Practice makes perfect for local band students

February 11, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal staff writer

How do you make it to the South Carolina Region Band or All-State Band?
Practice, practice, practice.
That’s what the more than 20 Greenwood County high school musicians say helped them edge past hundreds of other South Carolina students to secure their spots in the exclusive band clinics for young musicians.
“I spent a lot of time practicing,” said Emerald High School senior John Monarch, who plays the French Horn. “About two or three weeks before the auditions, I was getting in about four hours of practice a day.”
Monarch, along with sophomores Bryan Rollins, also on French Horn, and Aaron Chapman, on trumpet, was selected for the Region 2 Band, which is composed of students from Greenwood, Saluda, Abbeville, McCormick, Edgefield, Lexington, Aiken and Anderson counties.
To qualify for one of the state’s five Region Bands, students must perform individually for a panel of judges, who grade the musicians on their tone quality, knowledge of musical terms, and their performance of scales, etudes and sightreading pieces. The top performers from each region are then called for a second audition for a chance to play in the All-State Band.
Freshmen and sophomores perform with the Region or All-State Clinic Band, and juniors and seniors perform with the Region or All-State Senior Band.
John Bonham, who is completing his first year as Emerald’s band director, said the students are the first to make Region Band from the school since 2000. He said it is a big step forward for the school’s band program, which is rebuilding under the new director.
“It’s really impressive to have three students make it this year – two were even called back for All-State tryouts,” he said, adding that he’s seen improvements among all Emerald band students during his first year. “I’ve seen many changes in the students in just these few months. There have been improvements in their maturity levels as performers and as students.”
Greenwood High School sophomore Matt Miller, who plays clarinet, was the only high school musician in the county to be selected for this year’s All-State Clinic Band.
Although he has made Region Band twice, he said his first-ever tryout for All-State Band was stressful.
“There is so much pressure on you,” he said. “After you perform you are just drained.”
Greenwood High freshmen Emily Nickles, Rachel Haddon, Monique Cohen, sophomores Chrisanthia Sheppard, Rob Ward, Yukiko Hosoe, and juniors Iris Kemp, Granger Smith, Hiroya Nambu, Antonio Roundtree, Will Thompson and Ezell Sanders were selected for the Region Clinic and Senior Bands. Freshman Taylor Strutton, Scott Kwarsick, Brad Brackfield and seniors Gabe Anderson and Jimmy Williams were selected as alternates.
Ware Shoals High School freshman Brent Wells, who plays bass clarinet, said the tryouts become easier each time he auditions.
“I wasn’t very nervous because it was my second time trying out – I knew what to expect,” he said. “But it’s difficult to go up in front of the judges to play a piece – you just hope you don’t mess up.”
Ninety Six High School senior Matthew McAlister, who plays trombone, and sophomore Vincent Talbert, a percussionist, will represent District 52 in the 2005 Region 2 Band.
McAlister said the tryouts can be very stressful, but he said the best performers don’t let a bad case of nerves ruin their auditions.
“You get nervous, but there are a bunch of people there who have all been practicing for months,” he said. “If you’ve practiced enough, you should be confident enough to play.”
Ninety Six band director David Vickery said Ninety Six High sends students to Region Band nearly every year, and he said the strong musicianship at the high school level begins with hard work at Edgewood Middle School.
“All of the students who have tried out show a desire for improvement on the individual level, and having students make the Region Band says something good about this band’s future,” Vickery said. “There’s been a lot of improvement in the high school band this year. The middle school students have gotten better and better and they are able to take that into the high school.”
Nine Edgewood students will perform in the 2005 Region 2 Junior Band for middle school students, and one student – eighth-grade trumpet player Ty Grogan – was selected to perform in the All-State Junior Band.
The 2005 Region 2 Band students will travel to Batesburg-Leesville High School for a two-day clinic Feb. 25-26, and 2005 All-State students will have a clinic March 18-20 at Furman University.

