With 22 members, the Jackson Prep band has had one of its best years yet.

Taking part in many festivals, the band has competed for high ratings rather than a win or a loss. They received superior ratings in marching at the concert festival this year.

Senior member Jennings Duncan said, “The band has given me a place to constantly perform, a place to grow as a musician, and a group of students to draw from for various musical projects and creative exploration. I’ve seen the band go from a couple of kids who kind of knew what they were doing to a small but dedicated group of incredible musicians. We do not have the numbers of a public school marching band, which could have been a negative, but has turned out to be a blessing. Mr. Kincaid has used our small size as a way to encourage many of his students to take on multiple instruments and has really focused on every individual member’s growth.”

Their director, Mr. Steve Kincaid, has been teaching band for almost 20 years. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Mississippi. He said, “I’ve had a great year. This is unlike anybody else’s experience. All the kids sign up, so they really want to be here. I don’t have any of the problems that regular teachers have. It’s a highly skilled group, so we’re able to do other things that bands our size can’t. We stay busy all year. We have at least 25 or 30 performances throughout the year. With a marching band, concert band, jazz band, five jazz ensembles, a mallet-percussion ensemble, and a drum line, we’re always busy.” 

Mr. Kincaid says we can expect even more from the group next year. He has many ideas for future performances, and he hopes to see the band grow.