THOMASVILLE- The Thomas County Central High School Band is hard at work this week learning the music and marching routine for this year’s halftime performance.

A nod to George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” this year’s performance is aptly titled Rhapsody in Blue and Gold and features a number of jazz favorites that crowd members can tap along to.

“We are basing our show around Rhapsody in Blue and interspersing that with three well-known, popular jazz numbers,” said Associate Band Director Kristen Swan.

The jazz numbers include “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” “Sing, Sing, Sing” and “In the Mood.”

The composition of songs was a collaborative effort between Swan and Band Director Joe Regina.

“We pretty much collaborate on everything and the song “Rhapsody in Blue” was one of the first compositions to combine jazz with classical music, so we saw it as sort of history lesson for the students, as well as a fun and entertaining halftime show,” Regina said.

The show will not only offer crowd members the opportunity to tap along to the beat, but will provide band members with solos to showcase the range they’ve acquired.

“We have a couple of trombone soloists, a couple of trumpet soloists, and the woodwinds will have a solo in “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” Regina said.

Senior Brass Captain Teddy Cone will be one of the trumpet soloists, and expressed his excitement for the opportunity.

“I’m most looking forward to these beautiful horn sounds,” he said. “We have a bunch of high notes in this, which is actually great for trumpet players. It’s a really rewarding feeling to know they trust me to do this.”{

The soloists will be performing in front an elaborate backdrop Regina had created for the half-time show.

“We had these elaborate props designed,” he said. “It’s a big city watercolor, combined with a jazz club atmosphere.”

Section leaders have expressed their excitement over all the glitz and glamour of this year’s performance.

Drum Major Jesus Altamirana said he’s really looking forward to the sound the band is going to produce, once all the practices are over and done with.

Additionally, he expressed excitement over the younger band members and the growth that the band is seeing.

According to Regina, more than 140 students are enrolled in band this year.

“I’m really excited to see the freshman grow and understand and be able to play all the music,” he said.

Altamirana has worked diligently at the camp to relate to the freshman, showing them that he was once on their level as well.

“You have to step in their shoes,” he said. “We were once like that as well and looked up to the older kids who seemed so grand.”

The underclassmen will need a role model, as Woodwind Captain Savana Manning stated the songs chosen for this year’s performance are more difficult than the ones in previous years. However, it’s a challenge she and her fellow Woodwind section members are ready to take on, while preparing for their section solo.

Cone, Altamirana and Manning all promised the fine tuning will be worked out during the final week of band camp.

“It’s going to be a great year,” they agreed. “Everyone is really going to love this year’s show.”

Fans can see the band in action on August 25, as the Yellow Jackets take on cross-town rival Thomasville.