May 28, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
An award-winning DCHS Fighting Tiger Band member will be furthering her education and talents at the collegiate level.
Serenity Burgess has received a $20,000 scholarship from Cumberland University in Lebanon and will become a member of the Phoenix Marching Band, an elite high impact, woodwind, brass and percussion performance group.
Burgess made her commitment official in a recent signing at DCHS.
Joining Serenity for the signing were her parents, Josh and Tristan Burgess, grandparents Jerry and Tammy Maynard, and her siblings.
A 7-year band member, Serenity played flute and piccolo for the DCHS band and earned her position as drum major for the second year in a row.
“She was a great leader in the band and will be greatly missed,” said DCHS Band Director Don Whitt. “Serenity was a flute section leader, and also the drum major for the past two marching seasons. She ranked a very high superior rating at our competitions this year and received the second highest award in the DeKalb Band Program, The Louis Armstrong Award for outstanding musicianship,” said Whitt.
Burgess had been in the band since 6th grade and had also been a member of the color guard.
“I was interested in joining band when I was a kid,” Burgess said. “I thought the marching band was cool. I loved seeing the band perform in the Homecoming and Christmas parades.”
“I have enjoyed the friends and family and being able to connect with people on a different level. It’s like communication through music. One of my most meaningful experiences while being in band would be getting drum major. I thought I would try out to see if I was meant for it, and it has turned out amazing.”
Burgess said her plans are to major in Education for a future career as an elementary school teacher.
Cumberland University offers music education to all students wishing to take private lessons, music courses, or to participate in one or more of their instrumental or choral ensembles. Students there can earn Associate or Baccalaureate degrees in General Music, Music Performance, or Music Education. The Band Director at Cumberland University is Dr. Wayne Ray.