West Hall Bands
In March of 1987, newly hired principal Jack Pirkle hired East Hall High School Assistant Band Director Ernie Phillips to establish a band program at the new West Hall High School. During the early days of the program, few thought that the new school could ever begin a music program to even approach the history of excellence established at neighboring schools such as Johnson and East Hall. The marching band was forced to practice on an uneven cow pasture during the first three seasons. The “field” was located on the property where West Hall Middle School was constructed in 1993. The first “Band of Silver” had fifty-two members and much to prove. During the 1988 football season, the school didn't have an on-campus football stadium. All “home” games required a cross-county trip to East Hall Stadium.
As the school came into its own, so did the band program. Membership swelled to over 100 during the 1992 season. That year, the band was invited to perform Hail to the Chief for President George H.W. Bush during a campaign stump in Gainesville. In 1993, Mrs. Laurie Samples was hired to coordinate the band’s flourishing auxiliary program, a position she held for 20 years. By 1994, the band program at West Hall was mentioned among the state’s most outstanding by the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA). That honor was confirmed when the band was recognized as the best in the state during a performance at the 1997 GMEA In-Service Conference in Savannah. That same year, The University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens invited the Symphonic Band to perform an exhibition concert during the January High School Festival. As the turn of the century approached, the band’s membership reached 150 students for the first time.
In 2000, the West Hall Band received national attention in music circles when Ernie Phillips was honored with the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Legion of Honor. The Legion recognizes the careers of the most distinguished music educators in the United States. That same year, Mr. Phillips was recognized by both West Hall High School and the Hall County Board of Education as the Teacher of the Year.
The band has performed at many diverse venues across the United States. The band’s first television appearance came in December of 1989 during a performance in the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Festival Parade (formally Macy’s Parade). The band has subsequently been invited to perform in the parade during the holiday seasons of 1994, 1996, 2001, & 2004. The band received statewide attention when the ensemble performed in the 1990 South Georgia Rose Parade in Thomasville, GA. The Band of Silver also received television coverage during their performances in the Gatlinburg (TN) Christmas Parade in 2000, 2002, 2006, & 2014. The Band of Silver has been invited to perform in our nation’s capital several times for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The 1994, 2002, & 2010 trips to Washington garnered great praise for the ensemble from both festival organizers and spectators.
In 1996, 2000, 2006, & 2014 the band accepted invitations from the Mayor’s Office of New York City to perform in Manhattan. The band has twice presented concerts at the foot of the Statue of Liberty and once on South Street during the 140th birthday celebration of the Brooklyn Bridge in 2006. The band has performed in Orlando, Florida’s Walt Disney World on four occasions in 1992, 1998, 2004, & 2012. In 2008 and 2016, the Band of Silver accepted an invitation from the Mayor’s Office of Chicago, Illinois to perform on the city’s historic waterfront near the world-renowned Marshall Field Museum of Natural History. In 2009, members of the band joined the Honor Band of Southern Hall County for a performance on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This performance was part of Hawaii’s 50th anniversary of statehood celebration.
In 2003, Jack Pirkle, West Hall’s long-time principal and supporter of fine arts education, announced his retirement. West Hall assistant principal Jackie Adams was chosen as his successor. Following Dr. Adams’ retirement in 2010, Dr. Greg Williams became West Hall’s third principal. And in 2013, Scott Justus followed Dr. Williams. Dr. Adams, Dr. Williams, and Mr. Justus have followed the precedent set by Dr. Pirkle to give the band program the full support of the school’s administration. Without such support, the band program would not be able to continue thriving.
In 2016, Mr. Phillips announced his retirement after 28 years as the Director of Bands at West Hall High School. Mrs. Katy Wilson-Fields was announced as the Director of Bands to continue the success of the West Hall Band Program. The future is bright for the West Hall Band Program as we look to the future.
The West Hall Band's rich tradition and history would not be possible without the dedication of thousands of students, parents, and supporters (both past and present) along with the band staff, band directors, and many dedicated student leaders.
originally compiled by:
Matt Phillips, class of 2003
updated: July 2018
As the school came into its own, so did the band program. Membership swelled to over 100 during the 1992 season. That year, the band was invited to perform Hail to the Chief for President George H.W. Bush during a campaign stump in Gainesville. In 1993, Mrs. Laurie Samples was hired to coordinate the band’s flourishing auxiliary program, a position she held for 20 years. By 1994, the band program at West Hall was mentioned among the state’s most outstanding by the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA). That honor was confirmed when the band was recognized as the best in the state during a performance at the 1997 GMEA In-Service Conference in Savannah. That same year, The University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens invited the Symphonic Band to perform an exhibition concert during the January High School Festival. As the turn of the century approached, the band’s membership reached 150 students for the first time.
In 2000, the West Hall Band received national attention in music circles when Ernie Phillips was honored with the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Legion of Honor. The Legion recognizes the careers of the most distinguished music educators in the United States. That same year, Mr. Phillips was recognized by both West Hall High School and the Hall County Board of Education as the Teacher of the Year.
The band has performed at many diverse venues across the United States. The band’s first television appearance came in December of 1989 during a performance in the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Festival Parade (formally Macy’s Parade). The band has subsequently been invited to perform in the parade during the holiday seasons of 1994, 1996, 2001, & 2004. The band received statewide attention when the ensemble performed in the 1990 South Georgia Rose Parade in Thomasville, GA. The Band of Silver also received television coverage during their performances in the Gatlinburg (TN) Christmas Parade in 2000, 2002, 2006, & 2014. The Band of Silver has been invited to perform in our nation’s capital several times for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The 1994, 2002, & 2010 trips to Washington garnered great praise for the ensemble from both festival organizers and spectators.
In 1996, 2000, 2006, & 2014 the band accepted invitations from the Mayor’s Office of New York City to perform in Manhattan. The band has twice presented concerts at the foot of the Statue of Liberty and once on South Street during the 140th birthday celebration of the Brooklyn Bridge in 2006. The band has performed in Orlando, Florida’s Walt Disney World on four occasions in 1992, 1998, 2004, & 2012. In 2008 and 2016, the Band of Silver accepted an invitation from the Mayor’s Office of Chicago, Illinois to perform on the city’s historic waterfront near the world-renowned Marshall Field Museum of Natural History. In 2009, members of the band joined the Honor Band of Southern Hall County for a performance on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This performance was part of Hawaii’s 50th anniversary of statehood celebration.
In 2003, Jack Pirkle, West Hall’s long-time principal and supporter of fine arts education, announced his retirement. West Hall assistant principal Jackie Adams was chosen as his successor. Following Dr. Adams’ retirement in 2010, Dr. Greg Williams became West Hall’s third principal. And in 2013, Scott Justus followed Dr. Williams. Dr. Adams, Dr. Williams, and Mr. Justus have followed the precedent set by Dr. Pirkle to give the band program the full support of the school’s administration. Without such support, the band program would not be able to continue thriving.
In 2016, Mr. Phillips announced his retirement after 28 years as the Director of Bands at West Hall High School. Mrs. Katy Wilson-Fields was announced as the Director of Bands to continue the success of the West Hall Band Program. The future is bright for the West Hall Band Program as we look to the future.
The West Hall Band's rich tradition and history would not be possible without the dedication of thousands of students, parents, and supporters (both past and present) along with the band staff, band directors, and many dedicated student leaders.
originally compiled by:
Matt Phillips, class of 2003
updated: July 2018
