The Druid Hills High School band performed as Colombia supporters filled the gymnasium. CLICK HERE TO WATCH Mr. Uribe praise the band and talk about his efforts to build music education in Colombia. CLICK HERE to see Principal Everett Patrick discuss the school's International Baccalaureate program.

Several hundred members of the Colombian community in Atlanta participated in a rally for President Alvaro Uribe prior to the Americas Competitiveness Forum held here in mid-August.

The rally was held at the Druid Hills High School gymnasium off North Decatur Road near Emory University, where the Colombian president was greeted by the school's marching band and dance troupe, the “Dazzling Divas."

After thanking the several hundred visitors who attended the rally and before launching into his address in support of a free trade agreement between his country and the United States, Mr. Uribe turned to the band and offered his appreciation for their efforts.

He said that as governor of the province of Antioquia in Colombia he had been able to achieve his goal of having a musical band and school in every municipality in the province.

"When one child embraces a musical instrument, he or she will never shoot a gun against the people," he added, to the applause of the crowd.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, who have been supporters of a free trade agreement between the U.S. and Colombia, accompanied Mr. Uribe.

Mr. Uribe was one of three Latin American heads of state attending the Americas Competitiveness Forum, which attracted 1,000 or so attendees including some 50 cabinet level officials from throughout the Western Hemisphere, to discuss best practices in economic development and job creation.

Other officials attending the rally included Camilo de Bedout Herrera, Colombia's consul general in Atlanta; Rafael Maldonado, president of the Colombian American Chamber of Commerce here and Thomas Strauss, network director of the U.S. Export Assistance Center.

In an interview in his office the week following Mr. Uribe's visit, Druid Hills High School Principal Everett F. Patrick told GlobalAtlanta that participation in the school's marching band was considered an extracurricular activity.

He said that the members of the marching band did not receive any credits for their participation in pep rallies, homecoming parades and football games.

However, he added that many of the members of the marching band also are members of the school's symphonic band, an elective for which they get academic credit.

Druid Hills High School has been recognized by Newsweek magazine as being among the top 1,200 public schools in the country.

It offers an international baccalaureate diploma program as well as fine arts programs.