For three years, Rachel Griffith marched with the Bridgeport High School Frontline - as a majorette her sophomore and junior years and a color guard her senior year. She went onto West Virginia University, where she was part of the Mountaineer Marching Band's color guard unit, serving one year as rank captain. Griffith has also competed with the indoor competitive guard team, Eloquence Performance Company, where she was co-captain.

 

She is still spinning.

 

Recently, Griffith – a member of the BHS Class of 2012 - accepted a position with Fairmont State University as color guard instructor. This fall, her handiwork will be seen when the unit, along with the rest of the Falcon Marching Band, performs the 2016 football field show.

 

“I knew that in addition to my full-time position relating to my degree, I wanted to teach color guard on the side,” she said. “My (indoor guard) instructor took a screen shot of a Facebook status that FSU was looking for a color guard instructor and encouraged me to apply.”

 

Griffith said she feels fortunate to have received the job. Bridgeport High School Band Director Chris Hayslette said he was quite pleased to hear the news.

 

“Rachel always loved being a performer on the frontline. She was very dedicated and hard-working and I am not at all surprised that she still has a passion for the performing arts,” he said. “I wish her all the best in her new position. She will be great at it.”

 

This past Friday, Griffith graduated from Pierpont Community and Technical College with a degree in small business management. She’s currently in the process of obtaining a music teaching certificate to teach music education to children. Her dream is to open and operate her own Kindermusik business. Her education in business and music, as well as past color guard experiences, should all play a role in her color guard position at FSU.

 

Being part of the WVU Guard and competing with the indoor guard – Eloquence Performance Company - which competed across Northeastern U.S - were very different experiences, both which she absolutely loved.

 

“WVU was definitely more high-adrenaline, constant energy. Before you knew it, the show was over and you hadn't breathed the whole time. It was a really incredible feeling to hear 60,000 people screaming. There were times when you could barely even hear the band over the fans and that’s crazy when you are right next to it,” she said. “With the indoor guard, you’re past the adrenaline and really focusing on the show, performing and technique. The judges are right in front of you, picking apart everything you do. You’re just focusing to do your absolute best with a million things going through your mind at once.”

 

Griffith became associated with Eloquence Performance Company after she transferred to Pierpont and her former WVU Color Guard coordinator, Andrew “Drew” Faris, was heading up the program. After contracting complications of pneumonia, including a collapsed lung and blood clot, he died quite suddenly at age 37. 

 

“He passed away in January (2015) right before our first performance,” Griffith said.

 

She remained with the indoor guard unit, which was thereafter under the direction of Heather Hazucha.

 

“She was second in command when Drew passed. She stepped up and did a really awesome job with the whole program,” Griffith said.

 

The unit developed a bond and shared a passion to excel, faring well in competitions including those in Pittsburgh and Wildwood, NJ.

 

The whole experience fueled Griffith’s fire to someday teach. She looks forward to working with the FSU Band under the direction of Robert HIckey and the fall halftime show.

 

"The theme is James Bond," she said. “I’m already choreographing in my mind."

 

Her plan is to implement some summer day camps to precede band camp in August. The color guard unit will rehearse at least three times per week and will perform at five home football games.

 

Griffith stays active with Bridgeport High School by participating in the BHS Alumni Band. It was her high school alma mater – and frontline instructor Kelsie Stromberg – introduced her to spinning in the first place.

 

“All members of the frontline at BHS had to spin flags, but we could chose rather we want to twirl a flag or a rifle,” she said. “I always chose baton but my senior year, every single color guard had graduated. I couldn’t let there not be any rifles so Kelsie taught me how to spin a rifle.”

 

And it was love at first spin.

 

“I ended up falling in love with it – even more than baton,” she said. “It’s so challenging. There are always new spins or new tosses or something else new to learn.”

 

She said it's hard to explain how she feels when she performs.

 

"It’s something I can’t get enough of,” she said. “It’s such a sense of accomplishment.”

 

In addition to her color guard position at FSU and her pursuance of a certificate to teach music, Griffith works at Meagher’s Irish Pub in Charles Pointe.

 

She is the daughter of Beth Ann and Brian Griffith and the older sister of Emily Griffith, a BHS senior.

 

Griffith performed with the WVU Marching Band Color Guard and Eloquence Performance Company with Chase Reeder, a fellow BHS graduate and former BHS frontline member. (Reed is pictured behind Griffith top/cover and center in above photo of Eloquence Performance Company.)