Flashes complete region run

February 11, 2005

By BRIAN HOWARD
Assistant sports editor

A loss Thursday night could have prevented the Calhoun Falls High School boys basketball team from winning the Region I-A title.
But the Flashes made sure that didn’t happen, as they celebrated capturing the region crown after beating rival McCormick, 77-51, Thursday night.
“I know we had it in us, being my first year (as head coach), I didn’t know how the kids would take to me,” Flashes coach John-Mark Scruggs said. “The guys just played hard all year long. I kept on them so much and they know it.”
The Flashes (15-3 overall, 11-1 region) opened the game on an 11-0 run, getting baskets from Monterrio Tatum, D.J. Roundtree and Theo Tillman.
McCormick (12-8, 8-4) didn’t get its first basket until 5 minutes, 57 seconds remaining in the opening quarter on a Jake Letman layup, but the Flashes pushed the lead to 19-4, a minute after Letman’s bucket. That forced Chiefs coach John Schumpert to call his second timeout of the quarter.
“We wanted to come out and pressure them,” Scruggs said. “We didn’t want to drop back in the zone and let them come to us. We wanted to come to them and that’s what we’ve done in the past and it worked tonight.”
Tatum scored 15 of his game-high 23 points in the first half and also had 10 rebounds. Roundtree and Tillman each had 14 points and 10 boards, while Jerrell Dennis added 11 points.
Jon Kelly led the Chiefs with 13 points, while Jake Letman and Carlos Garnett had 10.
Letman also pulled down 10 rebounds.
Calhoun Falls led 28-15 at the end of the first quarter, but the Chiefs put together a 10-2 run at the end of the second, to close the gap to 42-30 by halftime.
The run started with 2:51 remaining in the first half, as Tillman was whistled for a technical foul for hanging on the rim, after he attempted to dunk the ball.
The lead was cut to 10 early in the third period, but the Flashes’ defense allowed just eight points, while scoring 21, putting the game out of reach.

Norman tames Lady Chiefs

February 11, 2005

By BRIAN HOWARD
Assistant sports editor

CALHOUN FALLS — Ki-Kei Norman scored 26 points and pulled down a game-high 24 rebounds as the Calhoun Falls High School girls basketball team finished Region I-A unbeaten, defeating rival McCormick, 68-51, Thursday.
The junior post player had 12 points and 15 boards at the half, as the Lady Flashes (15-4 overall, 12-0 region) captured the region title for the first time in more than 10 years.
Norman’s basket with 17 seconds left in the first quarter gave Calhoun Falls a 12-11 lead. But the Lady Chiefs (11-10, 9-3), who finished second in the region, gained control of the lead with back-to-back baskets by Dainese Roberts and Lateidrya Mims to take a 15-12 lead with 7:21 left in the first half.
Norman and Lauren Henderson got the Lady Flashes the lead back with a 6-0 run, leading 18-15 with six minutes remaining in the first half.
Calhoun Falls maintained a three- to four-point lead throughout the second quarter and took a 29-25 lead into the half.
The Lady Chiefs trailed 36-29 with 5:16 remaining in the third period, but went on a 7-0 run and tied the game at 36, after Whitney Smalls scored on a fastbreak layup.
The game would be tied again at 38, and the Lady Flashes took a 44-40 advantage into the final quarter.
Calhoun Falls led 52-43 after a Brittany Obot 3-pointer with 6:40 remaining, but the Lady Chiefs battled back and cut the deficit to six at 52-46.
Viola Kelley’s free throws got McCormick close..
However, Lacey Brown helped put the game away for the Lady Flashes, as she scored on three consecutive trips down the floor, giving Calhoun Falls a 61-48 lead with 3:17 left.
“My nerves our shot,” Brown said. “We went undefeated in the region and all the training we’ve been through, I’m just glad we won. I don’t care how many points I score, I’m just glad we win.”
Brown had 17 points, including three 3-pointers, while Henderson added 14 points.
Mims paced McCormick with 18 points, including four 3-pointers, while Roberts and Smalls scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Opinion

Politics in naming judges always is a major factor

February 11, 2005

There is concern in South Carolina, as there should be, that the state should have more black judges. How to accomplish that, though, is a problem.
As it is, members of the state Legislature now elect judges. More often than not they are from their own ranks. Since the majority of lawmakers are white, it’s difficult, and sometimes impossible, for black nominees to the bench to get elected. That, naturally, creates frustration.
Some believe it would be better to have judges elected by the people instead of by legislators. There are, to be sure, pluses and minuses for both. Nevertheless, either way politics plays a major role. Therein lies the problem.
Judges should be independent. They should not be subject to political pressures through unusual influence, nor should they be prone to being swayed by influence from anyone.
The question always arises, though, whether soliciting public support for votes would result in influential groups or blocs of voters expecting anything in return for support at the polls. Tit-for-tat vote swapping in the Legislature also revolves around politics and deal-making.
Under the circumstances, there should be concern ….. about a lot of things.

