“In 1984, the band won the Regional Championship of the Tropicana Music Bowl and the next year won third place in the nation at the Music Bowl National Championship in Orlando, FL,” Wilkes continued. “The colorguard was first place twice, U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond asked the Union band to represent him in the S.C. Governor’s Inaugural Parade and the band has been commended on its fine performances by a concurrent resolution of the S.C. House of Representatives.”

So what kind of student does it take to be a member of a success story like the Union County High School Marching Band?

“A successful marching band requires tremendous sacrifice on the part of every band member,” reads the UCHS handbook. “Students must be dependable and self-motivated, have the desire to be the best, have the patience, persistence and discipline to practice long hours for improvement and have the dedication and sense of responsibility to meet the physical demands of a rigorous practice and performance schedule.”

Students also are expected to work side by side with each other and their directors in learning material, fundamentals of marching band and drills. And as representatives of UCHS, giving performances each week, students are expected to “enthusiastically develop a sense of pride and a caring, concerned attitude” toward their musical work and drill practices.

Planning for success begins in January.

Wilkes and his staff begin music selection at the beginning of the year along with picking out show themes and selection of visual elements. From that point, copyright releases must be obtained to arrange the music and then the arranger must complete the music before the drill writer and visual designer can even think about beginning.

Band camp begins in July and the band practices a total of 120 hours before school ever start in August.

“After school begins, band students spend an average of 12 hours each week at band practices or band-related activities,” Wilkes said. “Our marching band season ends after the Union Christmas Parade in December.”

Outside of the time it takes to put a successful program together, there also are other challenges Wilkes and his staff must face.

“All band programs face challenges in starting and retaining students during their high school years,” the director said.

Wilkes and his staff are meeting that challenge head on.

“It is our goal to build the number of students in our band program while maintaining quality in instruction and student performance,” he said.

This year’s band includes students from grades 8-12 and there also are some seventh-graders who play percussion in the band’s front ensemble.

Wilkes said music education only enriches the lives of students.

“Research tells us that the study of music helps students achieve in other academic subjects like math, science and reading,” he said. “During my 39 years at Union County High School, over 30 times our top honor graduate has been a band member.”

And despite the grueling schedule the marching band keeps to continue its success, students and instructors couldn’t be happier.

“Marching band is truly an experience that can’t be recreated by anything else,” said 11th-grade drum major and percussionist Blake Fowler. “Marching band builds discipline, character and determination. I think the feeling that I have when I come off the field, knowing that the band did the best performance we can, is the feeling that keeps me coming to marching band.”

He attributes the band’s success to many things, including staff that works hard to make sure he and his fellow band mates do their best and his fellow students who work hard to be the best they can.

“Performing with a marching band is truly an amazing experience because thee is a feeling you get during performance — it can give you cold chills, it can even bring tears to your eyes when you perform to the best of your ability,” Fowler said. “The rush of performing what you have worked hard on for six months is what keeps me coming.”

SUPPORT THE UCHS BAND:

The next competition for the Union County High School Marching Band will be the Upperstate AAA Band Championships at Clinton High School this Saturday. The band will leave Union and travel down Main Street around 3:10 p.m. Saturday and the public is encouraged to come out and support the band.