The 2014 Band of Blue will present halftime production “Out of the Box”

The Band of Blue 2014 halftime production and marching show will feature music by John Meehan. According to information provided by Band of Blue Director, Tom Finigan, he is the arranger and writer for the DCI World Champion Drum Corps, The Blue Devils. The drill designer for The Band of Blue is Bob Buckner. “Thinking outside the box is a metaphor that means to think differently, unconventionally, or from a new perspective,” said Finigan. “This often refers to novel or creative thinking. To think outside the box is to look farther and to try not thinking of the obvious things, but to try thinking of the things beyond them. The Band of Blue will be different and we hope you enjoy our show.”

According to Finigan, the show will be in four different sections and he describes the show in the following: In the Opener, (Part 1) we hear the main theme and set the tone for the show. Our show will have futuristic overtones throughout with short sound clips and visual ideas dealing in creative thinking. In Part 2, we present new and different voices and rhythms on our theme that really stretch your imagination. Listen for a wailing Park and Bark section where the Band of Blue puts a wall of sound right at you! Part 3 brings the beautiful chorale from Aaron Copland’s ‘Appalachian Spring’ to re-set the tone of the show and really perform a work of art. In the Closer, (Part 4) we start with a fugue that builds into a drum solo that features the front ensemble and the battery. Look for a full blown drum feature and some very innovative drill and a new segment that will leave audiences saying “wow!” The Band of Blue then has a re-entry section that brings everything back together with a huge loud full ensemble push to the end! All of this is a very “different” approach to our half time production.

Tom Finigan heads into 28th year with Colleton County Band of Blue

Tom Finigan is as classic to the Colleton County High School Band of Blue as the name is itself.

He has after all been associated with The Band of Blue either as a student, staff member, or director since 1976. Finigan, a native of Walterboro, will continue as Director of Bands for the Colleton County High School Band of Blue and coordinator of the Instrumental Music Program for the Colleton County Schools. Finigan holds the Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of South Carolina and the Master of Education degree in school administration and supervision from the Citadel. His professional affiliations include Music Educators National Conference, National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu Honorary Band Masters Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, Kappa Delta Epsilon, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, South Carolina Music Educators Association and the South Carolina Band Directors Association.

The Band of Blue, under Finigan’s leadership, continues a tradition of excellence. The Colleton County Band of Blue has continued to perform both innovative and engaging half time shows and has been named a top 12 finalist at state contest every year. Recently, the Band of Blue was awarded the Outstanding Performance Award and received Superior Ratings in Class V at concert festival. They were also a featured performer in the 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, DC and performed in the 2010 and 2013 Krewe of Endyminion Parade in the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, LA. Under Tom Finigan’s leadership, hundreds of students have received numerous excellent and superior ratings and region and all-state chairs at various SCBDA sponsored events. He is the past president of SCBDA and served on the SCBDA Executive Board for the past 19 years. He also served as the SCBDA State Marching Committee Chairman for eight years and is currently serving as the SCBDA Historian. Finigan is also active as an adjudicator and visual designer, having written for many bands and was recently named one of the 2014 Conn-Selmer VIP Band Directors in the US.

Finigan is married to the former Lorraine Cauley of Columbia. They have two sons, Thomas, 18 is a freshman Music Education Major at the University of South Carolina and William, 12 is in seventh grade and plays tuba.

New Assistant Director of Bands named for CCHS and CMS; Gary Stroupe

 

Gary Stroupe has been named as the new assistant director of bands at Colleton County High School and Colleton County Middle School according to Band of Blue Director, Tom Finigan. “Stroupe is a passionate educator and music advocate, who enjoys inspiring and motivating students through the joy of studying music,” remarked Finigan.

Stroupe is a 2007 graduate from the University of South Carolina, where he earned his degree, Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Education, with the distinction Magna Cum Laude.  He was an active performer, on several instruments during his years in college. In addition to studying Oboe professionally, Stroupe also performed Baritone and Alto Saxophone in the Carolina Band and English Horn in the Big Music Machine Orchestra. He is currently maintains professional affiliation with the South Carolina Band Director’s Association, the Charleston County Band Director’s Association, Music Educator’s National Conference, International Double Reed Society and he is an alumnus of Kappa Kappa Psi.

In his free time, he does enjoy cycling, reading, fishing, playing video games, and spending time with his family and friends.

Stacey Miller, Color Guard Director and Visual Coordinator continues to lead Band of Blue Guard

 

 

Stacey Miller, in his 10^th year of teaching with the Band of Blue, is the Color Guard Director and Visual Coordinator for the Colleton County High School Band of Blue. “Mr. Miller’s participation as a performer and designer/instructor spans over thirty years,” reported Tom Finigan, Director of the Band of Blue.

