GREENVILLE – The Greenville Senior High School completed a week of band camp under the direction of GHS band director, Carl Phlipot following a week of pre-camp.
“We’re having a blast out here,” said Phlipot. “It’s hot but we’re having a good time – lots of water breaks.”
The week long camp began daily at 8 a.m. and lasted until 8:30 p.m. each night with temperatures reaching into the 90’s each day.
Assistant Directors Joey Jacobs and Megan Bell assisted Phlipot along with Field Commander, Samantha Gartenman and Color Guard Directors Kylie Robinson and Hannah Webb.
“I am grateful to have some staff members here who are also music educators,” Phlipot stated. “The more educators we can get here helps the whole band program. I’m only one person so being able to have a staff here during this camp really accelerates their learning process with what we do in one week.”
The band has a leadership team made up of a section leader and squad leaders which juniors and seniors may apply for to help students lean the music and the on-field marching.
“If you ask my kids what does Mr. Phlipot work off of they would say discipline,” he said. “Discipline is a key word in my teaching style and we don’t put anything on the field that we’re not proud of.”
The camp prepares the band for the remainder of the summer season that includes the Great Darke County Fair show, several early season football games before moving into the fall school season.
“We are learning our contest show called ‘Imagine’,” said Phlipot. “That is the show we take out to compete at area contests and we also learn our fair show where we will perform at the fair and probably a couple of the football games.”
The Greenville marching band continues to experience growth as the numbers have climbed to 60 members for the 2022-2023 year.
Phlipot enters his second year leading the Greenville program while entering his 19th year as a band director.
“We did great last year,” Phlipot noted. “We made it to State which is the first time in 30 years so we hope to keep building off of that success that we had last year and for me only being here one year. That was a huge success for myself too as a director to do that much with the band.”
Mr. Phlipot is grateful for the support from parents and members of the Band Boosters.
“We have a very strong booster group and our administration has been very supportive,” said Phlipot. “Those are key things you need to have a successful program.”
