Columbia, SC (Paul Kirby) – Several of Lexington County School District One’s high schools really shined over the weekend at the SC State Band Director’s Association’s 2A & 4A State Competition that was held at Spring Valley High School Saturday. Despite some rainy weather, the bands, their pit crews, and fans showed up and showed out bringing home multiple awards for their efforts.
During the contest, each band is judged on multiple points including timing, musical performance, group and individual visual performance, and several others. Their performances are now more like Broadway musicals with elaborate props, dazzling costumes, and powerful musical accompaniments. You also may see instruments that weren’t associated with a marching band decades ago. This can include electric guitars, xylophones, and even violins.
The White Knoll Timberwolf Marching Pride won 2nd overall in the 4A class. Their in-district neighbors the Lexington Wild Cat Band brought home the 3rd place honors.
Gilbert High School’s Marching Band competed in the 2A class. This classification is for schools that have a smaller student body but are no less professional, entertaining, or talented. Even though their performance Saturday was during a period when it was raining, they won 2nd overall for their presentation.
The Pelion High School Marching Panthers also competed Saturday. They placed 6th in the overall competition.
These students, and the school’s staffs that lead them, work extremely hard throughout the entire year to get ready for these competitions. They start long before the first football games with Band Camp in the scorching heat of the summer. They literally practice hundreds of hours while parents and volunteers build props, master moving the band from place to place, and help to raise money to pay for all of this. Their hard work culminates with the State Championship Competition each year.
District One's River Bluff High School is a 5A school. They will compete in that class’ state competition on Saturday, November 2nd at Irmo High School.