Miller began his career as a member of the Hoke County, North Carolina High School Marching Band and Color Guard. He went on to become a member of the 1984 Cavilers Drum and Bugle Corps Color Guard from Rosemount, Illinois. Later, he was the guard instructor for the Bands of America Grand National Champion Rocky Mount (NC) High School and has since helped dozens of programs throughout the southeast.

He has produced highly successful programs at Carolina Forest (SC) High School, Gaffney (SC) High School, James F. Byrnes (SC) High School, Northwestern (SC) High School, Olympic (NC) High School, Scotland (NC) High School, Traveler’s Rest (SC) High School. In his past nine years as visual coordinator and color guard director at Colleton County High School and Colleton County Middle School he has helped accumulate many accolades some of which include SCBDA Winter Ensemble State Champion for 2013 and the 2014 CWEA Scholastic AA Championship.

According to Finigan, Miller has been critical in the developing and running the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association and has served as president in the past. He finds time to be an active adjudicator and visual designer, having written for many area bands and color guards. He also serves on various boards and appointed positions and is most importantly an advocate for students.

William Thomas named as Band of Blue Visual and Marching Instructor

 

William Thomas has been announced as a new addition to the visual and musical staff with the Band of Blue for the 2014-2015 school year.  Thomas, according to Band of Blue Director Tom Finigan, is a jack of all trades in the guard and drum corps world. He will continue his work with the Colleton County Guard Program, where he helped the guard earn First Place in the 2014 Carolina Winter Ensemble Association Championships.

Thomas performed in the 2012 Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps Colorguard.  Through this experience, Mr. Thomas performed at Drum Corps International’s World Championship Finals, at Lucas Oil Stadium, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

He is a native of Hampton County.  He attended Charleston Southern University, performing Tenor and Baritone Sax in the Buccanner Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Wind Ensemble.  At Wade Hampton High School, he served as Drum Major for two years and marched Alto Sax and Mellophone.

Colleton native E.L. Manigo shines as educator and leader

 

E.L. Manigo is the Associate Director of Bands for the Colleton County High School Band of Blue and Director of the Colleton County Junior Band and Middle School Bands. Manigo, a native of Colleton County, is in his twenty-eighth year of teaching. He is a 1980 graduate of Walterboro High School and earned his BME in Instrumental Music Education from Winthrop University and a master’s degree in Education from Southern Wesleyan.

Manigo has taught at Westside High School in Augusta, GA; Beaufort High School; R.W. Groves High School in Savannah, GA; Manning High School; Greenwood High School; and most recently at Wade Hampton High School in Hampton, SC. He was awarded teacher of the year in 1996 at Manning, 1999 at Greenwood High School and in 2002 in Hampton School District One.

His professional affiliations include Music Educators National Conference, South Carolina Music Educators Association, South Carolina Band Directors Association, Georgia Music Educators Association, Georgia Band Directors Association, South Carolina Drum and Bugle Corps Association, South Carolina Educators Association and the National Educators Association.  He has served on the SCBDA Marching Committee for several years.

Under Manigo’s leadership, hundreds of students have received numerous excellent and superior ratings and region and all-state chairs at various SCBDA sponsored events. He has won the SCBDA 3A Lower State Marching Band Championship three times and won the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award nine times at the high school level and five times at the middle school level.

Nick Infinger in 9th year with Band of Blue

 

Nick Infinger is in his ninth year with the Colleton County Band Program. He holds the Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in Education Administration from Grand Canyon University. He is a member of Music Educators National Conference, South Carolina Music Educators Association, The International Trumpet Guild, and the South Carolina Band Directors Association.

Infinger was a member of the USC Symphonic Band, USC Concert Band, USC Marching Band (featured soloist), USC Trumpet Ensemble and the USC Left Band Big Band. Mr. He has performed for President George W. Bush and the past 3 South Carolina governors.

Mr. Infinger taught at Spring Valley High School and Gilbert High School. While at Gilbert, he was a brass instructor and visual tech. During that time, the Marching Indians, won two Class 2A Lower State titles and finished runner-up at the 2A SCBDA State Championships. Mr. Infinger maintains a private studio, teaching young trumpet players.

He offers private studio lessons for trumpet players and enjoys arranging and practicing his own trumpet. Infinger is an avid golfer and loves to fish and hunt. He is also a “die-hard” GAMECOCK fan.

