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Competition showcases emerging young talent
by STEPHANIE STRAUBEL
Intern News Reporter
Fans poured into Kidd Brewer Stadium Saturday for the 29th annual Appalachian Marching Band Festival.
Sixteen high school bands from North Carolina and one from Florida participated in the festival, which was hosted by the Rho Tau chapter of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity.
The Rho Tau chapter, whose goal is to “advance music in America,” hosts several euphonic events every year including the All-District Band Clinic, the American Music Review and the Western Regional Orchestral Clinic.
 The Marching Mountaineers perform for more than 1,000 spectators at the conclusion of the performances for the Marching Band Festival Saturday. Photo by Alisha Park
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The festival’s
chairman, senior music education major and Phi Mu Alpha member W.
Patrick Watkins organized the show, which serves simultaneously as a
showcase for high school bands and the Marching Mountaineers Latin
Music Show.
“[The
festival] helps [high school students] feel like they achieved
something, it helps them appreciate music more,” Watkins said.
The
festival began at noon with the 50 member North Mecklenburg High School
Vikings playing a compilation of the musical group’s Queen’s
arrangements.
The show
progressed with bands performing according to their size, which
distributed them into classes ranging from “A” to “AAAA.”
The
schools gave impressive performances, all vying for the coveted
Chancellor’s Cup. The larger schools brought props to complement their
performances.
Ledford
High School from Thomasville performed “Roanoke: The Lost Colony,” with
elaborate props and sets, and the East Davidson Eagles from Thomasville
wore black capes to accompany their “Metalution” performance.
“We
always look forward to this competition; it’s one of our favorites. We
look forward to the competition and to the atmosphere,” Alleghany High
School band member Brandon K. Smith said.
The
competition also provided an opportunity for the Rho Tau chapter to
raise funds for their Contemporary Music Festival, and all of the
proceeds go back to the Hayes School of Music, Watkins said.
Other
than the entrance fee, band t-shirts were available, as well as
Marching Mountaineer CDs, sold by university-owned Split Rail Records.
“We have
a distribution deal with the marching band, we’re selling their CDs and
it gives us a chance to sell our other stuff,” Split Rail Records vice
president of legal Brandie S. Curnutte said.
The festival serves several purposes, largely as a recruiting opportunity.
“It’s
cool for me because I came here in high school, and now I’m in the
band, so hopefully that means we’re recruiting,” freshman music
performance major and Marching Mountaineer percussionist Diana C.
Loomer said.
Watkins said the festival was an overall success, and said it went a lot smoother than in past years.
The
competition came to a close with the Marching Mountaineers playing a
selection of Latin music including “Children of Sanchez” and “Land of
Make Believe.”
The
Chancellor’s Cup was awarded to the Jay M. Robinson High School
Bulldogs from Concord for their performance of “Destination: New York.”
The was
the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia’s largest project during the fall semester,
and gave more than 1,000 high school students a glimpse of
Appalachian’s campus.
“I feel
like it’s a good opportunity to organize high school bands from all
around the state,” junior journalism and Marching Mountaineer trumpet
player David P. Heiliger said.
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