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

Obituaries

Charles Burdette

ABBEVILLE — Charles Ira Burdette, 82, formerly of 200 Haigler St., widower of Ethel Burdette, died Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005 at Richard Campbell Veterans Home.
Born in Abbeville County, he was a son of the late Ira and Mary Lou Busby Burdette. He was a World War II Navy veteran and a retired textile fixer with Abbeville Mills. He was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include two daughters, Gloria Bond of Abbeville and Linda Suddeth of Hodges; two sons, Charles M. Burdette of Villa Rica, Ga., and Jimmy R. Burdette of Abbeville; two brothers, Claude Burdette of Tignal, Ga., and James Alford Burdette of Peach Tree City, Ga.; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Services are 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Tye Sorrow. Burial is in Iva City Cemetery.
Visitation is 1-2 Saturday at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of a daughter Gloria Bond, 200 Haigler St.
Memorials may be made to the Congregational Holiness Church, Perry Street, Abbeville, SC 29620.
Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home is in charge.

Ralph ‘Tip’ Carter

Services for Ralph “Tip” Carter, of 857 Meadow St., are 2 p.m. Saturday at John’s Creek Baptist Church, Abbeville, conducted by the Rev. Curtis Carter. Burial is in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1.
Pallbearers are nephews.
Flower bearers are Viola Smith and nieces.
Honorary escorts are Melvin Duncan, Willie Fuller, Lewis Drennon and Demarcus Dorn.
The family is at the home.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge.

Rev. Morgan Abraham Kizer, Jr.

CHARLOTTE, NC – Rev. Kizer, 97, of Charlotte, died Wednesday, February 9, 2005. He was born on October 26, 1907 in Bowman, SC to the late Morgan Abraham Kizer, Sr. and Ella Fralix Kizer. Rev. Kizer graduated from Edisto Academy, Furman University, Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL and Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, TX.
His ministry spanned over 60 years and included churches in Saludia, NC, Weaverville, NC, Orangeburg County SC, Ninety Six, SC, and Greenwood County SC.
Rev. Kizer is survived by his wife of 66 years, Louise Kizer of Charlotte; his son, Morgan Kizer, III of Charlotte.
Funeral service will be held from the graveside at 11:00 on Saturday, February 12, 2005 at Crown Memorial Park in Pineville with the Rev. Russ Rosser officiating. The family will greet friends immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Moody Bible Institute, 820 North LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610.
The Kizer family is in the care of McEwen Funeral Service, Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Road, Charlotte, NC. 704-544-1412.
PAID OBITUARY

Marie Mathis

EDGEFIELD — Marie Mathis, 84, died Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005 at Trinity Mission Health and Rehab of Edgefield.
The family is at the home of a sister, Virginia Watson, 336 New Market St., Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., Greenwood.

Jean McGaha

WARE SHOALS — Helen Jean McGaha, 50, died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of John Louie and Frances Hayes McGaha. She was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include her parents of Ware Shoals; three brothers, Jim Sweat of Fountain Inn, John McGaha of Fort Mill and Dean McGaha of Camden; and a sister, Betty Holleman of Maiden, N.C. Services are 1:30 today at Parker-White Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Leon Jones. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is 12:30-1:30 today at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of her parents, Louie and Frances McGaha, 7 New St.
Memorials may be made to Laurens County Disabilities and Special Needs Board, Box 986, Laurens, SC 29360.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.

John Norton McMillan

FLORENCE – John Norton McMillan, 53, died Tuesday, February 8, 2005.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 12, 2005, in Central United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery, directed by Waters-Powell Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home.
Mr. McMillan was born in Gaffney, SC, a son of the late Edward Webb McMillan and Mary Alice Cameron, and stepson of the late Charles Donald Cameron. He graduated from Myrtle Beach High School and received his bachelor’s degree from USC and his Juris Doctor degree from George Mason University. He was Executive Director of COMBO (Council of Myrtle Beach Organi-zations). He was also on the Board of Directors of Southeast Tourism. He was involved with the I-73 project as key architect.
He was a member of Central United Methodist Church.
Surviving are his wife, Faith Jones McMillan of the home in Florence; two sons, John Norton McMillan, Jr., and Sterling Webb McMillan; a daughter, Mary Rachel McMillan; a brother, Bill (Marian) Cameron of Rock Hill, SC; four sisters, Candy Cameron (Jimmy) Bailey of Rock Hill, SC, Alice Johnson Cameron of Myrtle Beach, Jennie Cameron (Jeff) Burgeson and Skippy Cameron (Frank) Rice, both of Greenwood, SC.
He was predeceased by a brother, Charles Donald Cameron of Conway.
Memorials may be made to Central UnitedMethodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 87, Florence, SC 29503.
PAID OBITUARY

