“One, two, three, four,

Marching Lions bring the ROAR!”

By Samantha DePriest

We have heard others say that our Friday Night Lights experience in Sharpsburg is unlike anything they have experienced anywhere else. TCS Performing Arts Director Mr. Tim Hurt had a vision years ago to bring the sights, sounds, and performances to our varsity football games and the quest to assemble the Marching Lions began. With God’s help and tremendous support from our incredible TCS parents, Mr. Hurt has assembled a phenomenal team to help teach the love of music and the love of Jesus to our students. Lions and visiting teams witness this beautiful band family in action every Friday night as they put on amazing productions both in the stands and on the field.

Mr. Tim Hurt shares the timeline from the inception of our Marching Lions until now. Humble beginnings was where it all started with a Middle School only Drum Corps launching in January of 2019. Later that calendar year in the Fall of 2019, TCS added a High School Drum Corps to the Friday Night lights team. In March of 2021, our TCS Marching Band without formations took the field during half time of our varsity football games and in the Fall of 2022, our first year of full marching band began.

Mrs. Katie Palmer joined the team this year and leads our Wind Ensemble, which are instruments requiring air to make sounds, including the piccolo, clarinet, trumpet, alto sax, tenor sax, horn, bass clarinet, euphonium, and trombone. She also assists Mr. Hurt leading our Percussion group including cymbals, tenors, snares, and bass drums. Mrs. Palmer brings energy and experience to the team. She herself has been a trumpet player since 6th grade, a drum major in high school, performed in the marching band that marched in the Macy’s Day parade, and even played in the Atlanta Symphony Junior orchestra. She has led worship both at Trinity Church and in the Dominican Republic where her and her husband were in full time ministry as missionaries before moving back to the states with their 5 children. You may recognize her name as this is her second year teaching trumpet lessons to students at TCS in the Music Arts Academy and she also assists with 5th grade band and Middle School band.

Mrs. Palmer shares, “Music has always been a passion of mine and a part of my life. I am passionate about teaching, training, and equipping students not only to love music but most importantly about the love of Christ.” She goes on to share, “Music can change your life and teach you discipline, dedication, and how to become a leader.” Mrs. Palmer is so proud of the Marching Lions and says, “Our students positive attitudes and desire to raise the bar of excellence is truly the key to their success.”

To help cultivate leaders, create opportunities, and further develop abilities in our students, new roles are being added each year. This year student Kylie Beckman is serving as our 1st ever Drum Major for our TCS Marching Lions. The family atmosphere and culture allows for students to learn how to lead their peers on the field while remaining friends off the field because of a mutual respect for one another. Lastly, Mrs. Palmer shares, “One great thing about TCS is students are encouraged to participate in multiple activities in addition to Marching Lions. We have students who also participate in Archery, Track & Field, Swimming, Drama club, and eSports just to name a few. We strongly encourage students take advantage of all TCS has to offer and push outside their comfort zone to try new things.”

Band Parent, Lea Selleck, shares “Band just has a different heart than the world around it.  Music brings us together in a unique way. When you make music together and create something fun and beautiful, it’s bonding.  I’ve seen kids from our band and other bands shower each other with compliments and support.   They have a ritual of greeting the guest marching band and our kids fight for the opportunity to be on the “welcome team’.”. We recently performed at the Coweta County Band Exhibition where we were invited to perform our show along with much larger, competitive bands in the area.   You wouldn’t believe the spirit these kids have for each other.   They work so hard to create “moments” on the field and wow do they respond to each others’ performances.   As a band begins they are absolutely silent with anticipation.   During performances they are looking for the “moments”, and when they happen the crowd goes wild.   It might be in a difficult formation or in a drum break or when the color guard splits their single flags into two as a little added surprise, but they go wild for each other.   This to me is a God moment.   It’s when we celebrate each other and our hard work.   It’s when we encourage each other even if we’re in competition.   I think God smiles on them.   It brings to mind the verse that says, “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV) 

Color Guard

This is year three of our TCS Color guard led by Coach Kim Pinkerton with help from Assistant Coach Kristy Goss. TCS Color guard practices two times a week at school and on their own at home. The team performs and travels with our varsity football team. On average, they perform three songs lasting about 8 minutes during the half-time of every game, home and away. TCS Colorguard also performs at the TCS Homecoming Parade and at the Coweta County Band Exhibition each September. During the Exhibition, local bands from ECHS, Newnan, Northgate, and Troup County high schools perform for one another. It is an encouraging and supportive environment where industry judges share feedback with the teams.

Student Shelby Sheffield is the youngest member of the color guard and shares, “My experience has been very exciting so far as being a part of the Marching Lions color guard. I feel that I can be myself and not worry about what others think about me. So far it has been a memorable experience for me from warming up to actually performing the show. I have been having an amazing experience with the girls on the color guard and with everyone in the band. I am so very grateful for the directors and Coach Kim for teaching me all I know, and pushing me to my potential. It is an honor for me as the only middle schooler on the color guard and the youngest of the band to be a part of the band.”  

TCS Color guard is open for 7th - 12th grade girls and requires attending two practices a week at school. Color guard students who are in high school earn varsity letters and pins for years of participating. Coach Kim shares, “Color guard is a wonderful way to get involved. It is who are open to young ladies eager to learn something new. And since it is new to everyone because no one has ever done color guard, it’s a wonderful way to be involved in our Marching Lions.  Our try-outs and parent interest meeting will be held this Spring with information in the Performing Arts sections of weekly newsletter “Inside the Pride”. Once you make the team, TCS hosts a Marching Lions summer band camp each July. 

Mrs. Vanessa Todhunter, TCS parent of Brie Todhunter who has been a part of our TCS Color Guard for three years shares “Thank you for taking the time to shed light on our Marching Lions who practice countless hours in the extreme heat and perform shows and cheer on our football team in the extreme cold! I’m so very proud of these kids and their dedication and commitment.”

Coach Kim Pinkerton goes on to share, ”I love that the teams have such comradery and support each other. It is sucsh a great atmosphere that I have never experienced at other schools. Our Varsity Cheer team has been Marching Lions biggest cheerleaders - they are so supportive.” 

Students who are interested in learning more about joining the Marching Lions may email TIm.hurt@tcslions.org directly and for TCS Color Guard Kim.pinkerton@tcslions.org for more information. Informational meetings will be held this Spring on campus. Stay tuned for more details in the Performing Arts section of our weekly newsletter “Inside the Pride”.