Travelers Rest High School
The Journey from Out of Finals to State Medalist
The Context
Travelers Rest High School (TR) had a passionate student base and dedicated staff, but they were stuck in a competitive plateau. Competing in South Carolina's fierce AAA and AAAA classifications, the band was consistently finishing around 14th place at Upper State—just missing the cutoff for State Finals.
The students were working hard, but the vehicle on the field wasn't rewarding their efforts. The show designs were often "too safe" to be competitive or "too difficult" to be clean.
"We needed a change. We needed a design team that understood where we were and, more importantly, where we wanted to go. Bright Designs didn't just write us a show; they built us a ladder."
The Strategy: "Maximize GE"
To jump from 14th place to the Top 3, we couldn't just be "better." We had to be smarter. As Program Coordinators and Music Designers, Bright Designs partnered with TR's staff to implement a comprehensive strategy.
1. Program Coordination: The Vision
We worked to align every element of the production—music, visual, and props—under a single, cohesive vision. With a mid-sized ensemble, "looking small" is a death sentence on the score sheets. We coordinated with the visual team to ensure:
- Strategic Staging: Compressed staging to create visual density and integrate the winds and guard.
- Prop Integration: Using scenic elements to frame the field, focusing the audience's eye and making the band appear larger.
2. Music Design: "Goldilocks" Difficulty
Previous shows often exposed student weaknesses. We pivoted to writing achievable vocabulary. The wind book was designed to sound sophisticated and full, but lay comfortably in the students' ranges. This allowed the students to play with confidence, volume, and great intonation—factors that immediately boosted Music Analysis scores.
3. Cohesive Conceptual Design
We moved away from abstract themes to clear, emotionally resonant concepts. Whether it was a darker, intense show or a lighthearted production, every musical and visual moment served a single, unified idea that judges could instantly grasp and reward.
The Outcome
The results were historic for the program. In the first year of our partnership, Travelers Rest didn't just make finals—they skyrocketed up the rankings.
- State Finals: TR became a consistent State Medalist (Top 3), earning multiple caption awards for Visual Performance and General Effect.
- Regional Success: The success translated to the national stage, with the band becoming a frequent BOA Regional Finalist, competing against some of the best programs in the Southeast.
Most importantly, the culture of the program shifted. The students now expect excellence because they know their show gives them the opportunity to achieve it.