Features Editor

The "Sound of the South" Concert Band, under the direction of Raymond H. Smith, associate professor of music at Troy State University, will present its annual spring concert Thursday at 6 p.m. in the TSU Amphitheater.

Smith said the performance was originally scheduled for the Claudia Crosby Theater, but the band members wanted to have an old-fashioned band concert in the park.

The band will be playing some classic literature, including the "English Folk Song Suite," "Buglers Holiday," selections from Porgy and Bess

and some great marches.

Adding special interest to the concert for local residents will be several musicians who are former area high school players.

"We have many area high school band students who come to Troy State University and play with the "Sound of the South," Smith said. "We encourage everyone to come out and support these young band members from the Pike County area along with our other band members. They work hard to prepare for this concert and having a large audience is a reward for all of the hours they put into this performance."

Four former members of the Charles Henderson High School Blue Machine and one member of the Pike County High Pride of Pike are members of the Sound of the South.

For Bradley Davis, being a member of the Sound of the South is a dream come true.

"I grew up listening to the Sound of the South

and they played good music," he said. "For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a part of the band."

Being a member of "the band" has been everything Davis thought it would and more.

"It’s fun and exciting," he said. "You get to go a lot of places and meet new people. And I just like playing trumpet for the best college band anywhere."

Reginald Ryles and Victor Mosley, both are CHHS graduates and both play saxophone for the Sound of the South.

They count being members of the band’s fraternity among the perks of membership.

"We have about 25 members in the fraternity and we are all close friends," they said. "There is a lot of work involved in being a member of the band but the rewards are worth it all."

Tori Jones has been around music all her life. Both her parents have musical talent and she inherited their love of music.

"I couldn’t imagine not being in the band," she said. "We all have a lot of fun together and it’s good to be a member of a band that everyone knows and respects."

The only Pike County High School graduate that is in the Sound of the South at this time is Kerri Taylor and she wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

"I can’t think of a band anywhere that I would rather be a part of than our band," she said. "A lot of opportunities come with being a member plus it’s just a lot of fun and you learn a lot."

If the event of inclement weather, the band will perform in the Crosby Theater.