UCHS Band wins coveted state award – Bradford County Telegraph

Members of the Union County HIgh School Band with their Otto J. Kraushaar award. Pictured are (l-r): (front row) Jordan Lamb, Emma Perron and Sierra O’Steen; (2nd row) Kayley Tomlinson, Brie Elixson, Chloe Harris, Tori Smeal, Jessica Kingsbury, Kerri Miller, Josie Regar and R.J. Wallace; (3rd row) Band Director Kelly Dorsey, Makayla Nelson, Aubry McDowall, Lacy Fipps, Emily Higginbotham, Eli Hendricks, Nadia Norman, Aidan Hancock and Chelsea Waters; (4th row) Alena Boyer, Natalie Campbell, Chloie Gartman, Ke’Andre Stephens, Kadie Adams, Braden Adams and Alexis Morris; (back row) Lillie Lane, Donny West, Kaylee Thompson, Matthew Ring, Maggie Wade, Gracie Crawford, Nolan Beighley, Michael Ring and Nathan Pavlisko.

BY TRACY LEE TATE

Times Staff Writer

LAKE BUTLER — The Union County High School Band has recently received a special award based on the excellence of their performances in competition.

The Otto J. Kraushaar Award is given to bands which have received straight superior ratings in all competitions through the year. It includes all the many facets of the band – the marching band, the concert band, the jazz band and the Tigerettes – participating in district and state competitions. Superior is the highest rating that a musician can earn. Ratings are derived from the opinions of multiple judges in each competition and the UC Band faced 16 different adjudicators in 16 categories for the 2022-23 school year. The award is given by the Florida Bandmasters Association and is the premier state award.

“I think of it as the ever-elusive award,” said UCHS Band Director Kelly Dorsey. “Most programs never achieve this award. This is the first time in 20 years that this band has won it and the third time ever. We almost always get over-all superiors, rarely an excellent, but the scores are based on the average of the opinion of several separate judges. The kids met a standard at the highest to attain this achievement.”

Dorsey said she was especially grateful and excited for this group to get the award.

“These are the students who had to lead the band through COVID,” Dorsey said. “The band really took a big hit in upperclassman enrollment during the pandemic and, not only were the numbers depleted but not having the older members to lead the band was led by the younger musicians. This can be terrifying for them. Now they are a little older and it is exciting for them to be recognized. The kids worked hard and have bought-in 100% and made it happen. I am so proud of them.

Dorsey said one of the strengths of the program is that the musicians absolutely rely on each other to do their part. If they don’t it just doesn’t work.

“I told them after they got the award that this fancy stick I hold in my hand doesn’t make any sound – they make the sound,” Dorsey said. “On stage, all I am is a guide and I influence the music only as much as they let me. It means so much that they trusted and let me influence their performance. That was cool.”