G.W. Marching Eagles¡¯ Major Achievements in Their History 

          1^st place Band, 1976 Virginia State Fair Marching Band Competition, Richmond, Virginia 

In only their 2^nd year as a competitive band, the Marching Eagles came away from one of the largest competitions they entered that year as ¡¡ã1^st place band,¡¡À selected from the many participating bands from Virginia and North Carolina. 

          1^st place Band, 1979 Virginia State Fair Marching Band Competition, Richmond, Virginia 

The Marching Eagles won 1^st place band honors in their competition class. 

          1989 ¡¡ãCopa de Ora¡¡À Trophy Winner, Fiesta-val Spring Competitions 

The GW Marching Eagles placed 1^st overall among the bands competing in Toronto, Canada in April, winning 1^st place band and Grand Champion honors with such high scores that none of the other bands competing in any of the ¡¡ãFiesta-val¡¡À events that year. 

As a result, the Marching Eagles¡¯ score from Toronto placed them ahead of all other school bands [more than 175 overall] and earned them the ¡¡ãCopa de Ora¡¡À [or ¡¡ãCup of Gold¡¡À] ¡¡ìC a 5 foot 10 inch tall trophy making them essentially the NATIONAL Champions for Fiesta-val. Representatives of Fiesta-val came to Danville from Richmond in May ¡®89 to present the trophy at a GW assembly. 

          High School Band Representative of Commonwealth of Virginia in 1989 National 4^th of July Parade, Washington, D.C. 

Since their school was named after the first US President, George Washington, the Marching Eagles were selected to represent the Commonwealth of Virginia in the National July 4^th Parade in Washington, D.C. Also, as representatives of the first president, the Marching Eagles were the first band in the parade line-up. 

          1^st place Band in Class and Grand Champion, 1996 Cary Band Day, Cary, North Carolina 

For the first time in many trips to the Cary Band Day competition, the Marching Eagles succeeded in their quest to win at Cary ¡¡ìC which regularly features 30-40 bands from Virginia and North Carolina. 

The 1996 Cary Band Day also had the distinction of being one of the wettest and, ironically, that¡¯s what helped the Marching Eagles win the Grand Champion title. Much of that day¡¯s field show competition was held in the rain, but the class featuring the biggest bands elected not to march their shows since the field was such a muddy mess that EIGHTY bales of straw wasn¡¯t enough to soak up the water. In the class just behind the biggest bands, the GW Marching Eagles were the last to march and play. A furious storm hit just after GW left the field, resulting in a delay of over an hour while everyone sought shelter. When the competition resumed, the biggest bands of the day stood on the track in front of the stands to perform their music ¡¡ìC thus making them ineligible to be judged on marching and maneuvering. GW was ultimately declared the best of the bands that performed their full programs. 

          Grand Champions of the New York City St. Patrick¡¯s Day Parade, March 17, 2000 

The Marching Eagles were invited to appear in the 239^th annual St. Patrick¡¯s Day Parade in New York City and they went with the idea that it was a big honor just to have the chance to perform. After returning from that trip, the parade organizers notified them that out of all the bands participating, they had been named Grand Champions. 

          2001 Jingle Elf Parade, Thanksgiving Day, Chicago, Illinois 

The Marching Eagles were invited to Chicago to march in the nationally-televised Thanksgiving Day Parade because of the quality of their performance, not because of their size as is the requirement for the other major parades.

o       The G.W. Marching Eagles begin national competition in 2002

The Bands of America Regional events become a part of the band schedule.  The first contest on this level was in the Georgia Dome at the Atlanta Regional.  The Eagles had a very good showing for the first time, receiving an excellent rating.

o       The G.W. Band has one of its most successful seasons in the history of competition in 2003

The band is awarded three Grand Championships, was a Bands of America Youngstown, Ohio Regional participant and 8^th place finalist band in just the second year of participation, and was a first time participant in the Capitol One Citrus Parade and Macy¡¯s Holiday Parade in Orlando, Florida.

o       First appearance at Grand National Competition in 2004

The G.W. Band had again one of its best competitive seasons, winning three Grand Championships, was a Bands of America New Jersey Regional participant, and a first time Bands of America Grand National Participant in Indianapolis, Indiana.

o       A wet but successful year in 2005

The G.W. Band participates for the first time in the South Caldwell Band Classic in North Carolina and is the 3A class champion and overall 2^nd place finalist for day of the day.  Many awards and championships are won again this year.  The Eagles were scheduled to participate in the Bands of America Maryland Regional Championships, but due to heavy downpours of rain for four days straight the show was cancelled at the last minute. The Band also sported a new look with new uniforms that were very stylish and modern.

o       On the road again in 2006

The G.W. Band had another award winning season accumulating three Grand Championships at local contests, was a Bands of America Youngstown, Ohio Regional participant, and participated in the Capitol One Citrus Bowl Parade and the Macy¡¯s Holiday Parade in Orlando, Florida.