Dorothy Diane Nabors

ANGELS CAMP, Calif. — Dorothy Diane Tyler Nabors, 73, died Monday, Feb. 7, 2005 at Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital in San Andreas.
Born in Oklahoma Territory, Okla., she was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church in Angels Camp. She lived in Arnold for 12 years and in Greenwood, S.C., for 30 years.
Survivors include her former husband, William Carl Nabors of Ninety Six, S.C.; four sons, Anthony Nabors of Arnold, William C. Nabors Jr. of South Carolina, Mark Nabors of Oklahoma City and David Pinkerton of McAlester, Okla.; four daughters, Diane Hunton and Susan Pinkerton-Clarke, both of Angels Camp, Christine Ouzts of Greenwood, S.C., and Barbara Pinkerton of Oklahoma; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of Angels Camp. Inurnment is private.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Angels Camp Community Fund, 1555 Depot Road, Angels Camp, CA 95222.
Angels Memorial Chapel is in charge.

Kim Nicholson

Waterloo- Kimberly Davis Nicholson, 48, of 2202 Dillard Road, Waterloo, died Wednesday, February 9, 2005 at her home.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Carlton and Catherine Smith Davis. She was a dispatcher for the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Department and was a member of Mathews United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by a son, Hunter Knight.
Surviving is her fiancŽ, Ernie Crawford, of the home; a son, Jamey Knight of Laurens; three sisters, Connie Davis Tyler and Carla Davis Martin, both of Greenwood and Karen Davis Pitts of Clinton; a brother, Tony Davis of Greenwood; her stepmother, Mildred David Bosse of Greenwood and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Alvin Hodges officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Brian Bloomer, Steve Richitelli, Mark Davis, Jay Davis, Henry Knight and Jay Crawford.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from noon to 2 p.m.
The family is at the home of her brother, Tony Davis, 103 Woods Terrace, Augusta Fields.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Caleb O’Daniel

HODGES — Caleb Asher O’Daniel, infant son of Nathan and Jennifer Leigh Workman O’Daniel, of 106 Derby Road, died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005.
Survivors include his parents of the home; paternal grandparents, Thomas and Virginia O’Daniel of Gray Court; maternal grandparents, Darvin and Shelby Workman of Hickory Tavern; paternal great-grandmothers, Alphoretta O’Daniel of Louisa, Ky., and Louise Myers of Cedar Bluff, Va.; maternal great-grandmother, Loreen Pitts of Ware Shoals.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Robert Emory, Buddy Wiles and Tim Bailey. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Parker-White Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.

Eva Sue (Griffith) Ridge

WARE SHOALS - Eva Sue Ridge, 90, of Ware Shoals, SC, died on February 10, 2005 at the Brain Center Nursing Home in Columbia, SC where she had resided for the past six years.
Born in Piedmont, SC, she was the daughter of Charles and Harriett Griffith. The family moved to Ware Shoals when Mrs. Ridge was six years old. She was a 56 year member of the First Baptist Church of Ware Shoals.
Mrs. Ridge was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, John H. Ridge and, is survived by a son, Harry C. Frederick of Greenwood, SC and a daughter, Harriette F. Fowler of Columbia, SC. She was the beloved grandmother of Winona S. Frederick (deceased), Denise F. McGee of McDonough, GA, William F. Hammond of Nashville, TN, Timothy J. Hammond of Bowling Green, KY, Amanda H. Delaney of Hilton Head Island, SC and Terri F. Manley of Greenwood, SC. She was the great-grandmother of eleven.
Services will be held at the Parker-White Funeral Home in Ware Shoals at 3:00 PM on Saturday 12th. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services. Burial will be at the Oakbrook Memorial Park, Highway 25 north of Greenwood ,SC.
Memorials may be made to an Alzheimer’s Association of choice, the Brian Center of St. Andrews (3514 Sidney Road, Columbia, SC 29210), or a Hospice Foundation of choice.
PAID OBITUARY

James Robards

COLUMBIA – James Woodward Robards, 66, resident of C.M. Tucker Nursing Home, died January 30, 2005 at Richland Memorial Hospital.
Born in Oxford, NC, April 13, 1938, he was a son of the late Henry Watkins and Sybil Parrant Robards. He was formerly a member of the US Army National Guard and formerly employed by Greenwood Mills. Mr. Robards was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Greenwood.
Surviving are a daughter, Dana Robards Balchin Henderson of Hartsville; a brother, John Robards of Greenwood; a sister, Betty Robards of Orlando, FL; three grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 3PM Saturday, February 12, 2005 from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. Greg Henderson officiating.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2 to 3 PM Saturday.
Memorials may be made to The Tucker Center, c/o Linda Epting, Volunteer Services, Stone Building #122, 2200 Harden Street, Columbia, SC 29203.
For additional information you may visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
BLYTH FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE.
PAID OBITUARY