THS Wind Ensemble, Graham Bennett named co-winners by The American Prize

Published 4:25 pm Wednesday, December 18, 2024

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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Thompson High School Wind Ensemble, alongside conductor Graham Bennett, were selected as co-winner of The American Prize in Band/Wind Ensemble Performance.

The THS Wind Ensemble was selected by The American Prize as a co-winner  for the youth/schools division for 2024 from applications that were reviewed from across the United States.

For Bennett, news of the prestigious award came as a complete surprise. He shared that he is honored to receive it—giving credit to all of his talented students.

“We’re really honored to have received it,” Bennett said. “I’m as humble as I can be in the sense that the kids deserve the world and they deserve this and so much more. I’m just proud that they considered us for this award.”

According to an official release from the organization, The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in Performing arts is designed to recognize and reward the best performing artists, directors, ensembles and composers in the U.S. at professional, collegiate, community and high school levels. Thousands of artists from all fifty U.S. states have benefitted from participation in the contest of The American Prize which represents hundreds of communities and arts organizations across the nation.

“The wind ensemble deserves it, they really do,” Bennett said. “I can’t think of a group that deserves it more. They’ve worked so hard, and it’s exciting to see that other groups in the United Sates will get to see the Thompson High School name and the wind ensemble name being represented at the national level.”

Winners of The American prize receive cash prizes, professional adjudication and regional, national and international recognition based on recorded performances. Additionally, winners are profiled on the organization’s websites where links lead visitors to video and audio excerpts of artist performances.

Bennett has a bachelor of arts degree in music education from Jacksonville State University. He previously participated in Drum Corps International as a member of the organizations Spirit and The Madison Scouts. Bennett also previous served as the director of bands at Jacksonville High School and Mary G. Montgomery High School before joining Thompson High School in 2019 where he currently serves as the director of bands. Bennett directs the Thompson High Schools Marching Southern Sounds, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble. Alabaster City Schools previously received Best Community for Music Education from the NAMM foundation under the leadership of Bennett and the rest of the music education faculty and stuff at THS.

The Thompson High School Wind Ensemble also recently received the honor of being named to perform at the Alabama Music Educators Association Conference which will take place on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2025 at 8:20 p.m. at the BJCC Theatre.