2014-2015 BAND OF BLUE
Chakieria Allen	Drum Major	Kiana Broughton	Flute
Brianna Evans	Drum Major	Michelle Buncombe	Flute
Makayla Smalls	Drum Major	Cassidy Carter	Flute
Aubre’ Brown	Alto Sax	Brianna Caudillo	Flute
Diamond Brown	Alto Sax	Kandis Ferguson	Flute
Shakey Clayton	Alto Sax	Deonna Frasier	Flute
Cody Dalton	Alto Sax	Chelsea Moyer	Flute
Destiny Dobison	Alto Sax	Cheyanne Rice	Flute
Jacob Ellington	Alto Sax	Erin Strauss	Flute
Cassie Headden	Alto Sax	Robert Adams	Front
Delaney Howard	Alto Sax	Jasminee Bowers	Front
Justin Parker	Alto Sax	Zhareah Burison	Front
Shaquasha Parker	Alto Sax	Jahnechia Cillien	Front
Montavius Pinckney	Alto Sax	Demontre Ferguson	Front
Malik Rhodes	Alto Sax	Vikki Glover	Front
Zander Richards	Alto Sax	Chelsae Roberts	Front
Maya Stephens	Alto Sax	Tara Shider	Front
Maria Baruffi	Baritone	Jalia Thomas	Front
Zawadi Brown	Baritone	Alan Washington	Front
Jessie Crandall	Baritone	Lauren Arabis	Guard
Anthony Crimley	Baritone	Nadia Bowlin	Guard
Jameel Drayton	Baritone	Jessica Brown	Guard
Holden Duffie	Baritone	Whitney Bryan	Guard
Kaleb Faulkenberry	Baritone	Priscilla Chapman	Guard
Andrea Jenkins	Baritone	Ashley Dantzler	Guard
Chris Lollar	Baritone	Kyla Davis	Guard
Breana Mitchell	Baritone	Trinity Holt	Guard
Coleman Sams	Baritone	Brooke Hudson	Guard
Britney Woodbury	Baritone	Katie Hudson	Guard
Gean Johnson	Bass Drum	Tiffany Infinger	Guard
Justin Pinckney	Bass Drum	Shaquanay Kelly	Guard
Josh Pontoon	Bass Drum	Elizabeth Lawton	Guard
Ricky Regins	Bass Drum	Suzie McLauchlin	Guard
Ryan Russell	Bass Drum	Deanna Munro	Guard
Michaela Bennett	Clarinet	Tara Neuroth	Guard
Ashila Brown	Clarinet	Kim O’Quinn	Guard
Kaylah Edwards	Clarinet	Courtney Padgett	Guard
Shadell Frasier	Clarinet	Bailey Raez-Johnson	Guard
Taylor Fussell	Clarinet	Emily Rahn	Guard
Haleigh Gamble	Clarinet	Makayala Smith	Guard
Amare Gethers	Clarinet	Heaven Leigh Teal	Guard
Shakayla Gill	Clarinet	Alixa Villalobos	Guard
Natalyn Gillison	Clarinet	Asia White	Guard
Sarah Guerette	Clarinet	Makayla Woods	Guard
Alexis Hamrick	Clarinet	April Wright	Guard
Ashley Hooks	Clarinet	Tylan Gant	Horn
Alexis Lawton	Clarinet	Anna Hawkins	Horn
Ashley Lynah	Clarinet	Nicolette Lisbon	Horn
Maria Manaeva	Clarinet	Xavier Pope	Horn
Deanna Whitten	Clarinet	Jazmine Salley	Horn
Sydney Wolfe	Clarinet	Deonre Way	Horn
Seyvon Broughton	Snare Drum	Noah Barco	Tuba
Eric Ferguson	Snare Drum	Devin Crosby	Tuba
Chyanei Ford	Snare Drum	Luke Driggers	Tuba
Issac Robinson	Snare Drum	Carlyle Frazier	Tuba
Josh Craven	Tenors	Hannah Gamble	Tuba
Yunas Miller	Tenors	Jimmy Manigo	Tuba
Aaron Breedlove	Trumpet
Jim Bunton	Trumpet
Robert Dent	Trumpet
Caleb Grinberg	Trumpet
Nicholas Jackson	Trumpet
Kevin Morales	Trumpet
Hunter Moss	Trumpet
Megan Newton	Trumpet
Hunter Pinckney	Trumpet
Justice Rhodes	Trumpet
Maverick Sineath	Trumpet
James Stanley	Trumpet
Matthew Thurston	Trumpet
Mariah Todd	Trumpet
Alex Wallace	Trumpet
Toni Wilson	Trumpet
Miriam Yale	Trumpet