The Anderson High School Marching Band recently received an honor from a leading nonprofit music education advocacy organization.
Anderson was named the recipient of the 2025 Decision-Maker Engagement Award by Music For All: Advocacy in Action.
“The purpose of this initiative is to recognize productive engagement and collaboration between the decision-makers of the Anderson High School Band Department, Anderson Band Boosters, and administrators at Anderson High School, Highland Middle School, and Anderson Community Schools Central Office,” according to a release posted on the Music For All website.
Richard Geisler, the band director at Anderson High School, was participating in a workshop in the spring of 2024 when a Music for All representative approached him.
She mentioned she attended the Tartan Tournament of Bands, an annual marching band competition at Highland Middle School, in the summer of 2023 and recommended Geisler submit details of the event to Music For All.
Geisler said he appreciated that the representative asked questions about the event and noticed how involved everyone at the school is.
“As she was scouting the contest, she came to learn we had our high school administrative team there, our athletic director was helping with timing, our (interim) principal was the announcer,” Geisler said. “Her understanding of what we do with facilities to make that happen and the fact we host it at a different school than where we attend, she thought that was a neat thing and was impressed by the collaborative efforts that go into hosting that contest.”
Jonathan Chandler, an AHS senior, and Yamileth Reyes Guzman, a junior, are both members of the marching band. They said the recognition that comes with the award is meaningful.
“It is exciting to get success, like being told that you are doing something great,” Chandler said. “It is cool being recognized for the Tartan Tournament.”
Guzman agreed.
“It was amazing to be recognized by such a big organization,” Guzman said. “It is nice being recognized for the work we do.”
Alan Landes, the interim principal at AHS, said the tournament is a “team effort.”
“The award is a great honor,” Landes said. “The Tartan Tournament of Bands is a major undertaking that would be overwhelming if not for the team effort. We are proud to be a part of it and proud of everyone involved.”
This article appeared in The Herald Bulletin.