The South Point High School marching band received new instruments Thursday afternoon, following a competition season that saw the band win four grand championships.

Despite the band’s success, director David Edwards says that his students were using less than quality equipment.

“We definitely needed and appreciate these new instruments,” Edwards said. “Our kids were using instruments that I had taped and glued together just to make them serviceable.”

The new instruments were provided by the South Point school board and cost approximately $55,000.

“Mr. Edwards came to me with this five-year plan he had to get new instruments,” said Superintendent South Point Superintendent Mark Christian. “I told him that I thought the kids deserved the new instruments now if we could manage it. So I talked to the rest of the board, they agreed and we are just happy we could reward these kids for all their hard work.”

Edwards says that on top of giving his students the equipment they deserve, it will also teach them responsibility. Upon receiving the new instruments Edwards made each band member take an oath to treat them as if they were their own.

“This is a great learning tool,” Edwards said. “These instruments are top of the line and very expensive. It will teach these kids how to be responsible with such items. That’s why I made them promise that they would take the utmost care of these musical tools.”