Atlantic Indoor Association held their circuit finals on March 31 & April 1, 2012 in Raleigh, NC.  After the Saturday prelims, the Powhatan Winter Guard was in 2nd place in the A-2 class of guard competition.  On their Sunday finals performance, they upped their performance and were able to TAKE THE GOLD!  Congratulations to the AIA Champion Powhatan Winter Guard.

Congratulations also to the Powhatan Winter Percussion Ensemble for enjoying being a finalist in the Open class competition at AIA finals on April 1st.  Their awesome efforts produced a 6th place finish in the highest class of AIA competition.

Congratulations also to PHS assistant band director Neil Landini for being the sole 2012 inductee into the prestigious Atlantic Indoor Association Hall of Honor.  Mr. Landini has spent over 15 years in the activity not only as a director with Powhatan, but serving in multiple positions on the AIA board, hosting multiple WGI regional events every year, and consulting with numerous other percussion programs throughout Virginia and beyond.

Great job to everyone in the 2012 winter programs, and good luck to the percussion as they head to Dayton, OH, for the WGI Finals!

On February 17, the Powhatan Winter Guard was a finalist at the WGI Raleigh Regional, placing an impressive 7th overall. On the 25th, the Powhatan Winter Percussion Ensemble won their first local show with a 79.15 -- an outstanding first-show score.

Congratulations to the winter groups! Next up: Mills Godwin HS on March 3rd.

On February 11, the PHS Winter Guard took first place in the A-2 class of competition. There were a total of 72 color guard and percussion units at the event held at Thomas Jefferson HS, and there were six in the A-2 guard class.

Congratulations to the Winter Guard and their instructor, LeAnne Hlavka, for an awesome first outing. Keep an eye here for more information about this wonderful 2012 competitive show and where you can see it.

The Powhatan music department had their annual Evening of Jazz on Thursday, February 9, 2012, and it was a smashing success!  From 6pm - 7pm, folks were in the commons enjoying coffee house-style foods while listening to various soloists and small combos from the PHS Jazz Band (and even some poetry).

At 7pm, a number of groups performed jazzy goodness for the evening.  The PHS Show Choir - Revv'd Up - opened up the show by performing a portion of their competition show with pounding awesomeness.

Then the PJHS 8th grade, PHS Percussion I, and PHS Percussion 2 concert percussion ensembles also each performed tunes of Jazz, Afro-Cuban, and Latin flavor.

The Powhatan Winter Percussion Ensemble also dropped in to preview a little of their competition show for this year.

The PJHS Jazz Band performed a classic Jazz version of the James Bond Theme, as well as a hot combo version of R. O. C. K. in the USA.

To close the show, the PHS Jazz Band played a number of tunes from their set.  Winding up the set, the smooth ululation of The Girl From Ipanema was like listening to velvet, and the hot Tito Puente mambo Ran Kan Kan, pumping at 200 beats a minute, was a wild end to the evening's entertainment.

We give our deepest thanks for all the bands who came to the Powhatan fall Classic on October 29.  It was a wonderful event, and all the bands were smashingly good.

Congratulations to all of the bands who performed.

This is a must-hear event!  The Powhatan Wind Ensemble and Percussion II will be performing another spooky old-time radio show.  This year's event is a double-feature: radio dramatizations of Edgar Allen Poe's The Cask of Amontillado and Rudyard Kipling's The Mark of the Beast. You'll hear other fun performances from the Wind Ensemble, as well. A delicious buffet dinner is served by the PHS Culinary Arts department.

Join us in the PHS commons for this fun audio experience.

Dinner is served at 6:pm
Performance begins at 7:pm
and lasts about 45 minutes

Tickets are $10
$5 for children 6 and under, and we are prepared
for your specialized dietary needs upon request.

Tickets are on sale at the following locations:
1. PHS band members
2. PHS front office
3. PHS band office
Although young children are most certainly welcome, the
entertainment fare is focused towards older children through adults.

Each summer, the PHS music department students get together to experience the PHS Music Leadership Seminar.  The student leadership from the band and choral programs study how to lead with a positive attitude, the most effective peer leadership techniques, and they hear (via video) from some of the most forward-thinking minds of the 21st century -- folks like Benjamin Zander, Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, Derek Sievers, Carly Fiorina, and Matt Ridley.  Core concepts include essential elements of leadership, peer-to-peer relationships, how to apply today's techniques to their adult experience, and being second in command.

"It was an eye-opening experience," says senior Sammy Spott, "we received a lot of tools to aid in developing a leadership relationship with our peers."

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Powhatan is just a few miles west of the capital city of Richmond, VA, and is a dynamic synthesis of modern society and rural community. Powhatan High School is pleased to offer one of the premier bands programs in the heart of Virginia. Concert Bands, Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, two Percussion Ensemble Classes, two Winter Guards, two Winter Percussions, and much more.

Powhatan's instrumental music program is a vibrant and growing organization filled with many performance opportunities covering the full spectrum of styles and time periods. In addition, Powhatan Bands also offers outstanding opportunities in the visual performing arts.

We hope you'll take the time to explore what Powhatan has to offer, and choose to enjoy the many performance experiences given throughout the year.

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