Union County Bands is a comprehensive program that serves approximately 250 students at UCHS, Sims, & JEMS in instrumental music and color guard education. Opportunities at the 6th grade level include: beginning music reading, instrumental training, concert performances, and State Solo & Ensemble Assessment trip. Opportunities at the middle school level include Christmas Downtown Performances, 7th grade intermediate band, 8th grade advanced band, State Concert Performance Assessment for concert band, State Solo & Ensemble Assessment, and Region/All-State Band. Opportunities at the high school level include Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Ensembles, Indoor Percussion, and Winter Color Guard. Within these programs of study and ensembles students participate in a wide variety of performance opportunities and competitions sponsored by SCBDA.
The Sims Band has continued its tradition of excellence during the 2023-2024 school year. The Sims band program placed numerous students in the Limestone Honor Band Clinic. Sims recently performed at the State Concert Performance Assessment, receiving an overall rating of "Excellent.” This was the band’s first appearance at CPA since prior to COVID. This past April the Sims Band traveled to Carowinds and received a rating of “Excellent” at the Carowinds Festival of Music. Students in the Sims band also received several Superior and Excellent ratings at the State Solo & Ensemble Assessment this past April.
The Jonesville Middle School Band also showed tremendous growth in the 2023-2024 calendar year both in number and talent. The JEMS band had numerous students participate in the Limestone Honor Band. The 7th & 8th Grade Band performed at the State Concert Performance Assessment and received an overall rating of “Excellent.” The band also traveled to Carowinds this past April to perform at the Carowinds Festival of Music.
The UCHS “Sting Machine” enjoyed a very successful competitive marching season in the fall of 2023. They finished 2nd Place in class at Boiling Springs and Chesnee competitions and received a Superior rating at the 3A Upper-State Championships. In the spring of 2024, the UCHS Symphonic Band received a rating of “Excellent” in Division IV at the State Concert Band Assessment. UCHS also placed five students in the Region 6 Honor Bands.
The UCHS Winter Ensembles also enjoyed great success in the spring of 2024. Our Winter Color Guard placed in the top 4 at the CWEA Championships. The Indoor Percussion ensemble had a very successful first year back competing after a 10 year break.
