Garrett Christopher Sapp, the son of Brent and Heather Sapp of Lewisville, N.C. and the grandson of D. R. and Linda Sapp of Blackshear, Barbara Carpenter of Lewisville and Michael Carpenter of Atlanta, was awarded the honor as part of the 2023 All-American D-Day Marching Band commemorating the D-Day Invasion.
In an educational trip beginning May 30th through June 8th the band will tour the monuments and memorials in Washington, D.C., They will play at the WWII Memorial and visit the Arlington National Cemetery. In Normandy the band will visit the Omaha and Utah Beaches, the D-Day Museum and will participate in a memorial parade in the village of Sainte-Mere-Eglise.
They will also visit the American Cemetery in Brittany, participate in a wreath laying ceremony there, participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach, and visit the medieval town and fortress abbey of Mont St. Michel.
Once the students leave Normandy, they travel to Paris to visit the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arch de Triomphe, Opera, Notre Dame, Champs, Elysees, Montmartre, take a tour on the Seine River, and perform at the beautiful Jardin d’ Acclimatation.
Only 125 students were chosen for this All-American Marching Band from a nationwide competition after a year and a half process of auditions for each cut of the process.
Garrett is a senior and is taking classes at Forsyth Tech, Ronald Reagan High School and Career Pfafftown, NC.
Garrett has been in Marching Band at Ronald Reagan High School from 9th-12th grades while being in a leadership position from 10th-12th grades. He has been a member of Wachovia Winds Youth Wind Ensemble from 6th -12th grades, and he has been a member of the Winston-Salem Youth Symphony Orchestra both 10th and 12th grades.
Garrett was accepted into All-County Honor’s Band 6th-11th grades, accepted into All-District Honor’s Band 8th-11th grade, eligible for All-State auditions 9th-11th grades and accepted into NC All-State Honor’s Band lOth and 11th grades, and accepted into All-State Western Regional Orchestra 11th grade.
Garrett received the Thomas Jefferson Middle School Excellent Achievement A ward for band 6th-8th grades, and the Band Director’s Award for Excellence in 11th grade. He has also been a member of the National Society of High School Scholars 8th-11th grade.
Garrett and the Wind Ensemble and Orchestra classes at Ronald Reagan High School were also given the opportunity to play at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City in April of this year.
Garrett is applying to the University of Georgia, Virginia Tech, the University of North Carolina, and Western Carolina University. Garrett plans to double major in clarinet performance and engineering, and he plans on participating in the schools’ marching band as well.
