Discovery’s drumline, Excelsior, earned first place and the Discovery Winter Guard earned second place at the Color Guard Field Day and Percussion Premier in Bowling Green, Ky. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – In their first contest, the Discovery Middle School Color Guard and Indoor Drumline grabbed top honors at the Color Guard Field Day and Percussion Premier in Bowling Green, Ky.

“Excelsior, the Discovery Drumline, received a first-place finish, and the Discovery Winter Guard received a second-place finish in the cadet division,” Murray said.

“Discovery fielded its first competitive Winter Guard this year competing in the cadet class of the Southeastern Color Guard Circuit (SCGC),” band director Monroe Murray said about the Bowling Green meet on Jan. 25.

Excelsior also competed at this qualifying event in the “Percussion Scholastic Non-Movement” division. To be eligible for SCGC championships, Discovery had to compete at one of three field day events.

Organized last school year, Excelsior competed on the SCGC circuit and received a superior rating at 2013 finals in Nashville. This year is the winter guard’s premiere.

During 2014, the Discovery students will compete against units from Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama.

Both Discovery units will compete at Hoover High School, Feb. 22; Bob Jones High School, March 1; and SCGC finals for Winter Guard on March 22 and Excelsior on March 29.

“Along with these seasonal competitions, both groups will travel with the Discovery Symphonic Band and Jazz Band for Festival Disney competitions on April 25-25 in Orlando,” Murray said.

Bob Jones teacher Nichole Murray directs the Winter Guard with assistant director Ashley Rabey, Shannon Walker and Hannah Fisher. Murray directs Excelsior, with Jeff Holmes and Kevin Enfinger assisting.

The Winter Guard’s show, “Everything’s Rosie!,” depicts empowerment of the American woman using a theme involving the iconic Rosie the Riveter of World War II fame. Music includes passages from “Rosie the Riveter,” The Vagabonds; “Brave,” Sara Bareilles; and “Roar,” Katy Perry.

Excelsior’s original show,”Spies,” by Steve Martin, Aaron Hines and Kyle Zive evokes the nature and themes of a secret agent’s life, Murray said.