Brookland Bearcat Band

Most Awards for the Bearcat Band are awards that any student can earn if they seek to earn them. The Bearcat Band Award system is based on earning merits. On this page, you can find links to how to earn merits for each award at each grade level. 

There are three levels of awards that Bearcat Band students can earn based on merits.

The Musicianship Award - This award consists of a certificate. It can be earned by meeting minimal expectaions for members of the Bearcat Band. 

TheMusical Achievement Award - This student earns the Musicianship Award certificate, a Musical Achievement certificate and a pin. This award can be earned by every student who earns above minimal expectations and maybe does a little bit more, like attending concerts for other musical groups, writing papers, buying CD's, etc. 

The Musical Excellence Award - This award consists of everything the Musical Achievement Award recieves, plus the Musical Excellence plaque. This is for those students who reach for the highest expectations and pushes beyond the scope of the classroom.

The Outstanding (Woodwind, Brass, Percussion) Award - This plaque is given to 7th and 8th grade students and usually only given to one student in that section of the band. It is based on several considerations, including lines and scales passed, merits, demonstration of Musical Leadership; etc. Students must have been in the Brookland Band all year to earn this award.

The Director's Award - This award is a nationally recognized award and goes to a Junior Band student who has shown leadership over the course of their  7th and 8th grade band years. Average Merits for 7th and 8th grade years account for 1/2, and Average band grade for 7th and 8th grade years counts for 1/2. The tie breaker will be grade in 8th grade, then merits 8th grade, then grade in 7th grade. Students must have earned the Musical Achievement Award or higher in either the junior and senior year. 

The Outstanding Marcher Award - This certificate will be given to one student in each class (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th) as voted on by the students at the end of the marching season. Students are automatically disqualified if they have unexcused absences from any marching band rehearsal or performance. 

The Brookland Academic Award - This award is given by the school and will be given to the student with the highest GPA in each class: Beginning Band, Junior Band, High School Band, Jazz Band and Music Theory. 

The Special Service Award - There are several ways to earn this Certificate, including learning and performing on a new instrument that is necessary to the success of the band for the current year; being involved in another school activity, and, while they may not be able to be at all rehearsals, having perfect attendance to all band performances (including pep rallies); anything Mr. Hogard deems as going above and beyond the call of being in band.

The Esprit de Corps Award - is a pin given to high school band students who are dedicated to band. While they may be involved in other activities, these students have perfect attendance to all band performance and rehearsals, no discipline issues in band class (including excessive tardies) or rehearsal, and are involved in at least one fund-raiser. These students must be enrolled in 5th period band class (no exceptions) and they must have fewer than 10 tardies throughout the school year.

The Outstanding (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior) Award - This plaque is given to one student in the named class. Selection for this award is based on a combination of merits (51%) and leadership points (49%) as voted on by the students.  Students must have been in the Brookland Band all year to earn this award. 

The AMRO Award -  This medal is given to the two seniors with the most merits in their senior year and who have earned the Musicianship Award or higher in every grade they have been a member of the Bearcat High School Band. It will not be given to the winners of the John Phillip Sousa, Leadership, or Governor's Award winners. 

The Governor's Award - This Medallion is recognized by the state and is not given every year. It will be calculated based on average grade in high school band and average merits in high school band. Ties will be broken by student leadership votes. To be eligible must have been in the High School band for at least the full Junior and Senior years to recieve this award and earn at least the Musical Achievement award their senior year. 

The Student Leader Award - This award is given to a Senior as voted on by the students of the High School Band. It is based on the student vote, but students may not win this award and the John Philip Sousa Award.  Students must have been in the Brookland Band all year to earn this award.

 The John Philip Sousa Award - This award is a nationally recognized award and goes to a Senior who has shown leadership over the course of their Junior and Senior years. Student leadership votes count for 1/3 of this score, Average merits for their 11-12 grade years count for 1/3, and average band grade for the 11-12 grade years counts for 1/3. The tie breaker will be Senior grade, then Senior Merits, then Junior Grade. Students must have earned the Musical Achievement Award or higher in either the junior and senior year. 

The Senior Plaque - This award is, in my estimation, the hardest to earn and the highest honor. It is given to all Seniors who graduate as members of the Brookland Bearcat Band. Students who drop and come back, must have served at least 1 full year as a member of any high school band prior to dropping. Students who start band at a later age must have attained a level that would allow them to perform with the high school band on the final concert.