Nicole Wright and Kerry Martin will be representing Athens Drive High School and the Triangle area when they arrive in San Antonio today for the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band.

The U.S. Army All-American Marching Band features 97 of the finest high school senior marching musicians from across the country. Like the character of an Army Strong Soldier and the U.S. Army All-American football players, the national selection of All-American band members is based on a broad range of attributes: musical accomplishment, academic achievement, leadership abilities, and community service.

Now in its second year, the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band performs during halftime of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, which will be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio on January 3, 2009, nationally broadcast by NBC. It will also be simulcast on the web, with more information at www.usarmyallamericanbowl.com.

Kerry and Nicole were notified of their All-American status when the U.S. Army All-American Selection Tour made a stop at Athens Drive High School on November 18. Staff Sergeant Brone of the U.S. Army presented them with honorary All-American Band jackets as officially announced them as All-American Band members.

The two Athens Drive High School All-American Band members were nominated by Band Director Dr. Jerry Markoch based on their musicianship and leadership throughout their years in the band program. Not only are Nicole and Kerry outstanding musicians, but they excel in the classroom, too, as both are members of the National Honor Society.

Playing the snare drum, Kerry Martin earned a spot on the Athens Drive drumline as an eighth grader. For the past six years, Kerry has been working with the drumline instructor, John Antonelli, starting first on the snare drum, later branching out to include the marimba and other percussion instruments. He achieved the coveted Center Snare position his sophomore year; the Center Snare is the timing center for the band. As Center Snare for three years, he is also a percussion section leader his senior year.

Kerry has also been a four year member of the Athens Drive Percussion Ensemble. The Percussion Ensemble class performs classical and modern works in an indoor concert setting. The Percussion Ensemble has earned national honors this year, and is one of just eight percussion ensembles nationwide selected to perform at the prestigious Music for All's National Percussion Festival in Indianapolis next March.

Kerry enjoys many extra-curricular musical activities. Steve McKeiver, a marching tech for Athens Drive and then on staff with the South Granville High School band program, had Kerry tech and tune indoor drumline during his freshmen year, as ADHS did not yet have an indoor program. During his sophomore year, he lent his drumset talents Platinum Indoor Ensemble, an indoor brass and percussion performance. As a lifelong Duke fan, he has also played in the Duke pep band during basketball games while the students are on break.

An honors student, Kerry is also an athlete, playing lacrosse during his junior and senior years at Athens. Kerry plans to pursue a career in medicine, looking forward to studying either orthopedics or sports medicine.

Nicole Wright is a talented clarinet player. She began playing the clarinet in sixth grade and marching band in the seventh grade. Now in her senior year, she is the clarinet section leader and was elected Band Captain by the band members. Band Captain is the highest leadership position in the marching band, requiring extra hours leading and mentoring other band students.

Nicole is a three year member of the Wind Ensemble, the advanced band at Athens Drive. Membership in the Wind Ensemble is granted by audition only. This band has earned many Superior ratings in the NCMEA State Festival. Nicole has frequently been a soloist during Wind Ensemble concerts. After auditioning with hundreds of other North Carolina high school clarinet students, Nicole was also chosen to be a member of the NC Central District Band.

Nicole is an active member of the ADHS Jazz Ensemble, an extra-curricular band that focuses on jazz, Latin, and even rock music. Nicole is frequently featured as a soloist. 

Nicole has played in the pit orchestra for school plays as well as playing in handbell choir at her church

Nicole is an honor roll student, a member of the Math Club and Environmental Awareness Club. After graduating from high school she plans to attend college and major in Music Therapy. This is an established healthcare profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages.

Kerry and Nicole follow fellow band member Kevin Still as All-Americans. A talented trumpet player and drum major of the ADHS band his senior year, Kevin was selected as an All-American last year. Kevin is now studying music at UNC Charlotte.

The selection process is quite rigorous. First, the students are nominated by their band director. Dr. Jerry Markoch nominated them based on the following All-American criteria: exceptional musicianship, marching achievement, character, and leadership. Once they were nominated, the students had to submit a written application that included their musical activities and honors, their grade point average, and answers to essay questions.

The nominees had to submit four videos. The audition video required them to play a pre-selected piece while marching a prescribed drill pattern. Another video required them to snap to attention, captured from a number of angles to show their posture. A five minute solo piece of the student's choice and a spoken response to an interview question rounded out the four videos. Once the audition package was submitted, it was a long wait until the day the big envelope arrived in the mailbox and they could look forward to the U.S. Army bringing the All-American Selection tour to Athens Drive.

The All-American band members received their music and drill charts in December. When they arrive in San Antonio today, they need to have their music memorized. They will have four days to meet their new band members, be fitted for a uniform, rehearse the music and drill and prepare a 10 minute half-time show. In high school, the process to get to the first show begins with an intense week at band camp and then rehearsal for another six or seven weeks. Even with that tight schedule, there will still be some social activities. The All-American football players and band members will spend New Year's Eve on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. A barbeque at Pedrotti's Ranch will take place on New Year's Day, and there will be a reception following the All-American Bowl game.