Ava Chuppe
Contributing Writer
[email protected]
Murray High School won Grand Champion at the first Festival of Champions in two years on Sept. 25. Because of COVID-19 cancellations, Racer Band has been unable to host the event since 2019.
Thirteen high school marching bands from Kentucky and Tennessee performed for judges from across the nation.
Murray High School’s Tiger Band won Grand Champion with a score of 80.350. Following Murray were Christian County (74.950) and Barren County (74.000).
Murray High won Best Music, Best General Effect, Best Marching, Best Brass, Best Woodwinds and Best Guard. Christian County won Best Percussion.
Freshman sociology major Carolyn Mollette, Racer Band member and Murray High School graduate, said it was gratifying to help put on the Festival of Champions after winning with the Tiger Band in 2019.
“It was really cool to be able to see the band—that I am an alumni of—compete and win while also getting to perform for all of these people who want to continue music,” Mollette said.
In the preliminary rounds, Trigg County won first place in Class 2A. Murray High won first place in Class 3A. Barren County won first place in Class 4A. McCracken County won first place in Class 5A.
Other participating high schools included Ballard Memorial, Todd County, Calloway County, Muhlenberg County, Hopkinsville, Marshall County, Madisonville-North Hopkins and Henry County. Racer Band also performed at the event.
Because the Festival of Champions was cancelled in 2020, COVID-19 remains a concern, meaning precautions were taken to ensure the safety of competitors. Students followed the guidelines set by the Kentucky Education Association per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including wearing masks when indoors and using school transportation.
Director of University Bands Trae Blanco said it is important for the University to be able to host the event.
“I’d venture to guess that the Festival of Champions is the single largest recruitment event on the campus of Murray State University,” Blanco said. “In one day, we brought nearly 1,000 high school students to campus, along with 1,500 spectators. They had the opportunity to interact with our excellent student leaders, faculty, world class adjudicators, and experience our campus life activities like Racer Band.”
Blanco said he is grateful for the efforts of Racer Band students to put on the Festival of Champions.
“We bring excellent students from across the Commonwealth to experience one of the best parts of Murray State University, and we are proud of the work our students do,” Blanco said. “We are grateful to University custodial staff for their help in managing the stadium, as well as Sodexo dining staff for their help with concession sales.”
Racer Band will host High School Band Day on Nov. 6, during which prospective students will watch the band perform. On Nov. 11 and 12, Racer Band will perform at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana.