Carroll High School Band members broke a proverbial "curse" April 19 when they earned the gold rating at the Indiana State School Music Association's concert band contest.

The band has not enjoyed this honor since 1995, when Robert Thornburg was the director. The band has participated in the contest in recent years and earned a string of silver and bronze ratings, but this year the band ended that tradition and brought home top honors.

Don Pettit, current band director, motivated the students by promising to dye his hair pink if they received gold. On Monday after the contest, he kept his promise and came to school with hot pink hair - the color of flamingo lawn ornaments.

"I was willing to do just about anything to get these students motivated to earn that gold rating," Pettit said.

The Carroll band also started a marching program last fall, and it will continue next year.