Costumes, movement, and flashes of color draw the audience’s attention to centerfield as the band sounds its first few notes at halftime. The role of the color guard is central to a band’s overall impact, helping the musicians convey a story during each performance.
Jackson Academy’s color guard has a long history of success, and recent years are no exception. Color guard earned superior ratings and was the top color guard in its class each year during the last seven years, other than 2020 when no competitions were available due to Covid.
From 2017-2022, Clare Grace Watts served as JA’s resident choreographer. Watts, a dance faculty member at Belhaven University who holds dance licensure in K-12, also wrote the choreography for this season’s field show. Victoria Lopez, a former student of Watts, has stepped in to direct the group going forward. Before that time, the JA color guard enjoyed many accolades, competing as the JA Independent Winter Guard under the direction of Cammie Carter.
JA Band Director Todd Taylor encourages students who are experienced or interested in dance to consider joining the color guard, which has a heavy dance influence within each routine. The group will need additional members next year. Also, students sometimes combine color guard participation with other performing groups, such as Accents, or playing an instrument, such as the drumline, which is now under the instruction of Dominique Jones.
“You can do multiple things and do color guard, too,” said former JA parent Nikki Williams, whose two daughters participated in color guard, with daughter Anna Claire being very active throughout her JA years. Williams said the color guard leaders make it work for students to do both Accents and color guard or other activities. She said as a group, members of the color guard are kind to one another, have fun, and are accomplished in life.
Jackson Academy color guard members have received college scholarships, traveled internationally with the Mississippi Lions All-State Band, and been a part of other state and national competitions, said former band parent and JA’s Director of After School Hope Burford. Burford said the experience was rewarding and enriching for her daughter, Caroline, who traveled to Germany/Austria and Canada as part of the Lions Band color guard. “Thanks to JA for caring about all students and their unique gifts,” she said.
Josh Watson has been color guard captain for two seasons and enjoys it and other performing arts opportunities at JA. “I love performing, and JA offers exceptional programs to support that,” he said. “Going on the field or the stage and sharing a production that truly means something is by far the best feeling in the world. The experience of putting on a show with your friends forms memories and bonds that you’ll never forget.”
According to JA Band Director Todd Taylor, the color guard performs and competes with the band and separately. Taylor says the quality of JA’s color guard is factored into the band’s overall score in competitions and has often led the band to win overall band awards due to high color guard scores. He says that the color guard is part of the band class period, which has been a key to their success.
Color guard, the drumline, and the band are all integral parts of the marching band program at JA, and their dedication is recognized beyond JA. Recent awards include this year’s Copiah Marching in Festival 2022 Superior Colorguard, Smoky Mountain Music Festival Best Parade Auxiliary, Copiah Marching Festival 2022 Best Guard in Small Class, and Arlington Invitational Marching Band Competition 2022, which resulted in 1st Place Guard Class AA, 2nd Place Drumline, and 3rd Place Band. This is just a small sampling of the band, drumline, and color guard’s many awards!
