The CHS Trojan Band — A Tradition of Excellence Since 1948

The first CHS Band under the direction of Mr. John Dilliard

The Carrollton Trojan Marching Band is one of the oldest and most successful bands in the State of Georgia. Organized in 1948 under the direction of Mr. John Dilliard, the band has an unprecedented record of fifty consecutive years of Superior Ratings. In addition to performing for our fans at Grisham Stadium, the Trojan Band upholds a long tradition of appearances in regional, national and international events.

As the Trojan Band marks its 75th anniversary this year, we are proud to recognize the directors who have built this time-honored program. Mr. John Dilliard, the first director from 1948 to 1954, established the foundation of excellence. Dr. Ernest McClendon took the band to the next level during his tenure from 1954 to 1968. Mr. Don Hall served from 1968 until 1998 and again from 2007 to 2008. During this time, the band grew in size and performed in parades and events both at home and across the nation. Mr. Robert Carter continued the tradition of award-winning shows from 1998 until 2007 including performances in London, England and Normandy, France. Dr. Andrea Strauss served as director from 2008-2009. Mr. Michael Cater came to Carrollton High School in 2009 as the sixth band director in school history. Mr. Christopher Carr is our current band director and has been serving as such since 2014.

During the last seven decades, the Trojan Band has performed throughout the United States, Mexico and Europe. In its first competition in 1949, the Band received first place in its class at the Fourth District Musical Festival. In 1959, the Band made its first appearance out of state in the Lions Club International Parade in New York City. The Band has gone on to delight crowds at the Cherry Blossom Parade, Washington, D.C. (1970); Mexico City (1976); First Place in Cherry Blossom Field Competition, Washington, D.C. (1978); The Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena, CA (1981); First Place in the Apple Blossom Festival, Winchester, VA (1983 and 1993); Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City (1984); 100^th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena, CA (1989); Orange Bowl Parade, Miami, FL (1990 and 1994) and the Honolulu Parade, Honolulu, HI (1997). The Band ushered in the 21^st century by marching in London’s New Years Day Parade on January 1, 2001 and performing at the 60^th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion in Normandy, France on June 6, 2004. The Trojan Marching Band ended the decade at the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida on January 1, 2010, where they performed in the halftime show and marched in the Outback Parade. The Trojan Band marched December 2012 at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, at the Magic Kingdom, Disney World in January 2015,  in April 2017 they performed on board the retired aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Intrepid in New York City, and most recently the band traveled to Hollywood, California in 2018 to perform for the nationally televised Hollywood Christmas Parade.

The Trojan Marching Band has also participated in local and state events such as the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Parade, the 100^th Anniversary Celebration of Coca-Cola, and both President Clinton and Carter’s Remembrance of President Franklin D. Roosevelt at Warm Springs, GA. Our community can see the Band each year in the CHS Homecoming Parade, Carrollton’s Christmas Parade, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade and the 4^th of July Parade as well as halftime at every Trojan football game.

In 2015 the Trojan Band program successfully launched its own marching band competition, The Legacy of Champions, hosted on the gorgeous Carrollton City Schools campus at historic Grisham Stadium.