In the mid-1990s, Jim Dupree was the Band Director at Toombs County Middle School in Vidalia, Georgia.  He realized that there were plenty of opportunities for high school students to perform in honor band situations, but very few opportunities for middle school students.  He started what he called the Tri-County Honor Band, which involved outstanding 7th and 8th grade band students from Toombs County and two adjacent counties.  Within a couple of years, the schools that participated expanded beyond the original three, so he changed the name to the Local Area Honor Band.  In 2002, Mr. Dupree took a job in another area of Georgia and moved away.  I didn't want to see the Local Area Honor Band die, so Joey Mitchell, another Band Director, and I took over the group and continued with it.  When I left the area in 2004, Mr. Mitchell made sure that it continued. 2006 will be the 10th year of this honor band, and it's still going strong.  I took the blue print of the Local Area Honor Band and brought it to Fitzgerald with the name Colony City Honor Band.  After leaving Fitzgerald, I have now brought this concept to Adel as the Coastal Plains Honor Band.

The criteria for selection to the Coastal Plains Honor Band is left up to each Director's discretion. The selection method can be an audition process, top seated chairs, or Director's choice.  The Honor Band students meet on the stage in the Carolyn Harris Performing Arts Center on a selected Friday from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm.  Each Director that brings students also brings a selected piece of middle school band literature.  Over the course of the day, Directors will take turns on the podium for 30-45 minutes to teach their chosen piece. When his/her time is up, he/she yields the podium to another Director to begin a new piece.  This provides a one day intensive rehearsal session, where students must learn their part quickly and retain the knowledge for the concert the next day.  On Saturday morning, the students meet back on stage for a short 30 minute-1 hour rehearsal, followed by a 30 minute "lip rest."  Then at 11:00 am, the ensemble performs a concert of the pieces that they learned the day before.