2007 Tennessee Valley Showcase Competition
Grand Champions

2007 Southern Invitational Marching Competition
Grand Champions

Alan C. Pope High School
3001 Hembree Rd.
Marietta, GA 30062
770-578-7900
Cobb County Schools
http://www.cobbk12.org/legal.htm

3001 Hembree Rd.
Marietta, GA 30062

Welcome to one of America's most recognized high school band programs.

This website is maintained by the booster organization, PBPA, made up of parents supporting the student members of this outstanding program. Financial resources for our "non-profit organization" activities come from various fund raising functions and local business and individual tax deductible contributions. Those generous contributors are recognized here on the Sponsors page, and in our monthly newsletter. Find out how you can get involved in supporting the band's championship effort on the PBPA page. We hope to entertain you at one of our many upcoming performances!

The Alan C. Pope High School Band, Marietta, Georgia, is under the direction of Mr. Gary Gribble and Mr. Josh Rudolph.  The Pope Band program has a long history of outstanding performance in symphonic, marching, chamber, and auxiliary activities. The Symphonic Bands have performed at numerous conventions and festivals, including the GMEA State Convention, University of South Carolina Conductors Symposium, the National Adjudicators Invitational (twice), and three performances at the Bands of America National Concert Festival.

The Pope Marching Band has garnered over 300 awards in its 19 year competitive history, including 20 grand championships. The band was Bands of America Regional Champion in 1992, and has been a consistent Finalist at BOA Regionals in St. Petersburg, Atlanta, Johnson City, St. Louis, Bowling Green, and Louisville. In 2001 and again in 2002, Pope was a national semi-finalist at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, finishing 16th in 2001 and 13th in 2002 (among 84 competing bands). Pope is a recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation “Sudler Shield of Marching Excellence”.

The Pope Marching Band has appeared in the Cotton Bowl and Citrus Bowl Parades, as well as in the Lord Mayor’s Parade in London, the London Millennium Parade, the Waikiki Thanksgiving Parade, Children’s Healthcare Parade (four appearances), and the East Cobber Parade. In 2006, the band returned to Hawaii for the Waikiki Parade and the 65th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pope has performed in television commercials for Longhorn Steakhouse and Freidman’s Jewelers. The Pope band performed in Hawaii for the flag raising at the Arizona Memorial in November 2002, and has appeared at the Opening Day Ceremonies for the Atlanta Braves on two occasions. The Pope Marching Band has been featured at halftime of the Atlanta Falcons and has participated in numerous community functions. The band was also invited and played for President George W. Bush during his visit to Atlanta in the fall of 2002.

The Pope Winter Guard and Indoor Drumline have enjoyed tremendous success over the past 10 years. Both have been medalists at Southeast Color Guard Circuit and Winter Guard International events. The Pope Percussion Ensemble has performed for GMEA, PASIC, and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. The Pope Brass Band has appeared at the GMEA state music convention.

Pope consistently places a large percentage of students in the GMEA All State Band & Orchestra, the District XII Honor Bands, ASYO, AYWS, and numerous college honor bands. Pope students have participated in the Governors Honors Program and in a variety of summer music programs.

The band program at Pope is founded on the philosophy that every student has a place as a participant and as a performer. Competition is not the goal; rather, it is a means of improving our own past levels of performance. Achievement is measured through our continued participation in a variety of music-related activities, and through the student’s development of life-long skills with music as the common factor.

Fifteen Pope alumni are practicing band directors, and over 25 alumni continue playing their instruments professionally. Several students are currently pursuing music degrees. We hope that graduates of the program will continue their appreciation for and support of music throughout their lives.

POPE-    Pursuit  Of  Performance  Excellence

Please note:  The content on these pages is created and contributed by officers of the PBPA and the Pope Band Leadership.  Articles, stories and information may be submitted by others and are welcomed (in digital format).  Prior to being inserted on these pages, all submissions will be forwarded to PBPA leadership to confirm compliance with organization requirements and Cobb County Policy.
©2007 Cobb County School District. All Rights Reserved.