MHS hosts Region 3 Marching Band Festival

By By Penny Randall / staff writer
Oct. 10, 2003
Hundreds of people are expected to march into Meridian High School's Ray Stadium on Saturday, but it won't be for a football game.
Instead, the school plays host to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Region 3 Marching Band Festival.
Thirty-two high school bands from across East Mississippi in classes 1A-5A will compete between 10:30 a.m. and 8:15 p.m. A special exhibition performance by the University of Southern Mississippi's band will be at 8:30 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony at 8:45 p.m.
Three judges will review the overall band portion of the competition. Their ratings will be combined to determine the final score for each band.
Other judges will rate the drum majors, color guards or/and auxiliaries and drum lines.
Judges will give written feedback and verbal comments on a tape that will be given to each band director at the end of competition.
The public is invited to attend. Admission is $5. All proceeds from admission and concessions will go to the MHS Band Boosters Club.
The competition schedule is as follows:
Class 1A bands will begin competing at 10:30 a.m. and are scheduled to perform in 12-minute intervals in the following order: South Leake, Stringer, Ethel, Sebastopol, Mize, Union and Scott Central.
Class 2A bands will begin competing at noon and are scheduled to perform in 15-minute intervals in the following order: Lake, Seminary, Newton, Taylorsville, Bay Springs, Clarkdale, Ackerman and Philadelphia.
Class 3A bands will begin competing at 2:30 p.m. and are scheduled to perform in 15-minute intervals in the following order: Choctaw Central, Southeast Lauderdale, West Lauderdale, Forest, Newton County, Morton, Raleigh and Carthage.
Class 4A bands will begin competing at 6 p.m. and are scheduled to perform in 15-minute intervals in the following order: Northeast Lauderdale, Laurel, Wayne County, Northeast Jones, South Jones, West Jones, Louisville and Neshoba Central.
The only Class 5A band is Meridian High School and it will perform at 8:15 p.m.
WANT TO GO?
What: Mississippi High School Activities Association Region 3 Marching Band Festival
When: Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-8:45 p.m.
Where: Meridian High School Ray Stadium
Admission: $5