Over 250 Musicians Attend Sweet Onion Honor Band

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Over 250 students filled Vidalia High School with music on May 2-3, as the 5th Annual Sweet Onion Area Honor Band held its largest event yet.

“The honor band came about around 5 years ago, when [Vidalia High School Assistant Band Director] Mr. [Steven] Arnold and I realized that there was not an honor band for our area. We had the idea to bring together musicians from all of the counties that grow Vidalia Onions,” Vidalia High School Band Director Elizabeth Taylor explained. “It’s grown more and more each year since it began. We have almost 300 students here that represent 32 schools within a 20-county area.”

Fifteen middle schools and seventeen high schools traveled to Vidalia to participate in the event: Ben Hill Middle School, Brantley County Middle and High Schools, Dublin High School, East Laurens High School, Fitzgerald High School College and Career Academy, J.R. Trippe Middle School, Langston Chapel Middle School, Long County High School, McIntosh County Academy Middle and High Schools, Metter Middle and High Schools, Montgomery County Middle and High Schools, North Tattnall Middle School, South Tattnall Middle School, Statesboro High School, Tattnall County High School, Telfair County Middle and High Schools, Toombs County Middle and High Schools, Treutlen County Middle and High Schools, Vidalia Heritage Academy, Vidalia High School, West Laurens Middle and High Schools, and Wheeler County Middle and High Schools.

Musicians from the schools were divided into three age brackets – 7th-8th Grades, 9th-10th Grades, and 11th-12th Grades – where they worked for two days to each learn six arrangements to perform at the Sweet Onion Honor Band Showcase, which was held in the Vidalia High School Parson-Reid Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon, May 3.

The 7th-8th Grade Middle School Honor Band was led by Guest Conductor Anthony M. Jones. Jones is currently the Effingham County High School Associate Band Director and has previously directed the band at Glynn County Schools and Wayne County Schools. He previously taught alongside Vidalia Band Director Taylor, having served as a percussion instructor and student teacher while she directed the band at another school. “He is currently sought after as a clinician in Georgia and the southern region of South Carolina. He is also a specialist for a music drum company,” Taylor elaborated.

Jones led the students as they performed “Shadows Unleashed” (by Brian Balmages), “Machine Age” (by Chris Bernotas), “Cyclone” (by Michael Oare), “Big Circus March” (by Robert Foster), “Etowah” (by Brian Balmages), and “The Avengers” (arranged by Robert Longfield).

The 9th-10th Grade High School Honor Band was led by Guest Conductor Vincent K. Rosse. Rosse currently directs the Stephenson Middle School band in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He has over 25 years of experience in conducting and directing bands and is one of the most sought-after adjudicators and conductors in the state. “He is one of the most sought-after clinicians in the southeastern United States,” Taylor emphasized. “His accolades are vast.”

Under Rosse’s direction, the students performed “Carnegie Anthem” (by William Owens), “Connectus” (by Carol Brittin-Chambers), “Cheerio March” (arranged by Johnny Vinson), “Whispers from Beyond” (by Rossano Galante), “Raise Your Joys and Triumphs High” (by James Swearingen), and “Tahoka Galop” (by William Owens).

Guest Conductor Kerry Bryant led the 11th-12th High School Honor Band. Bryant is the Director of Instrumental Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia. He is also the Co-Conductor of the North Georgia Youth Wind Symphony, and was previously the Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia. Bryant has been the director of bands at numerous Georgia high schools. “This experience over a span of 38 years means he has taught all grade levels – kindergarten through college – in music education courses,” Vidalia High School Assistant Band Director Arnold explained.

Bryant led the students as they performed “Fortress” (by Frank Ticheli), “An Irish Rhapsody” (by Clare Grundman), “As Torrents in Summer” (arranged by A.O. Davis), “Reverberations” (Brian Balmages), “Florentiner March” (arranged by Lake-Fennell), and “The Symphonic Gershwin” (arranged by Warren Barker).

At the conclusion of the performances, Vidalia High School Band Director Taylor and Assistant Director Arnold presented the guest conductors with gift baskets and bags of Vidalia onions as a token of gratitude for their service to the program.

Taylor and Arnold also shared their gratitude to Vidalia High School Interim Principal Steve Freenor, Vidalia City Schools Superintendent Sandy Reid, the Vidalia City Schools Board of Education, the Vidalia SoundTribe Band Boosters, Music and Arts Education Representative Tim Pounds, Dr. Matt Haley and the Brewton-Parker College Music Department, and Toombs County Middle and High Schools for their support and help in providing needed equipment for the event.

The duo also thanked the local businesses and individuals that sponsored the event: Grace Bridal, Vulcan Materials Company, Moses Grass Company, State Farm Agent Mike Manning, Vidalia Pharmacy, Chapman Pharmacy, Letta Fett, Dot Foods, Edmonds Trucking, Trane Technologies, Brewton-Parker College, Stanley Southern Traditions, Dermatology Associates, Chicken of the Sea, Affinis Hospice, Tractor Supply Company, Community Hospice, Crider Foods, McLendon Enterprises, Napa, Waters Waste Services, Golden Isles Healthcare, T-Byrd’s Slice-N-Ice, Vidalia Pediatric Clinic (Tots to Teens Medical Center), Best Drone Services, The Alonso Family, Vidalia Cleaners, City Drugs, Beth’s Florist, Ryals Drug Store, Daniel’s 24/7 Transport, Smith’s Pharmacy, James and Claudia Walton, Daniel’s VIP Automotive, Tres Chicas, Allcare Pharmacy, Doo’s by Mindy, and Jason and Rachel Davis.

“Without support from our local community, we would not be able to host this event,” Taylor emphasized.

The Sweet Onion Honor Band is held annually. Participants must submit an audition video for a chance to be selected for the opportunity. Audition submission dates for the 2026 Sweet Onion Honor Band will be shared at a later date.

11th-12th GRADE HONOR BAND – Guest Conductor Kerry Bryant leads the 11th-12th grade Honor Band Performance.Photo by Makaylee Randolph

9TH-10TH GRADE HONOR BAND – Guest Conductor Vincent K. Rosse leads the 9th-10th Grade Honor Band performance.Photo by Makaylee Randolph

TOKEN OF GRATITUDE – Sweet Onion Honor Band Event Coordinators Elizabeth Taylor and Steven W. Arnold thanked the three guest conductors that helped lead the honors bands with a gift basket and bag of Vidalia Onions.Photo by Makaylee Randolph