Band marches toward success

Tarpon Springs High School marching band is one of the best in the country, taking first place at the super regional competition in Atlanta.

Kevin Ford has been the band director at Tarpon Springs for the last 16 years.

"It's certainly a team effort between our students we have terrific teachers and instructors that assist with the band our school community are behind the band and support them very much," Ford said.

The band competed against 42 other schools around the southeast to take home the top prize -- including three others from Florida.

Meghan King is a junior in high school and has been playing saxophone for the past seven years.

"We got to compete with the best, and it's great to know that while we were doing our best," Megan said.

Joseph Velez also plays saxophone and he says being in the band and doing so well has helped them all realize hard work pays off.

"Just hearing your name called first out of 45 bands, you feel a lot of pride in what you do, and it just makes you work harder as a musician and work harder as a leader in the program," Velez said.

It's a program that continues to win championships, but more importantly, builds strong students who are ready to take the next step in their young lives.