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Quiet, well-mannered and well-spoken are adjectives that come to mind when speaking to senior Sean Brown, The Forge Sound and Guard drum major.
Sean transferred to Colonial Forge High School his freshman year. "For me, this was the best place," he said.
And, with Sean earning first-place honors in Class AAAA at the Stonewall Jackson Showcase of Bands, Spotsylvania Invitational and Stafford Showcase of Bands, he has been good for the school as well.
"I knew I wanted to be the drum major," said Sean. "My mother was the drum major when she went to high school. It's always been my dream."
As a junior he started preparing for the position. "I practiced for about a year for it," he said.
Although Colonial Forge has been open only since 1999, the music department has gained recognition during that short time period.
For the past two years, the Virginia Orchestra and Band Directors Association has named it an Honor Band. And the Virginia Music Education Association has deemed it a Blue Ribbon School for the last two years as well.
"We are very pleased with it," said band director Andrew Loft.
Loft has been with the school from the very beginning. He remembers when the band hall was only "concrete cinder blocks. I stood in the middle of the room and tried to envision what the band program would be five or six years down the road," said Loft. "It was a unique experience."
Starting with an estimated 80 students in grades nine through 11, the music program has grown to 190 students from ninth through 12th grades.
"It is a quality program with quality people running it," said band publicist Carmen Cata.
Cata's first glimpse of the band has been as a parent. Her daughter is a freshman at the school, allowing Cata to see what is involved in being a band member.
Cata said she noticed the athletics programs receiving accolades, but "[the band kids] are working just as hard."
And she has been very impressed by Sean. "He is a stellar individual," she said. "The level of maturity this kid has to have is phenomenal to me."
Loft said he has "been very fortunate to have outstanding student leaders," and he spoke highly of Sean.
"Sean understands the work ethic," said Loft, adding that Sean knows how to motivate the group.
"I make sure [the students] have what they need," said Loft, "but they're the ones that bring to the table the ability."
Loft also commended the band-booster program and its support. "Our booster parents work so very, very hard," said Loft.
"There's a lot of work that needs to be done for a group this size," said paraprofessional Alesha Wood.
Wood, in addition to helping out at the school, has two children in the band and is a member of the band boosters.
Money is needed for instruments, summer camps, the spring trip and other expenses, said Wood.
Sean, looking forward to college next year and a degree in radiological sciences, appreciates what everyone contributes to the program.
"We're really blessed to have everything we have here," he said.
To reach REBEKAH ELLIOTT: 540/375-5000, ext. 5524 relliott@freelancestar.com
