Fair Grove Band is kicking off the season with a bang as the new high school band director Natalie Palomo tackles the season head first! The band will be competing at Ozarko (MSU), Ozark Mountain Music Festival (Reeds Springs), and the Festival of Champions (UCM). ¨I think that the band will do great! We´ll have to see how they do compared with other bands, but if they keep up the dedication and hard work they’ve been showing all season, it´ll go great!”, stated Palomo.

To prepare for the season Palomo hosted band camp for one week during the summer, and is now having the students meet one hour before school everyday. “The kids have worked extremely hard and have proven their dedication by passing memory tests over their songs BEFORE they were due!¨, Mrs. Palomo said.

With having 42 band participants and only having one band director, the band is not just lead and held together by one person. Some other helpers in the band room and on the practice field are Gracie Rowden (11), Kaitlyn Masters (12), Kayla Patten (11), Sydney Dame (10), Tyler Cooke (11), Mitch VanCleave (9), Ryan Odom (11), and Jacob Buckner (12). “They have helped (and will help) by promoting positive attitudes, and representing the hard work expected of students in the band.”, said Palomo. These students have maintained the discipline necessary to do their own duties for the band, but then also help others memorize their drill, and music for the successfulness of the group as a whole. “They are also extremely hardworking, and have done a great job of helping the band strive to the absolute best they can be.”, says Palomo.

Gracie Rowden (11), drum major for the high school band this year stated“I am excited for the  season, and my goal is for the band to go to finals at the upcoming competitions this year.” Gracie also states “Mrs. Palomo as the new band director helps the band not only personally acting as a role model for us, but also pushing us to be the best band we can be.” She hopes for the band to be something that Fair Grove is proud of and enjoys watching perform during the fair grove football halftime shows. The band kicks off their first performance friday, September 8th at the first Fair Grove home football game.