Phoebus Band, run by Mr. Edward Ricks (757-727-1016, ericks@hampton.k12.va.us) is a year-round music based program for the students of Phoebus High school. The band includes the musicians, the flag team, the drill team, and the majorettes. The group enhances youth lives with rigor, focus, attention to detail and excellence, supporting their fellow Phoebus students, and the local community.

Sending students to UVA Music camps in July.

Citizens of the Virginia Peninsula of Hampton Roads benefit by having active, engaged students who are learning self-discipline, teamwork, and confidence in a safe environment. These students are positive role models to their peers and thus to the community.

PHS band involves students from Phoebus High school with other organizations within the school: sports teams, cheerleaders, Pep rallies, and the group plays music for formal events as requested by the school (special assembly to honor PHS alum Margot Lee Shetterly, award ceremonies, PTA dinner). Moreover, the band will participate in 3 area parades this fall: Southeast parade, Coliseum Central Holiday parade, and the HollyDays parade.

Youth in bands generally do better in school, are more likely to go on for further education, and are much more likely to be involved in community serving organizations. For instance, the students are learning the value of serving others by supporting the football team at games and performing at parades to entertain the public. Moreover, each family in the band is requested to work one Community Knights event each semester. Finally, the students in the band program are more likely to also be involved in community organizations as they become adults, since they know the disciplines of sacrifice, hard work, community spirit, and the benefit of being part of something larger than themselves.

The monies will be used to send section leaders to Band camp at the University of Virginia. Those students chosen for camp will be expected to return to Phoebus and recreate their experience for those students who did not go. Ideally, these students will grow in confidence and leadership, directing their fellow students into an organization in which they all feel pride and play a vital role.

We are grateful for the support the Community Knights have already given to Phoebus High School band. This program has assisted Phoebus and the newly re-formed Band Boosters program to better coordinate and assist in making the Phoebus band a better supported organization. The monies from this past quarter were spent to purchase materials to make 30 capes for the auxiliary and supplies to repair aging band uniforms. The youth are responding positively to the attention they are receiving. Community Knights has provided significant material support so the Band Boosters can focus on the youth.