The Ballou High School Band Keeps Marching On!

In October of last year, Ellen interviewed the amazing director of the Ballou High School Marching Band, Darrell Watson. Thanks to Darrell's inspiration, students of this inner city school in Southeast Washington, DC have been given opportunities they might otherwise not have received. It's a rare story of triumph over adversity.

So many exciting things have happened for the Ballou Marching Band since they were last on our show -- we wanted to take a moment to catch you up on all of their amazing adventures!

They have appeared on numerous local radio and TV stations. A Hollywood film based on the life story of Darrell Watson is currently in development. In 2007, “ABC World News with Charlie Gibson” selected Mr. Watson and Majestic Marching Knights to be Persons of the Week. Then they were chosen as their Persons of the Year for 2007!

At the Asymmetrix National High Stepping Marching Band Championship in Greensboro, NC, the band won more awards than ever before, including:

2nd Place in Division II, but won Flags, Dance and Percussion
1st Place in the overall Flag Division 2 years in a row
1st Place in the overall Dance Division
1st Place in the overall Percussion Division

So many incredible things have been happening for them in the DC area, too! In December 2007, the DC City Council presented the band with a ceremonial resolution for their “dedication and sacrifice.” They participated in DC’s 2008 National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. The WNBA’s Washington Mystics chose Ballou as their official home game Pep Band! The Mayor of Washington, DC proclaimed June 13, 2008 as Ballou High School Majestic Marching Knights Day. And to top it all off, Ballou has been chosen to represent Washington, DC at the prestigious 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade and the 2009 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

The students themselves have had some remarkable achievements as well! Of 27 seniors who were in the band, 24 of them graduated on June 8th -- including one student who graduated 7th in his class! The other three students are expected to graduate after summer school, and 17 graduating seniors will be attending college this fall! In addition, 9 band members received the Achievers Scholarship Award. The District of Columbia Achievers Program is a partnership of the District of Columbia College Success Foundation (DCCSF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The program provides annual scholarships, mentoring support and high-intensity college access services to approximately 250 highly motivated, low income students from six public high schools in Washington, DC.

next: A Missed Match Made in Heaven

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Posted by Avjnzblm | July 13, 2009 6:09 PM

I was a spectator at the recent Tournament of Roses Parade and watched the performance of the band. The music was wonderful and the marching formations were great....HOWEVER...the choreography was very suggestive and vulgar. The marchers and some of the band members engaged in simulated sexual intercourse. They stuck out their pelvic regions and did the thrust...at each other. Some of the band member with smaller instruments or drum sticks put those items in front of their crotch and did the pelvic thrusting. During another part of the routine some of the females leaned over forward and shook their breasts like a bimbo at a strip club. The band was standing still so we got to witness the display for a period of time. There was quite a lot of comments heard in the crowd, most of which was derogatory of the display. One that was most uncomplementary was that they were acting like Don Imus accused the basketball team of acting!

I hope that you will review choreography before future parades.

mmm

Posted by May | January 10, 2009 4:36 PM

My name is Tre and i play the alto sax I have been in the band maybe for about 3 or 4 months and I have changed a lot and Mr. Watson know i have because he saw how i was when i first started and how I am now. But all i want to say is that I love the band a lot me and other people may get into a disagreement but thats my family what family dont have disagreements?. But Thanks Ellen for the things you have done for the BALLOU MARCHING KNIGHTS.

PSI PHI SAX ALL DAY....

Posted by Tre Smith | January 5, 2009 10:00 AM

i've been apart of the ballou band for about 5 months and mr,.watson has changed my life and he really dosent know it.
because of him im not on the streets and my grades are getting better and i am learning how to read music
the band is my family and i love them all like they are my brothers and sisters.
we are a family we act like a family
we may be a little discombobulated but we are a family. and thats all i have to say

FOR NOW

BALLOU KNGHTS
ALL DAY

Posted by darias aka big son of the ballou shs k-phi-boom drumline | December 19, 2008 9:36 AM

Where do I send a donation for Ballou Marching Band's trip to the Rose Bowl parade?

Gabriel

Posted by Gabriel | December 17, 2008 1:31 PM

Right here Barbara:
http://www.balloumovie.com/contact.html

Posted by Lori | December 17, 2008 1:28 PM

How do I make a donation to the Ballou band on-line?

Posted by Barbara Anderson | December 17, 2008 6:47 AM

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